Belmond Royal Scotsman tours begin next month from Edinburgh Waverley

Luxury charter travels around Scotland from April to October every year

The Belmond Royal Scotsman luxury charter train will begin its 2019 touring itinerary from Edinburgh Waverley, the departure point for every excursion in its programme.

Of the seven main tours that the train operates, the Scotland’s Classic Splendours and Scotch Malt Whisky Trail excursions are the first of the season, leaving on 11 April 2019.

Heritage Homes and Gardens, Grand Taste of the Highlands, Grand Western Scenic Wonders Northbound or Westbound The Grampians And Beyond and Clans, Castles & Isles make up the other five main tours.

The seven main tours usually follow three main routes. Scotland’s Classic Splendours is a 720 miles five days and four nights tour from Edinburgh to Kyle of Lochalsh and return including a journey on the Strathspey Steam Railway.

Western Scenic Wonders is a 660 miles four days and three nights itinerary from Edinburgh to Mallaig and return while Taste of the Highlands is a 540 miles three days and two nights programme from Edinburgh to Inverness and back.

At Edinburgh Waverley, the red carpet is rolled out and a piper welcomes passengers aboard before each departure. The Belmond Royal Scotsman also completes a Grand Tour of Great Britain excursion, taking place this year from 5-10 July 2019. This is their luxury offering at £11,000 per person for a twin cabin.

Highlights include unique views of the Forth and Tay Rail Bridges while off-train coach excursions to clay pigeon shooting, woollen mills and whisky distilleries are also included.

Traveling from the Central Belt of Scotland to the highlands and lowlands, the ten car train is able to provide an exclusive service by having a maximum of 36 passengers with three times as many staff.

Since 1985, the Royal Scotsman has transported passengers across Scotland to experience the history, culture and natural landscapes in style, comfort and pleasure, recreating the golden age of rail travel.

Five years later the original stock was replaced by a new fleet of Pullman cars complete with lacquer-polished wooden-paneling and private staterooms with en-suite bathrooms as well as an observation carriage.

Now in its 35th season, the Royal Scotsman experience continues to attract a high volume of customers. More recently, an eighth heritage car, the Bamford Haybarn Spa, was added to the luxury train set.

Formerly Orient Express Hotels Ltd, Belmond also operates the luxury charters British Pullman in England and Grand Hibernian in Ireland as well as Andean Explorer and Hiram Bingham in Peru.