Belmond Royal Scotsman - Heritage Homes & Gardens

This 5-day, 4-night journey runs from Edinburgh across the Forth Railway Bridge to Montrose and Speyside, north to Invergordon, along the Kyle line to Kyle of Lochalsh, then back through Boat of Garten and the Cairngorms to Dunblane and Dundee, returning to Edinburgh on the final morning.

The departure on sale leaves Edinburgh on 31 May 2027, when Scotland's gardens are coming into their late-spring best. It is a single departure with limited cabins, so early reservation is recommended.

The journey departs Edinburgh Waverley station in the early afternoon. Check-in is at The Balmoral Hotel beside the station, where you leave your luggage, and the journey ends back in Edinburgh after a farewell breakfast on day 5.

You can choose a Double Cabin with a matrimonial bed, a Twin Cabin with two twin beds, or the Grand Suite. All cabins have an en suite with shower, washbasin and WC, lower berth beds, opening windows, a full-length wardrobe and a hairdryer.

The fare includes four nights on board, 24-hour steward service, all meals, all beverages and every garden and castle visit in the itinerary: Pitmuies, Foulis Castle, Attadale, the Clan Donald estate on Skye, Ballindalloch Castle, Rothiemurchus Estate and Kilbryde Castle.

Travel insurance, domestic or international airfare, transfers before or after the train journey, crew gratuities, and personal items or souvenirs are not included. We can arrange Edinburgh hotel nights before or after the journey on request.

Fares use dynamic pricing and depend on cabin type. The exact fare for the departure is shown on this page. You can start your booking online to hold a cabin without a financial commitment, then call us so we can apply any available offers.

A deposit of 25 percent secures your cabin, and the balance is due 125 days before departure. For the 31 May 2027 departure, final payment falls due in late January 2027.

Many of the houses are still family homes, and tours are often led by the owners themselves. At Pitmuies Gardens near Forfar, for example, you explore the walks and then join your hosts, the Ogilvie family, in their drawing room.

On day 2 the train travels through Inverness to Invergordon for 18th-century Foulis Castle, seat of Clan Munro. Mrs Munro of Foulis and her son Hector, the Clan Chief, welcome guests to explore the grounds and courtyard garden or to join the family in the drawing room.

The Kyle line is one of Scotland's most scenic railways, passing the Torridon mountains, Achnashellach Forest and Loch Carron on the way to Kyle of Lochalsh. Near Plockton you visit Attadale, whose gardens include a Water Garden, a Japanese Garden and a Sunken Garden.

Yes. On the morning of day 3 you drive across to the Isle of Skye to tour the 2,000-acre Clan Donald estate, then return to the train at Kyle of Lochalsh for a leisurely lunch as it retraces the line towards Dingwall.

On day 3 you visit Ballindalloch Castle, one of Scotland's most romantic castles, with a tour of its walled rose garden and an evening reception at the castle. You then rejoin the train at Boat of Garten on the private Strathspey Railway.

On day 4 a coach takes you to Rothiemurchus Estate beneath the Cairngorm mountains, where you can tour the parkland or try the estate's outdoor country pursuits. Lunch is served when you rejoin the train at Kingussie.

The last garden is Kilbryde Castle and Gardens near Dunblane, visited in the late afternoon of day 4. You then rejoin the train at Dundee for the gala dinner and a final night on board before breakfast on the way back to Edinburgh.

The inclusions for this journey list special guest hosts on board, a photographer and a gardening writer, who add expert commentary to the garden visits. Hosts can change from year to year, so ask us to confirm who is joining the 31 May 2027 departure.

It suits garden lovers and travellers interested in Scotland's great houses and clan history, who enjoy gentle walking through grounds rather than long hikes. Access to private homes hosted by their owners is the key difference from other Royal Scotsman itineraries.

Most evenings are smart casual, but the gala dinner on the final night is formal: a dark suit, tuxedo or kilt for gentlemen and a cocktail dress or tartan for ladies. Comfortable shoes for garden walks and a light waterproof layer are sensible for the daytime visits.

Solo travellers can book a cabin for sole use at a single occupancy fare, higher than the per person sharing price. Child pricing bands exist by age at departure, but the journey is adult-paced, so please contact us to confirm acceptance and fares before booking.

The departure on this page is bookable directly, with the fare shown for each cabin type. For questions, email travel@palacetours.com, call 786-408-0610, or message us on WhatsApp at https://wa.me/17864080610, answered by a travel specialist or our AI assistant.