Lavish Scottish train journey offers luxurious Highland experience for £20k a ticket
The Scottish Highlands, with their wild beauty, often present a challenge for explorers seeking to avoid the elements. For 40 years, however, the Royal Scotsman has offered a luxurious alternative: an opulent rail journey through this iconic landscape, celebrating its enduring appeal and recent upgrades.
Since its launch in 1985, the Royal Scotsman has set the standard for luxury rail travel. As its website details: "Our luxury train first swept across the rails in 1985."
Today, its sumptuous cabins and two dining cars continue to offer exceptional comfort.
Guests enjoy daily excursions into the Scottish landscape, followed by evenings filled with live entertainment and traditional ceilidhs. From arrival, guests are "swept up in a world of thrilling itineraries, centuries old myths and timeless indulgence."
The train's Observation Car offers an unparalleled perspective on the Highlands. Passengers can "Absorb and admire the wildness of the Scottish Highlands from the train's best vantage point. Settle down in a comfortable sofa or armchair, or step out onto our luxury train's open air veranda as you glide past castles, villages and glens."
This carriage provides an ideal spot for an aperitif or after dinner dram, allowing guests to appreciate the countryside's raw charm.
Onshore activities allow guests to delve into a land of soaring peaks, deep valleys, and looming castles, with experiences ranging from Scottish whisky tasting at world famous distilleries and clay pigeon shooting to exhilarating wild swims in mystical lochs. Adding to the luxury, the train features a Dior Spa.
As the website states: "Winding through untamed landscapes aboard our train is the adventure of a lifetime, and the Dior Spa Royal Scotsman adds another unexpected level of extravagance. Relax in the most unique spa Scotland has to offer and unwind in a haven of peace, as the Scottish Highlands' striking scenery serenely passes by."
To mark its 40th anniversary of traversing Scotland, the train recently introduced significant enhancements. Last spring saw the debut of the Magpie Grand Suites.
Designed by French interior architect Tristan Auer, these suites offer a lavish yet intimate atmosphere, incorporating traditional elements like Pictish stone motifs, Celtic symbols, bespoke tweeds, tartans, and detailed mahogany marquetry.
Araminta Birse Stewart, Creative Director, highlighted the design's connection to the landscape: ''The tweed is clearly linear, it brings in the landscapes, the horizon, and the many elements of Scotland inside the train for the guests, as they travel aboard Royal Scotsman and look through the window.''
The Royal Scotsman offers a diverse portfolio of journeys, designed to highlight different facets of Scotland's rich heritage and natural beauty. These itineraries vary in length and theme, promising unique experiences for every guest.
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For a shorter, immersive experience, two night journeys like the Taste of the Highlands begin from £5,300 per passenger in a Double Cabin, offering a focused exploration of the region's natural beauty. A slightly more exclusive two night option, A Taste of Scotland with Tom Kitchin, combines scenic travel with gourmet culinary experiences, starting from £6,400 per passenger.
At the pinnacle of luxury, the Grand Tour of Scotland offers the most extensive experience.
This seven night journey provides an unparalleled Scottish rail adventure, encompassing a vast array of landscapes and activities across the country, from £24,850 per passenger in a Twin Cabin.
Between these options, the Royal Scotsman presents a range of three, four, and five night themed journeys, exploring everything from whisky distilleries and historic homes to the dramatic western coasts and remote isles.
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