The Highlands & Isle of Skye: Rail & Hike

Your rail and hike adventure through Scotland begins from the historic capital of Edinburgh. Hop aboard the first train (2 hours), which whisks you away into the Highlands to the small, yet delightful, village of Blair Atholl. Settle into your cosy B&B for a two night stay; the ideal base from which to explore.

After a hearty Scottish breakfast explore the wooded grounds of the Atholl Estate. Follow paths that meander through forest and heather-clad hills surrounding Blair Castle & Gardens, the historic home of the Earls and Dukes of Atholl and dating from the 1200s.

Alternatively, opt for a lovely riverside walk to the charming Highland town of Pitlochry. After exploring the town, perhaps enjoying an afternoon tea, return to Blair atholl via the train in just 10 minutes.

Blair Castle Grounds Loop Walk: 7 km (4 miles); Ascent: 115m (377ft) / Descent: 115m (377ft)

Blair Atholl to Pitlochry: 14 km (9 miles); Ascent: 101m (331ft) / Descent: 145m (476ft)

Glen Tilt Loop Walk: 15 km (10 miles); Ascent: 270m (886ft) / Descent: 269m (883ft)

Start your day with a scenic 1.5-hour train ride to Inverness, the captivating capital of the Highlands.

Today is a day to enjoy the Highland capital at your own pace. Our half-day Explore Inverness walk takes you on a gentle loop through the city’s most characterful corners. Stroll along the banks of the River Ness and cross its elegant bridges. Browse the bustling Victorian Market, step inside the cathedral and pause at some of the city’s historic churches.

Be sure to visit Inverness Castle, which stands high above the river with sweeping views over the city and the water below. It’s a must-see on any visit, so we encourage you to build it into your day.

If you’d like to stretch your legs further, Inverness also makes a great base for exploring the shores of Loch Ness, Scotland’s most storied loch and home to the legend of “Nessie”. We can recommend local tours and cruises on the loch, and the 13th-century ruins of Urquhart Castle sit on its shores. On a clear day, there’s nothing like a boat trip for taking in the scenery!

We Recommend: Adding an extra night in Inverness. For those who like to travel at a slower pace, the extra time allows you to spend a full day in the Highland Capital. On the following day, you can visit Loch Ness.

Sit back and relax as you depart Inverness on the iconic North Highland Line, a stunningly scenic journey alongside remote lochs, glens and mountains to the seaside station of Kyle of Lochalsh (2h30).

Here you'll change onto a bus that carries you over the Skye Bridge to the isle itself, and on to Portree (1hr), your base for the next couple of nights. You'll have the afternoon free to explore the town and harbour. The Sorrybreac Loop Walk skirts the rugged coastline past the Cuillin Hills Hotel and, on a clear day, gives you a distant view of the iconic Old Man of Storr, before looping back into town, timed nicely for an evening meal.

Portree has some fantastic restaurants to choose from, but you'll need to book ahead to guarantee a table. All the classic Scottish dishes are available, and there are some great places serving locally caught, fresh seafood.

Accommodation in Portree is limited during the busy summer season. If we are unable to secure a room in our preferred accommodations, you may be offered an upgrade to a higher standard of accommodation. Please note that this will incur an additional supplement, which will be confirmed at the time of booking.

Sorrybreac and Portree Loop Walk: 5 km (3 miles); Ascent: 95m (311ft) / Descent: 95m (311ft)

The colourful waterfront houses of Portree harbour turn up on many a postcard, and it's easy to see why. Today's yours to spend as you like – wander the streets of this lovely Highland town, or hop on a local bus out to the iconic Old Man of Storr for a walk you won't forget.

Fancy seeing more of the island? We can book you onto a full-day group tour of Skye with one of our knowledgeable local partners (supplement payable). It's a brilliant way to take in the best bits in one go, the brooding black and red peaks of the Cuillins, a walk through the Fairy Pools, stops at the famous Quiraing and the Old Man of Storr, plus a visit to Talisker Distillery.

For more information about the day tour. Just speak to one of our destination experts.

The Old Man of Storr Linear Walk: 5 km (3 miles); Ascent: 338m (1109ft) / Descent: 336m (1,102ft)

You can look forward to many memorable travel experiences today! First, take a scenic bus ride (1hr) to Armadale, where you catch the trusty Calmac ferry (30 mins) to Mallaig. Arriving back on the mainland, you will then ride the West Highland Line from Mallaig across the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct to the bustling port town of Fort William, home to Scotland's largest mountain, Ben Nevis. Along the way, the views are spectacular as the train winds its way past pristine beaches and mountain panoramas (2h50).

Your ferry journey and train will be pre-booked. We will also provide you with up to date information/timetables for the bus from Portree to Armadale. You can choose to pay on the bus or online at Stagecoach Bus. In peak season, we recommend booking tickets online once you have received confirmed times for the ferry and train. For those with some time in Mallaig, a short walk giving great views across Loch Nevis to Knoydart will be available on the app as well as recommended lunch spots and information about luggage storage.

Unfortunately, we are unable to book the Jacobite Steam train which runs between Fort William and Mallaig. Instead, you will be booked on to a Scotrail service which runs on the same train line (West Highland Line). If choosing to travel on the Jacobite Train, you can book directly on West Coast Railways.

Mallaig Explorer: 4 km (2 miles); Ascent: 97m (318ft) / Descent: 318m (1,102ft)

Finish on a high by walking the first section of one of Scotland's most recognised long-distance trails, the Great Glen Way, with views of Britain's tallest mountain, Ben Nevis. Soon after leaving Fort William, you'll pass the impressive eight locks of Neptune's Staircase on the Caledonian Canal. For the most part, the trail follows an easy-going canal towpath, with the chance to spot red squirrels in the surrounding woodland before arriving in the hamlet of Gairlochy at the foot of Loch Lochy.

An afternoon transfer to your accommodation is included in the tour and provided by the accommodation itself. If you'd like to walk further, you can continue all the way to your accommodation, passing the Commando Memorial – though part of this route runs alongside a busy road.

You'll need to contact the accommodation directly on the day of your walk to let them know which option you've chosen. For some accommodations, there may be a small additional fee for the transfer.

Fort William to Gairlochy: 17 km (10 miles); Ascent: 115m (377ft) / Descent: 9m (30ft)

Gairlochy to Spean Bridge Extension: 7 km (4.5 miles); Ascent: 92m (301ft) / Descent: 48m (159ft)

Get ready for yet another of Britain’s most scenic railway journeys as you travel south on the classic West Highland Line.

Soak up the last of the Highland scenery from your seat as you speed through the fertile Great Glen to Rannoch Moor, a remote plateau at 300m above sea level. This is a wild landscape of peat bogs, lochans and ancient forests, home now to herds of red deer.

Your delightful 3h30 journey ends in the vibrant city of Glasgow, from where you can make your onward journey. Accommodation tonight in Glasgow is not included, however please contact us should you wish us to make arrangements for you.