Royal Scotsman

The Royal Scotsman first left Edinburgh in 1985, with Mark 1 sleeping cars and three vintage dining and lounge cars. The train that runs today replaced them in 1990, and its carriages are older than that date suggests: they are Pullman cars built in 1960 by Metropolitan-Cammell for the East Coast Main Line, and most of them were named. The observation car, with an open veranda at the back, was Snipe; the dining cars are still called Raven and Swift; the cabins are in the cars that were Pearl, Topaz, Magpie and Heron.

Belmond has run the train since 2005. It carries guests in 18 sleeper cabins, from twin cabins to Grand Suites, and has two dining cars, a bar in the observation car and a Dior spa carriage with two treatment rooms. Two GB Railfreight Class 66 diesels, 66743 and 66746, are painted in its maroon.

Every journey is a round trip from Edinburgh Waverley, of two to seven nights, between April and early November. The train travels by day, and at night it draws into a quiet station or siding so that guests sleep standing still. Excursions leave it for castles, gardens and distilleries. This page follows the three-night Highlands tour on its map.

Every journey begins with check-in at The Balmoral and ends back at Edinburgh Waverley in the morning. Belmond publishes no times: the train runs in paths given to it by the national network, and its timings are approximate.

The Highlands, three nights

The train leaves Edinburgh for Perth and runs north through Dunkeld, Pitlochry and Blair Atholl over afternoon tea, then beyond Aviemore and the Cairngorms to Boat of Garten for the night, with Gaelic music in the observation car after dinner. On the second day it runs to Inverness and takes the Kyle line west through Achnasheen and Achnashellach. Guests choose Attadale Gardens, Plockton's seals or a guided hike, and the night is spent at Kyle of Lochalsh. On the third day the train goes back to Aviemore for a morning at Rothiemurchus and an afternoon at a Speyside distillery or on a bicycle along the Spey, then returns to Boat of Garten for the last dinner. Breakfast is served on the way south.

The Highlands, four nights

This tour leaves over the Forth Bridge and follows the coast past Arbroath, Montrose and Aberdeen to Keith. It spends the second night at Kyle, and the third day begins with a walk across the Skye Bridge, then Garve and an afternoon at Ballindalloch Castle. The last day brings Rothiemurchus, lunch on the way to Dunkeld, and Scone Palace or Pitlochry before a gala dinner and a night in Dundee.

The West Coast, three nights

This one leaves in the early afternoon through Falkirk and joins the West Highland Line at Craigendoran, past Loch Lomond and up Glen Falloch to Spean Bridge. The second day runs through Fort William to Arisaig for the sands of Morar, with a visit to the Glenfinnan Monument on the way back. The third day crosses to the Isle of Bute for Mount Stuart, and the train stands overnight at Kilmarnock.

The seven-night tours join the Highlands and the West Coast, and other journeys are built around whisky, gardens, castles and guest chefs.

The Royal Scotsman runs on fixed departure dates and is sold as a package; there is no daily train. Every journey starts and ends at Edinburgh Waverley, with check-in at The Balmoral in the late morning and departure in the afternoon. The three-night Highlands tour leaves on a Friday and returns on the Monday; the four-night tour leaves on a Monday and returns on the Friday; the two-night tours leave on a Monday or a Wednesday.

2027 departures

Days of the month each journey leaves Edinburgh.

The other journeys run on fewer dates: the two-night Taste of Scotland with a guest chef on 3 May (Tom Kitchin), 19 July (Mark Donald) and 23 August (Lorna McNee); the four-night Scotch Malt Whisky Tour on 12 April, 28 June, 16 August, 20 September and 11 October; Clans, Castles & Isles (five nights) on 14 May and 3 September; Heritage Homes & Gardens (four nights) on 31 May; Wild Scotland (three nights) on 25 June; the five-night Highlands and the West on 21 July; and the seven-night Grand Tour of Scotland on 11 June. The last 2027 journey is back in Edinburgh on 5 November.

Dates as of November 2026, from Belmond's list of all departures (opens in a new tab).

Every journey is sold by Belmond, online or through its reservations team, and priced per cabin. The price covers the cabin, every meal on board, a selection of alcoholic and other drinks, the entertainment and the excursions in the itinerary; insurance, tips and souvenirs are not included. The lowest published price is £13,500 for a Double Cabin on the two-night Highlands tour. Suites, new from April 2027, and Grand Suites cost more.

There are only 18 cabins, so book well ahead. Dress is casual by day and smart casual at dinner, with a dark suit, dinner jacket or kilt for the formal nights. Children are welcome, and under-twos travel free. Prices as of November 2026.

No rail pass covers the Royal Scotsman. It is sold only as an all-inclusive package by Belmond, cabin, meals and excursions together, so there is no seat for a pass to buy, and it is not among the train companies in Interrail's table for Great Britain.

A pass can still help around it: Interrail covers ScotRail and the other national network trains to Edinburgh before the journey and home after it.

Checked November 2026 against Interrail's table of railway companies (opens in a new tab).

Each journey leaves the train for its excursions, chosen on board or with the booking. These are places on the Highlands tours worth knowing before you go.

For two to seven nights the train is the hotel. Every journey starts at Waverley in the afternoon and ends there in the morning, so a night in Edinburgh before or after is the one to plan.

Planning this trip and stuck on something, or spotted a time, fare or detail that has changed? Send us a message about Royal Scotsman. We read every one, and we update this page when something has changed.