Wild Spirit of Scotland

Day by day

1. Day 1

   Edinburgh to Boat of Garten — Into the Cairngorms

   Board at Edinburgh Waverley and depart in the early afternoon. Afternoon tea through Perth, Dunkeld, Pitlochry and Blair Atholl; past Aviemore the train stables at Boat of Garten on the private Strathspey Railway. After dinner, musicians join the train in the Observation Car.

2. Day 2

   Kyle of Lochalsh — Attadale Gardens, Plockton or a Highland Hike

   Through Inverness and west on the Kyle line, with lunch en route through Achnashellach Forest. Choose your afternoon: Attadale Gardens at Strathcarron, with its Water, Japanese and Sunken Gardens; Plockton and its wild seal colony, with a dram at the Plockton Hotel; or a guided hike near Kyle of Lochalsh, watching for red deer and golden eagles. Overnight at Kyle of Lochalsh.

3. Day 3

   Aviemore & Speyside — Rothiemurchus and a Distillery Visit

   Disembark at Aviemore for a morning at Rothiemurchus Estate: fishing, clay-pigeon shooting, wild swimming (pre-booked) or forest bathing in the Caledonian woodland. After lunch, a private tour and tasting at a Speyside distillery, or a cycle ride to the River Spey. Farewell dinner on the way to Perth, followed by dancing in the Observation Car.

4. Day 4

   Perth to Edinburgh — Farewell Breakfast

   Breakfast as the train crosses the Tay Bridge into Fife, arriving at Edinburgh Waverley at around 09:40.

Excursions and timings can change at the operator's discretion; the confirmed itinerary is sent before departure.

• The Kyle line to Kyle of Lochalsh
• Attadale Gardens, Plockton's seals or a Highland hike
• Rothiemurchus Estate and forest bathing
• Private Speyside distillery tour and tasting

A day aboard

Days follow an unhurried rhythm: a full Scottish breakfast, a two-course lunch and afternoon tea on scenic runs, then a three-course dinner with cheeseboard, coffee and petits fours. Dinners alternate between informal evenings (smart casual) and formal or gala nights, when a dark suit, tuxedo or kilt is customary for gentlemen and a cocktail dress or tartan for ladies. All meals, all drinks — including an extensive whisky selection — excursions and nightly entertainment in the Observation Car are included in the fare. Most evenings the train stables in a quiet country station, so you sleep to stillness rather than motion.

Know before you go →