Belmond Royal Scotsman: Wild Spirit of Scotland

It is a three-night, four-day journey that begins and ends at Edinburgh Waverley station. You board in the early afternoon of day one and step off after breakfast on the morning of day four, so you unpack once and let the Highlands come to you. The route runs north into the Cairngorms, west to Kyle of Lochalsh, and back through Speyside and Perthshire.

Day one runs north from Edinburgh through Perth, Dunkeld, Pitlochry and Blair Atholl to Boat of Garten on the private Strathspey Railway. Day two crosses to the west coast on the Kyle line, arguably Britain's most scenic railway, with the night spent at Kyle of Lochalsh opposite the Isle of Skye. Day three retraces east to Aviemore and Speyside before the farewell run to Perth, and day four crosses the Tay Bridge into Edinburgh. Most nights the train stables in a quiet country station, so you sleep to stillness rather than motion.

Departure from Edinburgh Waverley is at about 13:45 on day one, with afternoon tea served soon after the train pulls away. The train is back at Edinburgh Waverley at around 09:40 on the morning of day four, after breakfast on board. Plan to arrive in Edinburgh the night before, and leave onward travel until the afternoon of the final day.

Check-in is handled at The Balmoral Hotel, immediately beside Edinburgh Waverley station, rather than on the platform. You leave your luggage there before boarding and it is taken to your cabin for you. That means you can spend the morning in Edinburgh unencumbered and simply walk down to the train at boarding time.

Three cabin types are offered: a Double Cabin with a matrimonial bed, a Twin Cabin with two twin beds, and the larger Grand Suite. Each cabin has a private bathroom and dedicated cabin service throughout the journey. Availability differs by date, and the cabin types open for each departure are shown on this page.

Fares start from about $10,308 per person for two travellers sharing a cabin, and rise with cabin type and departure date. The exact fare for each departure and cabin is shown on this page, because rates vary through the season. All meals, beverages, excursions and onboard entertainment are already covered in that figure.

Yes. A cabin taken by one traveller is quoted at twice the per-person sharing rate, from about $20,616 on this journey, because the whole cabin is held for you. Sole occupancy depends on what is still unsold for the date you want, so it pays to ask early for popular autumn departures. A travel specialist can confirm what is open before you commit.

The fare covers three nights on board with dedicated cabin service, all meals including table d'hote dinners, breakfasts, lunches and afternoon teas, and beverages throughout the journey. The full programme of off-train excursions and visits is included, as is nightly entertainment in the Observation Car and use of the Dior Spa Car. In practice there is very little left to pay once you step aboard.

Travel to and from Edinburgh, hotel nights before or after the journey, and travel insurance are not included. Treatments in the Dior Spa Car are booked and paid for separately, and personal items such as shop purchases and gratuities are at your discretion. A few estate activities on the Speyside day need to be reserved in advance, so tell us your preferences when you book.

On day two you choose one of three afternoons. Attadale Gardens at Strathcarron opens its Water, Japanese and Sunken Gardens with refreshments hosted by your hosts on the 30,000-acre estate; the harbour village of Plockton offers its wild seal colony and a stop at the Plockton Hotel; or a guide leads a hike through woodland and moor near Kyle of Lochalsh, watching for red deer and golden eagles. Lunch is served on board as the train climbs to the Luib summit and through Achnashellach Forest.

On day three you leave the train at Aviemore for a morning on the Rothiemurchus Estate: fishing, clay-pigeon shooting, pre-booked wild swimming, or a guided forest-bathing walk through ancient Caledonian woodland, with refreshments in the hunting lodge. After lunch on board you can join a private guided tour of a renowned Speyside distillery, or take a gentle cycle ride to the River Spey and nearby lochs. You rejoin the train at Boat of Garten in the early evening.

Days are relaxed, and smart casual is right for breakfast, lunch and excursions. Dinners alternate between informal evenings, where smart casual still works, and formal or gala nights, when a dark suit, tuxedo or kilt is customary for gentlemen and a cocktail dress or tartan for ladies. Pack layers and waterproof shoes for the excursions, because Highland weather changes quickly.

The journey suits most levels of fitness, because almost every excursion has a gentler alternative. The guided hike near Kyle of Lochalsh and the Speyside cycle ride are the most active options, while the gardens, the village visit and the forest-bathing walk are slow and level by comparison. Station platforms and estate paths can be uneven, so comfortable footwear matters more than stamina.

Yes, the train carries the Dior Spa Car, so treatments can be taken between excursions or during scenic stretches of line. Use of the car is part of the journey, with individual treatments booked separately once you are on board. Slots fill quickly over three nights, so it is worth choosing your preferred time on the first afternoon.

Evenings centre on the Observation Car at the rear of the train. On the first night musicians come aboard at Boat of Garten with Gaelic songs and lively folk melodies, and traditional ceilidhs feature during the journey. The farewell dinner on day three is followed by dancing as the train runs south towards Perth.

Departures run from 2 October 2026 through to 29 October 2027, spanning two operating seasons. Every bookable date, with the cabin types and fares that apply to it, is listed on this page, and the train runs on set days rather than daily. Autumn dates tend to go first, so check the list before fixing your flights.

A deposit of 25 percent of the total fare confirms your cabin, and the balance falls due 125 days before departure. If you book inside that window, the full amount is payable at the time of booking. We confirm the exact figures for your chosen departure in writing before anything is charged.

Child pricing is based on the traveller's age on the departure date, with one band for children under five and another for children aged five to under twelve. Cabins are compact and the rhythm of the journey is built around adult pacing, so families should talk through cabin arrangements before booking. Email travel@palacetours.com or call 786-408-0610 and a travel specialist will price your party exactly.

Edinburgh Airport is about thirty minutes from the city centre by tram or taxi, and Edinburgh Waverley is served by direct trains from London and other British cities. Because boarding is in the early afternoon, most travellers arrive the previous day and stay overnight in the city. We can suggest hotels within walking distance of the station if that helps.

Email travel@palacetours.com, call 786-408-0610, or message us on WhatsApp at https://wa.me/17864080610, and you will reach a travel specialist or our AI assistant. The departure list on this page is bookable directly, so you can choose your date and cabin and confirm it online. If you would rather talk through cabin types or dates first, just ask.