A tourism insider's guide to seeing Scotland at its very best

Telegraph

14-03-2025

I'm going into my 15th season leading tours to Scotland and I've loved it ever since my first visit. The Scots would do anything for you and are very proud of their heritage. The food is great and the scenery is absolutely stunning. Great Rail Journeys is a real specialist in Scotland with no less than 15 different tours to the country, covering everywhere from Edinburgh all the way up to the Shetland Isles including off the beaten track areas such as the Outer Hebrides. There is so much to see and do here – which is why we see customers returning time and again.
When you visit Scotland at different times of year, the landscapes completely change too. There are wild hydrangeas in April and all the different heathers in August and September. Then in late September and October you begin to get the burnished colours of autumn.
For me, I love the Scottish history that ties in with the scenery, such as Glencoe's link with the Jacobite uprising – it really brings the landscape to life.
After leading different tours to Scotland, I was delighted to become a tour specialist for the nine-day Edinburgh, the Highlands & Islands tour because I think it's a great itinerary for immersing people in the Scottish experience. It gives a real flavour of the Highlands and what Scotland is really about.
As a Great Rail Journeys tour manager, I want to get to know my guests and find out what each of them wants to get from their tour with us, wherever possible. I always begin by asking why they chose this specific tour. Some are interested in Scottish history, others are there to explore their clan heritage while others might be interested in the engineering of the railways. If someone says to me, they just really want to see a Highland coo, then we go out of our way to make that happen!
The tour starts in Edinburgh, from where we travel on to Glasgow, which is a great city. But it is when you leave there that you start to see the history of Scotland come to life. Travelling on the West Highland Line from Glasgow to Fort William is often a real surprise for guests, because they don't know what to expect from it and can't believe how remote it is.
The railway crosses the wilds of Rannoch Moor and the only way you can get there is by rail or by walking. The peaceful serenity gives this place a mystical feel – sometimes it feels like the only sign of life is a herd of deer, which makes you wonder how they built this railway in such an isolated place.
On this tour we do a lot of different things. We take the ferry to the Isle of Mull, and enjoy a cruise across Loch Linnhe and Loch Ness. Even though I've done it so many times, I always find myself staring in the dark waters wondering 'could there be something in there?'. It captures the imagination.
We take the Jacobite steam train to Mallaig, a journey that is as iconic as it is scenic, thanks to its appearance in the Harry Potter series of films and books as the Hogwarts Express. This is one highlight that excites our guests and their children (or grandchildren).
For me, a highlight is driving through Glencoe, which is one of the most stunning drives imaginable. Of course, we have plenty of stops for enjoying the scenery and taking photos. Often, on this part of the journey, people will be completely quiet because they're so captivated by the landscape.
Eilean Donan Castle is the archetypal Scottish castle, set on the most amazing inlet. It's a truly remarkable sight to behold. Our guests are always surprised to see that it's also a working castle, where they host weddings and events.
The whole trip is wrapped up in stories, which is done really well. Willie Cameron, aka Mr Loch Ness, is our storyteller on the trip. There is nothing he and his team don't know about the area. We enjoy an informative commentary on the Loch Linhe cruise and we have a lot of local specialists who come in and talk to us throughout the tour. Even our coach drivers will share their stories and talk about their clans – what they don't know isn't worth knowing. It all makes for a thoroughly enjoyable trip and I've never met anyone who doesn't enjoy it.
Having dedicated so much of my time to sharing my knowledge of the country with visitors, Scotland is a special destination for me. I do a lot of tours to different places around the world, but the Edinburgh, the Highlands & Islands itinerary is one of the few I can do over and again and discover something different every time.
See more of Scotland
As well as the Edinburgh, Highlands and Islands trip, Great Rail Journeys offers a whole variety of different itineraries around Scotland, weaving together its landmark sights with little-known surprises.
On the eight-day Skye, Orkney & the Wild North itinerary, for example, you'll combine rail journeys through stunning Highlands scenery with picturesque villages and the history of the Orkneys. You'll also enjoy a whiskey-tasting session on the Isle of Skye, visit Dunvegan – one of the greatest Hebridean castles – and soak up the views from the West Highland Line to Glasgow.
Another standout Scotland itinerary is the eight-day Lewis, Skye & the Highlands of Scotland tour, which immerses guests in the wild beauty of the Outer Hebrides and the Highlands. You'll see the Old Man of Storr rock formation on Skye and the Callanish Standing Stones of Lewis, then explore Stornoway and the artsy village of Ullapool before making your way to the storied streets of the capital, Edinburgh.