A Highland Fling

Day 1 Depart London for Edinburgh via York. The journey starts with a superb full English breakfast of superior sourced produce, served with a glass of champagne as we depart London Victoria behind a vintage diesel locomotive for a quick run to York, where we will be joined by B1 Mayflower, onwards by steam to Edinburgh. From far-reaching views over the Cathedral City of Durham, the Angel of the North to the Royal Border Bridge at Berwick and the cliffs of the North East coast, the backdrop of our first day sets the tone for the rest of the journey. Early dinner on board before reaching the capital and checking in at the 5-star Balmoral (or similar) for a two night stay. (B, D)

Day 2 Day at leisure in Edinburgh with free time to explore Edinburgh, to many interesting attractions from its iconic medieval castle, to an extinct volcano, to Scotland’s crown jewels. Activities range from sipping whisky, hiking up Arthur’s Seat or going underground to explore some of the city’s medieval past. You can join optional excursions to Stirling Castle, Culross Palace (Pre-bookable £40), or the Royal Yacht Britannia (Pre-bookable £75). (B)

Day 3 Set out mid-morning over the Forth Railway Bridge. Elevenses will be served on board as our journey takes us via the beautiful coastal route to Aberdeen. Here we will have a short lunchtime break before continuing to Inverness, enjoy an early dinner on board before arriving in the capital of the Highlands. Transfer to the Macdonald Drumrossie Hotel for a three night stay. (B, L, D)

Day 4 During your time in the Highlands there is time to relax and enjoy your surrounds as well as the opportunity to sample some of the most scenic lines in Europe – Inverness to The Kyle of Lochalsh, Inverness to Dunrobin via the Far North Line, the journey south via the Highland Main Line and finally along the Firth of Clyde. (B)

Optional excursion to the Kyle of Lochalsh with B1 Mayflower - A full day trip through some of the most beautiful, wild and least populated countryside in the UK taking us from one side of Scotland to the other. One of the gems of Scotland’s railways, the stunning route to Kyle of Lochalsh, has many fearsome gradients and glorious vistas over mountains and lochs. After a short time to relax in Kyle of Lochalsh, join a coach excursion to the picturesque Eilean Donan Castle on Loch Duich for a guided tour. Elevenses will be served on the outward journey and a dinner on the return (Pre-bookable - Fares per person: With Pullman Style Dining £270). (L, D)

Day 5 Day at leisure in the Highland’s capital, or join one of the optional excursions (B):

Optional excursion to Dunrobin Castle - Our train, hauled by 61306 Mayflower, takes the scenic route north to Dunrobin Castle Station, the magnificent castle and grounds are a short 5 minute walk away. Ancestral home of the Dukes and Earls of Sutherland, Dunrobin  is the most northerly of Scotland's great houses and the largest in the Northern Highlands. One of Britain's oldest continuously inhabited houses dating back to the early 1300s. Explore the castle and watch the excellent falconry displays. (Entrance fee: £9.00 payable locally).  Please note that Dunrobin Castle is a historic building and as a consequence is not suitable for those with limited mobility. Alternatively you may opt to remain onboard the train as we travel a few miles up the line to the small, quiet coastal village of Brora. Passengers will be served a light lunch on the outward journey and dinner on the return (Pre-bookable - Pullman Style Dining £225). (L, D)

Optional excursion to Cawdor Castle and Culloden - A trip combining two of Scotland’s most famous sites. The legendary Cawdor Castle, famously linked by Shakespeare to Macbeth, was built by the Thanes of Cawdor in the 14th century. This romantic castle is still home to the Cawdor family. Most of the public rooms are on the first floor accessed by a wide stone staircase but there are public rooms over several floors so those with mobility issues will not be able to access the full tour. The beautiful gardens including a 17th-century walled garden, a flower garden and a wild garden are level walking and only a short distance from the castle. We then travel the short distance to the most famous battlefield in Scotland – Culloden owned by the National Trust for Scotland with time to explore. Take a walk around the battlefield, listen to the audio guide and visit the world class visitor centre which brings the history of this most bloody battle in April 1746 to life (Pre-bookable £45 (£35.50 for National Trust members)).

Optional Cruise on Loch Ness and a visit to Urquhart Castle - You will be taken by coach from your hotels to Dochgarroch Lock for a morning departure. Cruise across Loch Ness to Urquhart Castle. After disembarking there will be two hours to explore one of the most scenic ruined castles in Scotland with a bloody history stretching through from the 14^th – 16^th Centuries. We return by coach, giving you time to enjoy the afternoon in Inverness (Pre-bookable £45).

Day 6 Today travel to Ayr via the Highland Main Line, regarded as one of the most scenic in the country, linking a series of small towns and villages between Perth and Inverness, continuing south to the coast at Ayr. Experience the Highland Perthshire hills and rivers, Cairngorms National Park and mountains alongside the Spey Valley. Discover the historic station and signal box at Dunkeld and Birnam, the beautiful and well-kept Victorian station at Pitlochry and onwards to Dalwhinnie, the highest station on the line, home to a famous whisky distillery. Travel along the only surviving wooden viaduct at ultnaslanach, through the Pass of Killiecrankie, betwixt road and river and the Soldiers Leap and over Drumochter Summit, approaching the Cairngorms in Aviemore. Transfer to the Trump Turnberry for a two night stay. (B, L)

Day 7 Enjoy the stunning scenery and coastline as we travel along the Firth of Clyde to Stranraer, there will be the opportunity for those that wish to  enjoy a round of golf at one of the prestigious local courses or join the optional excursion to the Isle of Arran. Isle of Arran: The island lies in the Firth of Clyde between Ayr, Ardrossan, and Kintyre and is referred to as the "Sleeping Warrior". Continuously inhabited since the early Neolithic period and numerous prehistoric remains have been found. From the 6th century it was colonised by the Irish and became a centre of religious activity. In the troubled Viking Age, Arran became the property of the Norwegian crown, until formally absorbed by the kingdom of Scotland in the 13th century. Visit Arran Coastal Way, designated as one of Scotland's Great Trails by Scottish Natural Heritage and Brodick Castle, owned by the National Trust for Scotland. Price per person £40. (B, L)

Day 8 Today we travel from Ayr to Skipton via the Cumbrian Coast, steam-hauled through the lowlands of Scotland and across the border to Carlisle for a short lunchtime break. In the afternoon, we travel along the stunning Cumbrian Coast route, with nearly 100 miles of stunning views as the railway line hugs the narrow strip of land between The Irish Sea and the Lakeland Fells. On a clear day you can see distant vistas of the Isle of Man and the Scottish Coast. As the sun starts to set, we head towards the Dales and the area known as Brontë Country where we will be spending our final night. An early dinner will be served on board before we transfer to the Coniston Hotel Country Estate and Spa for overnight. (B, D)

Day 9 The last day of our trip dawns, and after breakfast we head South travelling through the heart of England along the Midland mainline. Skirting Leeds and Sheffield, we pass through the town of Chesterfield with its famous bent spire visible from the train, through the East Midlands and then over the world famous Harringworth Viaduct between Melton Mowbray and Corby before finally arriving at our destination, London Victoria, as the rush hour ends. Elevenses and an early dinner will be served on board. (B, L, D)

• Key
• B - Breakfast
• L - Lunch
• D - Dinner