Spirit of Scotland by Rail

This holiday starts with and arrival transfer from Glasgow airport to Glasgow City, where you will take the train to Edinburgh.   Explore the enchanting capital of Scotland on your own or use the included City Sightseeing Tour ticket.  

As one of Europe’s must see destinations Edinburgh offers much for the visitor, great museums and art galleries, fantastic shopping, great restaurants and bars and one of the most unforgettable skylines overlooking Princes Street Gardens.

Overnight - Edinburgh

Alnwick Castle, the Northumberland Coast & the Borders (Rabbies):
Daily departures (April – October)
Time: departs 08:45 (check-in closes at 08:30) & returns to Edinburgh at 18:15
Address: Rabbie's Cafe Bar, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3EG

Tour Highlights:
Kelso - A ruined abbey, a stunning, cobbled town square, and beautiful boutique shops.
The Borders - The gentle valleys and rolling hills are a delight to explore.
Alnwick Castle - This gorgeous castle was used as a set for both Harry Potter and Downton Abbey.
Northumberland Coastline - This captivating coastline is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
River Tweed - A graceful, salmon-filled river that winds through the borders.
East Lothian - Home to famous golf courses and expanses of splendid green farming plains.

Tour Description:
“Your tour begins by following the road that connected Caledonia with Roman Britannia.
You stop in Kelso, where you can explore this handsome town and what is thought to be Scotland’s largest market square. You also see the ruins of Kelso Abbey, a reminder of the many ancient conflicts between Scotland and England.
Continuing South, you cross the border and travel to Alnwick Castle, an immense fortification that has stood strong for nearly a millennium.
It was originally built to assert Norman rule over newly conquered lands. But more recently Alnwick Castle and its perfectly manicured gardens have found fame as one of the settings for the fictional Hogwarts school in the Harry Potter movie series.
Book lovers should take the opportunity to explore one of the largest and most impressive second-hand book shops in Britain.
After around three hours at Alnwick, you travel north along the Northumberland Coast, one of the UK’s most outstanding areas of natural beauty. You stop along the way to admire some of the area’s best known beaches, castles, and ancient Border towns.”

Overnight - Edinburgh

A full day back in Edinburgh to enjoy at your leisure.  Be sure to use your included Edinburgh City Sightseeing Tour ticket if you haven't already!

Perhaps visit Edinburgh Castle which dominates the city from its 400 foot rock where you will see the Scottish crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny, now back in Scotland where it belongs. You can also visit the private apartments of Mary Stuart and St Margaret's Chapel, the oldest building in the city which dates back to the 11th century. Continuing down the Royal Mile, you will visit Saint Giles’ Cathedral. Founded in the 1100s, it is a triumph of 14th and 15th century architecture with a crown spire that has dominated the Edinburgh skyline for 500 years. It became the church of John Knox during the Reformation and contains memorials to many great Scots, including Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert Burns.

Overnight - Edinburgh

Today you will depart Edinburgh and travel by rail to Inverness.  The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Overnight - Inverness

The Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle (Rabbies):
Daily departures (year around; except 24/12/20, 25/12/20, 26/12/20, 31/12/20, 01/01/21)
Time: departs 08:00 (Check-in closes 07:45) and returns to Inverness at 20:00
Address: Stance 7, Inverness Bus Station, Margaret St, Inverness, IV1 1LT

Tour Highlights:
Skye - The beauty of this island has inspired movie makers, poets and travellers from all round the world.
Kyle of Lochalsh - This is the gateway to Skye. Enjoy sublime views of landscapes that surround this village.
Eilean Donan Castle - An iconic and gorgeous 13th-century castle that once warded off Viking invasions.
Portree - A cute, colourful coastal town that’s as quaint as it is fascinating.
Trotternish Peninsula - The ultimate Skye road. It’s the way to see the Quiraing, kilt rock, and all of Skye’s must see sights.
Cuillin Mountains - Skye’s dominant mountain range. Enjoy views of these imposing mountains as you travel the ‘winged isle’.
Loch Ness - This loch holds more freshwater than all the lakes in England and Wales combined. But does it hide the Loch Ness monster?

Tour Description:
“After an early start, you leave the city and travel along the Great Glen Fault Line towards Loch Ness. Here, you have a chance to spot the monster and admire lovely Castle Urquhart from afar.
You take a short break in Invermoriston and continue through dramatic Highland scenery to the west coast and Eilean Donan Castle. You can go inside ‘the most photographed castle in Scotland’ or simply enjoy the astounding views.
And now, it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for. Because it’s over the sea and onto the Isle of Skye. You travel up the island’s east coast through the stunning Red Cuillin Mountains to Sligachan, where you stop for a photo of the clear mountain waters.
Arriving in the town of Portree, you have free time to grab a bite to eat at one of the many delightful local restaurants.
After you’ve filled your belly, you explore some of the most famous scenery of the island at the Trotternish Peninsula. The Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock, and the Quiraing are all unforgettably beautiful.
You venture to Kyleakin for refreshments and a chance to view the dramatic ruin Castle Moil or the Skye Bridge and Eilean Ban.
Travelling over the bridge, you journey back to Inverness. The route you take back is different from the morning, so you get even more opportunities to enjoy the Highland scenery.”

Overnight - Inverness

Today you will travel from Inverness to Glasgow by rail.  Upon arrival in Glasgow the rest of the day will be at your leisure.  You are welcome to use the included Glasgow City Sightseeing Tour ticket, included with your package.

Glasgow is one of the liveliest and most cosmopolitan destinations in Europe. The city has been reborn as a centre of style and vitality set against a backdrop of outstanding Victorian architecture. Glasgow boasts world famous art collections, the best shopping in the United Kingdom outside London, and the most vibrant and exciting nightlife in Scotland. A must see is the splendour of Scotland's best known architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, whose style adorns many unique attractions throughout Scotland's largest city.

Overnight - Glasgow

Enjoy a full day exploring Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland and home to the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Here the legacy of centuries of wealth and achievement comes vividly to life in an architectural heritage recognized and celebrated worldwide. Visit Glasgow Cathedral, built on the site where St Kentigern, or Mungo, the first bishop within the ancient British kingdom of Strathclyde, was thought to have been buried in AD 612. It is the only medieval cathedral on the Scottish mainland to have survived the 1560 Reformation virtually complete. You can also visit Pollok House, built in 1740 and extended in 1890 by Sir John Stirling Maxwell. Set within Pollok Country Park, the house contains a renowned art collection and selection of furniture appropriate for an Edwardian country house.

Overnight - Glasgow

Sadly, your stay in Scotland has come to an end.  You will be transferred to the Glasgow airport for your return flight.