Scottish Steam, Malt & Ale Trail

DAY 1

Journey from your home station to Perth and, on arrival, we will make our way to the Royal George Hotel, our hotel for the next five nights. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together.

DAY 2

After breakfast today, we head northwards to explore the beautiful Trossachs Range by coach, and we enjoy a scenic cruise on Loch Katrine on board the 'Lady of the Lake', named after the famous poem by Sir Walter Scott. Following the cruise, we enjoy free time in the charming town of Callander, perfect for a stroll or a spot of lunch. This afternoon, we visit Deanston Distillery for a guided tour to uncover the fascinating history of the site and learn about the craftsmanship behind their whisky before finishing with a dram or two of their superb whisky.

DAY 3

One of Scotland's great rail journeys awaits us today as we head north into the Cairngorms, passing dense forests and wild moors, flanked by the Grampians, on our way to the mountain resort of Aviemore. Here, we enjoy a return steam excursion from Aviemore to Broomhill on the preserved section of the Highland Line known as the Strathspey Railway passing through woods and alongside the meandering River Spey on a nostalgic journey. We enjoy free time in the charming town of Aviemore before returning to Perth by rail in time for our evening meal together.

DAY 4

This morning, we travel by private coach to Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway for a return journey along this scenic line past waterfalls, through woodlands, and over the Avon Viaduct. Whilst here we will visit the Museum of Scottish Railways, Scotland's largest railway museum, which illustrates the history of railways in Scotland through fascinating displays. Afterwards, we continue to the Bridge of Allan Brewery where we are joined by one of their guides for a unique presentation of the brewery learning the secrets of their brewing techniques before sampling their wonderful ales.

DAY 5

After breakfast this morning, we transfer to Stirling and enjoy some free time before visiting the stunning Stirling Castle, one of Scotland's greatest castles and the childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots. We will explore the beautifully recreated exhibitions and stunning architecture and soak in the castle's rich history. Following our visit, we travel to The Kelpies for a tour of these magnificent equine sculptures discovering the intricate details, complexity, and engineering that created these fantastic pieces of art. Finally, we will transfer to the nearby Falkirk Wheel, an incredible feat of engineering and design where we experience a ride on the world's only rotating boat lift being lifted 35 metres to sail through the sky before returning to Perth for our final evening meal together.

DAY 6

After breakfast, we bid farewell to Perth and make our way to the station for our homeward journeys.

*Important Note: Whilst the arrangements for all described steam train travel are in place, we do reserve the right to make substitutions should it be deemed necessary for whatever reason.

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner