Scotch Malt Whisky Tour Aboard the Royal Scotsman

Board Royal Scotsman at Edinburgh Waverley Station for your journey. The highly personalised service and unhurried pace allow you to reclaim the romance and stately opulence of rail travel from a bygone era. Following a special welcome address and single cask dram from your Scotch Malt Whisky Society ambassador, you depart in the early afternoon and travel north across the Firth of Forth over the magnificent Forth Railway Bridge. This is one of the oldest existing cantilever bridges, designed and built by Benjamin Baker in the late 1880s and considered one of the greatest achievements of the Victorian Age.
 
A light afternoon tea is served as you glide through the former Kingdom of Fife, followed by an exclusive Whisky nosing and tasting with whisky expert and prolific author, Charles MacLean. Whether novice or aficionado, you will be in good hands with Charlie as he guides you through the mysteries of the ‘water of life’. An old-school bon viveur, and author of 18 books on the subject, Charlie’s grasp of the history and heritage of the whisky industry is second to none.
 
The train follows the east coast, passing through Carnoustie, Arbroath and Aberdeen before arriving in the market town of Keith in the heart of the Speyside whisky region. Here, dinner is served. Our Chef’s inventive menus use the finest local ingredients, such as wild halibut, shetland Lobster and Aberdeen Angus beef. Chanterelles and wild garlic are foraged straight from Scotland’s wild larder. Afterwards, you are invited to enjoy lively entertainment in the Observation Car.

After a full Scottish breakfast, alight from the train in Elgin for a brief introduction to ‘the water of life’ at the historic Gordon & MacPhail whisky shop. Established in 1895, it stocks an impressive range of over 800 whiskies, including some of the world’s rarest labels. From there, visit the nearby Benromach Distillery in the ancient market town of Forres. Founded in 1898, owned and run by the Urquhart family, it is one of Speyside’s smallest distilleries, fed with water from the Chapelton Springs in the Romach Hills. Casks are still hand-filled, stencilled by hand and stored in traditional dunnage warehouses. Learn about the traditional whisky production methods before enjoying a tutored tasting. Afterwards, enjoy lunch at historic Cawdor Castle, built by the Thanes of Cawdor in the late 14^th century. Rejoin the train in Inverness in the late afternoon.

Relax on board this afternoon as your journey takes you on what is arguably one of the most scenic railway routes in the UK. The line passes Loch Luichart and the Torridon mountains, which geologists believe were formed before any life began. Travel onwards through Achnasheen, then commence the climb to Luib summit and Achnashellach Forest before descending to Strathcarron. The train then follows the edge of Loch Carron through Attadale, Stromeferry and Duncraig before skirting the picture-postcard fishing village of Plockton en route to Kyle of Lochalsh, gateway to the mystical Isle of Skye. A formal dinner is served this evening, followed by coffee and liqueurs in the Observation Car.
 

Depart Kyle as breakfast is served and retrace part of yesterday's route as far as Dingwall. Have your cameras ready for the views of Plockton across the bay to the left, where you can see whitewashed cottages with fishing boats and yachts riding at anchor.
 
Before lunch, join your whisky ambassador in the Observation Car for a specialist single cask tasting. In the afternoon, disembark in Aviemore to visit historic Tomatin Distillery and uncover the secrets behind its celebrated Highland single malt. Although the distillery was formally established in 1897, whisky production has been central to the way of life in this remote Highland area since the 15th century. The name itself gives an insight into a more clandestine past: Tomatin translates as ‘Hill of the Juniper Bush’. Juniper wood gives off no smoke while burning and so historically was a favourite of illicit distillers. Finish your tour with a tutored tasting of three Tomatin single malts, each revealing why this is considered the ‘softer side of the Highlands’.
 
Return to the train in Boat of Garten on the private Strathspey Railway in time for cocktails and a relaxed dinner. Afterwards, retire to the Observation Car, where our local musicians are waiting to entertain you as you sip a nightcap or two.

After breakfast, travel the short distance by coach to Rothiemurchus Estate in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. Rothiemurchus Forest is one of the largest and most important remnants of the native Caledonian pine forest which used to cover most of Scotland. Choose from a number of country pursuits including fishing, clay pigeon-shooting and an estate tour.

Return to the train in Kingussie and enjoy a leisurely lunch during the journey south through Blair Atholl and Pitlochry to Dunkeld where you disembark to visit Tullibardine Distillery, whose history as a location for distilling is one of the oldest in Scotland. Nestling at the foot of the Ochil Hills in Perthshire, Tullibardine is one of the few distilleries which continues to operate in the traditional way, without modern-day computer technology, giving visitors a real insight into the whisky distillation process. Your private VIP tour features nosing straight from the cask, a visit to the bonded warehouse and a tutored tasting of three Tullibardine Highland single malts.
 
Return to the train in Perth, where aperitifs whet your appetite for a fabulous gala dinner en route to Dundee. The infectious beat of the music tonight may inspire you to join in with some lively Scottish country dancing, a fitting finale to your journey. Alternatively, head to the bar and round off your experience with an informal sampling of the Society range in the company of your whisky ambassador.
 

Breakfast is served as the train leaves Dundee and crosses the Tay Bridge into the former Kingdom of Fife. Arriving back in Edinburgh, your journey ends. We wish you safe onward travels and look forward to seeing you again soon.