Overview

Back by popular demand, we offer the chance to combine a memorable coach holiday with a leisurely look at some of Scotland’s finest scenery by rail. We include journey’s on board the “Kyle of Lochalsh”, the “Highland Lines” and a ride on the “Jacobite Express - Road to the Isles”, described as one of the greatest railway journeys of the world with outstanding scenery all the way. Based in the Highlands village of Aviemore, this is a tour not to be missed!

Your Accommodation:

The 4 star Aviemore Hotel is situated in the Highland village of which it gets its name. Part of the MacDonald Hotels group, it offers all day facilities along with home comforts, including a large indoor pool, a bar and relaxing lounge and a modern restaurant. Each of the tastefully furnished, ensuite bedroms have a TV, telephone and tea/coffee making facilities and are served by a lift.

Your Itinerary:

Our door to door service takes you to the waiting coach for the drive north from our home area through North Yorkshire, into Scotland and on to our overnight hotel, The Peebles Hydro, in the historic town of Peebles, arriving late afternoon.

Superb Scottish scenery today as we head north to the Highlands. We travel through the wonderful landscapes to make a stop for lunch in the popular resort of Fort William. This afternoon we pass Ben Nevis and more Highland beauty before reaching our holiday hotel in Aviemore, well in time for dinner.

This morning we make our way into the beautiful Glenmore Forest Park on our way to Cairngorms. Twice the size of the Lake District, the Cairngorms National Park has more mountains, forest paths, rivers, lochs and wildlife hotspots than you can possibly imagine. Here we have the opportunity, weather permitting, to take a ride on the fantastic Cairngorm Mountain Railway for those choosing to do so. Why not have a delicious lunch in the Panoramic Restaurant and admire the superb views? This afternoon we visit the Highland Wildlife Park, home to the famous Scottish Wildcats and other interesting animals, including its own safari drive.

After a full Scottish breakfast we depart by coach through the beautiful Scottish Highlands to Kyle of Lochalsh. This land of castles, hills and lochs is the gateway to the Isle of Skye which can be viewed across the water. The town’s shoreline stretches far to the east beyond the pier and to the railway's station. After a little time to explore, we meet at the station and join our train for the journey along the Kyle Line to Inverness. The Kyle Line is one of the world’s most scenic rail journeys. The view from the windows are worth the fare alone, but no matter where you are along its 80 miles, historic Scotland is only a few metres away. We re-join our coach in Inverness and return to the hotel for dinner.

Today we travel south west along the shore of Loch Laggan and through Glen Spean to Fort William, the largest town in the Highlands and lies in the shadow of Ben Nevis. Here we enjoy another train journey, this time by steam train on the famous ‘JACOBITE’ along the celebrated West Highland Line to Mallaig. Described as the greatest railway journey in the world, this 84 mile round trip takes you past a list of impressive extremes. This spectacular line passes hidden lochs and inlets, silver sands, and crosses the magnificent 100ft-high Glenfinnan viaduct, famous as the first mass concrete viaduct ever built in the world, now more notable for appearing in several of the Harry Potter films. Mallaig is a major fishing port and we have time to wander around the harbour and explore before we catch the train for the return journey to Fort William, where we re-join the coach for our ride back to Aviemore.

A journey brings us to Kingussie station where we catch the train to Inverness. The line takes us through spectacular scenery over the lines summit at Slochd before descending into the Highland Capital, Inverness where we have some time to wander around the quay, partake in some retail therapy or just sit and watch the world go by. We return to the Aviemore Hotel for our final evening’s dinner here.

Departing after breakfast, today's drive south takes us through the rugged Grampian Mountains and Glen Garry to Pitlochry where we make a stop for a distillery visit. Then through the lush farmlands of Perthshire to historic Stirling, Gateway to the Highlands, with time for lunch in the lower town. The afternoon sees us pass Glasgow to reach our overnight hotel in Dumfries.

Homeward bound, we make a stop in Gretna Green then over the border and south through England to historic Richmond where we make a stop for lunch. This afternoon we return to our home area and waiting taxis arriving early evening.

* Insurance Premiums are renewed from 1st January 2024.