Scottish Highland Railways
Holiday Highlights
- Rail travel from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh
- Journey on the steam-hauled Strathspey Railway
- Cross the Glenfinnan Viaduct on a train ride from Fort William to Mallaig
- Visit the famous Highland resort of Aviemore
Why we love this holiday ...
"With every corner of the world within reach nowadays, it is easy to forget about the wealth of incredible destinations on our doorstep. Even on a rainy day, we can think of very few places that we would rather be than the Scottish Highlands – especially when we can watch the beautiful scenery glide past from the comfort and warmth of a rail carriage! We can’t pick a favourite of the three highland rail journeys included. Inverness to Kyle is considered one of the world’s great railway journeys, the Sprathspey Railway combines the evocative smells and sounds of a steam train with the stunning scenery of the Cairngorms National Park, and on the journey from Fort William to Mallaig, you’ll cross the Glenfinnan Viaduct – now world-famous as the Hogwarts Express route in the Harry Potter films."
What's Included
- Four nights' dinner, bed and Scottish breakfast accommodation at either the Carrbridge Hotel, Carrbridge or the Highlander Hotel, Newtonmore
- Return flights to Scotland
- Coach travel and transfers throughout
Itinerary
Day 1
Fly into Scotland, meet your tour manager at the airport, and board the coach for the scenic journey to your hotel. The Carrbridge Hotel is situated on the edge of Carrbridge village, and is close to some lovely local walks (the hotel staff will be happy to point you in the right direction). The famous packhorse bridge, dating back to 1717 and reputed to be one of the oldest in Scotland, is opposite the hotel. The Highlander Hotel, in Newtonmore, is just a short walk from the highly acclaimed Highland Folk Museum, and there is a handful of shops and bars at the far end of the village. If you decide to arrange your own travel, and book our Tour Only package, you'll need to meet your Tour Manager at the airport in time for the coach transfer to your hotel. (Exact times will be confirmed closer to departure.)
Day 2
Board the coach and travel to Inverness, this morning. Here, you'll board the train for the spectacular 80-mile, two-and-a half-hour journey west to Kyle of Lochalsh, in its idyllic setting opposite the Isle of Skye. From Inverness, the line travels along the south side of Beauly Firth with views back across to the Black Isle, before turning north to the market town of Dingwall. Here it heads west once again, climbing slowly through the remote northern Highlands and offering glimpses (on clear days) of towering Liathach and its Torridon mountain neighbours. Probably the most spectacular part of the journey is when the line descends to the magnificent scenery of Loch Carron, and runs alongside the Loch, past Attadale Estate and Plockton, and on to Kyle. Once in Kyle you'll have time to explore, and perhaps have a spot of lunch, before heading back to the hotel by coach at the end of a wonderful day.
Carrbridge Hotel, Carrbridge
Highlander Hotel
The Duke of Gordon Hotel, Kingussie
Airport development fees
An Airport Development Fee has been introduced at a few UK Airports. You will be required to pay this charge at the following airports prior to checking in for your flight: Blackpool, Durham Tees Valley, Newquay and Norwich. The amount varies from airport to airport, but it is generally between £5 and £10 per person. Please visit the airport's website for further information.
Special requirements
If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.
Disabled access
The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Itinerary changes
Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.
Train journeys
Please note, the West Highland and Kyle lines are both scheduled ScotRail services, and use diesel-powered engines. In the unlikely event of a steam locomotive breaking down on the Strathspey Railway, we reserve the right to substitute the engine with a diesel locomotive. All train journeys are single journeys.
Hotel transfer times
The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately three hours.
Combining hotel transfers
We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.