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Welcome to Railtrail Tours

A family firm with an ethos of honesty and integrity. Our passion for delivering quality escorted holidays by rail at great value fares along with consistently excellent customer service has stood us in good stead for over 40 years.

Big on Quality, Small Enough to Care

01538 382323
Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm

<img src="balmoralcastle3©shutterstock.jpeg" alt="Balmoral Castle"/>

Royal Deeside Explorer

Discover the diversity of Scotland on this fantastic tour in Aberdeen and Dundee. From royal life at stunning castles to iconic waterfronts, from wildlife cruises to heritage transport, this nostalgic tour has something for everyone. Explore the rich history and beauty of two wonderful coastal Scottish cities perfectly combined with a couple of wee drams!

View Dates & Book

8 days from £1489

 

DEPARTS

Tuesday 22 April 2025

Tuesday 1 July 2025

 

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Visit Balmoral, the Scottish home of the Royal Family

  • Sample a wee dram at the Glen Garioch Distillery

  • Discover the ‘Granite City’ of Aberdeen on a guided tour

  • Enjoy dolphin spotting on a harbour cruise

  • Meet Highland cattle on a working farm visit

  • Visit Crathes Castle, a classic Scottish tower house with glorious gardens

  • Enjoy railway nostalgia at the Royal Deeside Railway

  • Visit Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre, Britain’s first military airfield

  • Journey on the Caledonian Railway

  • Stroll around Dundee’s redeveloped waterfront including the V&A Museum of Design

  • Explore Glamis Castle, the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother

  • Indulge in a gin tasting in the picturesque village of Glamis

 

Also included in your Tour Fare:

  • 7 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal plus 1 light refreshment

  • Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

DAY 1

Journey from your home station to Aberdeen and, on arrival, we will make our way to the Station Hotel, our base for the next four nights. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together.

D

DAY 2

This morning, we travel by private coach to Balmoral, the Scottish home of the Royal Family, and we discover the castle's fascinating history, famous residents and visitors, exploring the largest room in the castle, the Ballroom, plus the exhibitions, grounds, and gardens. Following our visit, we transfer to the Glen Garioch Distillery, one of the oldest operating distilleries in Scotland, for a tour and a wee dram of one of Scotland's most exclusive whiskies.

B, D

DAY 3

After breakfast today, we enjoy a guided tour of the 'Granite City' of Aberdeen where we will visit the highlights of the city including the historic Old Town, the castellated Citadel at The Castlegate, and the striking gothic Marischal College. Following our tour, we enjoy free time to explore the city's many attractions including Provost Skene's House, the Aberdeen Maritime Museum, and the famous shopping 'Granite Mile'. This afternoon we enjoy a 1-hour harbour and dolphin cruise with a fascinating talk on the history of the port before sailing into Aberdeen Bay to spot dolphins and wildlife.

B, D

DAY 4

This morning, we travel by private coach to the Lochton of Leys Farmhouse, the home of Aberdeenshire Highland Beef, where we meet the herd of pedigree Highland cattle up close and learn about the history of this native breed on an exclusive 1-hour guided tour followed by tea/coffee served with shortbread. We then continue to nearby Crathes Castle where turrets, gargoyles, and the ancient Horn of Leys are just a few of the fascinating features we discover at this classic Scottish tower house. Following our visit, we make our way to the Royal Deeside Railway, which is unique in having served all British Monarchs, from Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II. We board our train for a two-mile journey before returning to our hotel in time for our evening meal.

B, LR, D

DAY 5

After breakfast, we enjoy magnificent views as we travel to Montrose to visit the Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre, the first operational military airfield in Great Britain, and dedicated to aviation history dating back over 100 years. Following our visit, we continue to the Caledonian Railway for a return journey along the four-mile branch line between the town of Brechin to the countryside stop of Bridge of Dun. After our fascinating day of heritage, we continue our journey to Dundee and arrive at our base for the next three nights, the Malmaison Hotel.

B, D

DAY 6

Today we enjoy a day at leisure in our new base of Dundee and we can visit the impressive V&A museum, discover maritime history at Discovery Point, explore the McManus Art Gallery & Museum, make use of the Dundee hop-on, hop-off bus, or stroll the waterfront before reconvening for our evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 7

After breakfast this morning, we journey by private coach to Glamis Castle and enjoy a guided tour to learn the rich history of the castle, the legendary setting of Shakespeare's Macbeth, the childhood home of HM Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, and the birthplace of Princess Margaret. Following our tour, we spend some time in the quaint village of Glamis and visit the characterful Gin Bothy where we enjoy a talk and gin tasting in one of their cosy and rustic tasting rooms before returning to our hotel in the afternoon for our final evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 8

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

B

B=Breakfast, LR=Light Refreshments, D=Dinner

HOTELS

Station Hotel, Aberdeen

Ideally located opposite the railway station and in the heart of the Granite City, the historic Station Hotel offers a brasserie restaurant serving exquisite dishes in modern and contemporary surroundings plus a relaxing bar. The comfortable bedrooms provide a bathroom with complimentary toiletries, a hairdryer, flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.

 

Malmaison Hotel, Dundee

Located in the heart of Dundee and on the banks of the River Tay, the Malmaison offers a remarkable backdrop housed in a historic building and boasting many original features. The Malmaison Bar & Grill serves delightful dishes made with locally sourced ingredients and the modern bar is the perfect place to relax. The stylish bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom with a power shower and complimentary toiletries, a hairdryer, digital TV, ironing facilities, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.

 

FARES

Fare Region

First*

Standard

London: Kings Cross

£1,809

£1,675

Greater London

£1,825

£1,679

South of England

£1,875

£1,705

East Anglia

£1,869

£1,705

South West

£1,999

£1,785

Heart of England

£1,875

£1,705

Midlands

£1,859

£1,685

Yorkshire

£1,775

£1,655

North East

£1,719

£1,625

North West

£1,805

£1,659

South Wales

£1,929

£1,739

North Wales

£1,849

£1,695

Scotland

£1,635

£1,579

 

*Please Note: Some local and regional train services are Standard Class seating only and First Class ticket holders will travel in standard class accommodation for these sections of their journey.

 

£10 tour discount for holders of National Railcards

£10 tour discount for National Trust Members

Join & Leave at Hotels £1,509

July Departure Supplement £40

Single Room Supplement £490

 

7 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal plus 1 light refreshment

Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class)

Rail & coach travel, with transfers as described

All excursions & admissions as detailed

Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

 

Important – Please select the number of passengers before proceeding to ‘Book Now’

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Contact Us
Railtrail Tours Limited
21 The Smithfield Centre, Leek
Staffordshire Moorlands, ST13 5JW
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