Festive Highlands Tartan & Taster 2025

Duration

5 Days

Departure Dates

2nd December 2025

Prices from

£625 Per person

Enjoy a delightful pre-Christmas tour of the spectacular Scottish Highlands packed with fantastic attractions and amazing rail journeys. Discover picturesque scenery from the comfort of your seat, experience Scotland's "Great Railway Journey of the World", and journey on the West Highland Line across the magnificent Glenfinnan Viaduct. Visit the Eilean Donan Castle, tour the Ben Nevis Distillery, and indulge in true Scottish hospitality and entertainment.

Overview
Itinerary
Further Information
Departure Dates
Useful Resources

Fort William ©Shutterstock

5 days from £625

DEPARTS

Tuesday 2 December 2025

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Experience the "Great Railway Journey of the World" to Kyle of Lochalsh
Explore the iconic Eilean Donan Castle
Journey by train on the stunning West Highland Line
Cross the magnificent Glenfinnan Viaduct
See the Bonnie Prince Charlie monument at the head of Loch Shiel
Enjoy a tour and tasting at the fascinating Ben Nevis Distillery
Indulge in delicious Scottish shortbread with a bubbly reception on arrival

Also included in your Tour Fare:

4 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

DAY 1

Journey from your home station to Glasgow and, on arrival, we will transfer by private coach to the Alexandra Hotel in Fort William, our hotel for the next four nights. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together.

DAY 2

Today, we enjoy a truly stunning coach journey as we travel alongside Loch Ness to Inverness where we join the amazing Kyle Line train, Scotland's original "Great Railway Journey of the World". Look out for wild deer, eagles, and the palm trees of Plockton Village, before dramatic sea vistas are revealed as we arrive at Kyle of Lochalsh. Afterwards, we visit the picturesque Eilean Donan Castle before returning to Fort William in time for our evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 3

After breakfast this morning, we rejoin the West Highland Line for the final part of the journey to Mallaig crossing the fantastic Glenfinnan Viaduct, overlooking Loch Shiel and the Bonnie Prince Charlie monument. We round Loch Eilt with its trees of the ancient Caledonian Forest and burst out onto the white-sanded Atlantic shoreline at Morar. Catch distant views of the Isles of Eigg and Rum before we reach the terminus at Mallaig overlooking the Isle of Skye. After a sightseeing break, we return to Fort William for our evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 4

This morning, we enjoy some free time to explore Fort William, you may wish to explore the quaint shops or visit the West Highland Museum in the centre of the town. This afternoon, we travel by road to the Glencoe Visitor Centre which tells the history of this haunting, yet stunning, area before continuing to the fascinating Ben Nevis Distillery. We will learn about the vibrant history of one of the oldest licenced distilleries in Scotland concluding with a tasting of their whisky before returning to the hotel in time for our evening meal.

B, D

DAY 5

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

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

HOTEL

The Alexandra Hotel, Fort William

Located on the shores of Loch Linnhe and Loch Eil and close to the railway station, the Alexandra Hotel features a homely bar with an open fire and a spacious restaurant offering locally sourced dishes. The comfortable bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom, a hairdryer, a flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.

FARES

Fare Region	First*	Standard
London: Euston	£1,059	£855
Greater London	£1,075	£869
South of England	£1,115	£879
East Anglia	£1,115	£895
South West	£1,099	£899
Heart of England	£959	£805
Midlands	£929	£795
Yorkshire	£855	£759
North East	£839	£755
North West	£885	£769
South Wales	£995	£829
North Wales	£945	£805
Scotland	N/A	£759
Join & Leave at Hotel	£645
Single Traveller Supplement	£90
Deposit	£75

*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.

£20 tour discount for holders of National Railcards

4 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal

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’

Number of passengers:

Date	From Price	Book Now	Callback
2nd December 2025	£625 Per person	Book Now	Callback

Can't see a date that suits you? Please register your interest for additional departures on this tour.

Register interest

Enter your details to receive updates on upcoming departure dates for the Festive Highlands Tartan & Taster 2025 rail tour.

The Alexandra, Fort William

Glencoe Visitor Centre

Ben Nevis Distillery

Loch Ness ©Shutterstock

Kyle Line Railway ©Shutterstock

ScotRail on Kyle Line ©ScotRail

Kyle of Lochalsh ©Shutterstock

Eilean Donan Castle ©Shutterstock

Glenfinnan Viaduct1 ©Shutterstock

Glenfinnan Viaduct2 ©Shutterstock

Glenfinnan Monument ©Shutterstock

Mallaig1 ©Shutterstock

Mallaig2 ©Shutterstock

Ben Nevis Distillery ©Shutterstock

Whisky Tasting ©Shutterstock

Celtic Royal New Year Celebration 2025

Celebrate the New Year in style on this relaxing tour to picturesque Wales staying in the stylish Celtic Royal Hotel. Relax in the superb spa facilities, explore the beautiful town of Caernarfon, visit the iconic Castle, and indulge in a whisky tasting at an award-winning distillery. Enjoy a luxurious New Year's Eve Gala Dinner and let the countdown begin!

4 Days 30/12/2025 from £739

Deck the Halls in County Durham 2025

Enjoy a fantastically festive tour to Durham to experience the magic of Christmas from a bygone time. Soak in the festive atmosphere at the incredible Living Museum at Beamish, visit Auckland Castle in all its Christmas glory, and discover a monumental Neapolitan Nativity. Explore the world's first railway town and its unique museum collection plus enjoy free time in the historical city of Durham to create Christmas memories.

4 Days 08/12/2025 from £500

Potteries Heritage Discovery 2025

Discover the heritage of The Potteries on our exclusive tour in Staffordshire enjoying fantastic pottery experiences and guided factory tours. Explore the magnificent Trentham Estate, celebrate the work of Josiah Wedgwood at the famous World of Wedgwood, visit the fantastic Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, and indulge in sumptuous afternoon tea plus enjoy free time to browse unique shops, cafés, and bars.

5 Days Choice of Dates from £799

Peak District Panoramas 2025

Experience a relaxing tour in the beautiful Peak District visiting fabulous attractions and discovering the historic spa town of Buxton on a specialist guided tour. Explore the magnificent Chatsworth Estate and Gardens, visit the charming Pavilion Gardens, indulge in a fascinating "Pub Tours" adventure learning the history of unique establishments, and enjoy free time in Sheffield. Travel on a stunning journey showcasing the best of this county enhanced by a wealth of local knowledge.

5 Days 18/12/2025 from £1,155

Winchester Christmas Celebration 2025

Experience the festive season in style on this relaxing tour in the historic city of Winchester staying in the elegant Winchester Royal Hotel. Explore this medieval city, visit the magnificent Cathedral in all its festive glory, discover the iconic Spinnaker Tower, and indulge in a wonderful, traditional Christmas Day lunch.

5 Days 23/12/2025 from £1,190

Stratford Festive Delights 2026

Relax on a delightfully festive tour in the historic town of Stratford staying in a beautiful countryside hotel. Explore the birthplace of Shakespeare, visit Warwick Castle in all its festive glory, and indulge in a wonderful, traditional Christmas Day lunch. Enjoy mince pies, Christmas cake, and festive cheers galore.

5 Days 23/12/2026 from £1,025

Twixmas in Dumfries & Galloway 2025

Enjoy a relaxing Twixmas break to picturesque Scotland and unwind post-Christmas. Journey through the scenic forests of Dumfries and Galloway, visit the historic Globe Inn, and indulge in a whisky tasting at an award-winning distillery. Explore the seaside town of Ayr, experience true Scottish hospitality and entertainment, and make the most of the festive season.

4 Days 27/12/2025 from £585

Step into Christmas in Windsor & Oxford 2025

Step into Christmas with our new festive tour exploring the history of Berkshire. Visit Oxford Castle and climb St Geroge's Tower, tour Windsor Castle in its spectacular winter glory, and soak in the festive atmosphere at Waddesdon Manor Christmas Markets. Cruise the River Thames, indulge in a festive afternoon tea, and enjoy free time in Oxford and Windsor to create Christmas memories.

5 Days 02/12/2025 from £1,045

Yuletide Yorkshire 2026

Enjoy a fantastically festive tour to Yorkshire staying in the beautiful spa town of Harrogate. Discover Castle Howard in all its Christmas glory, sail through the beautiful countryside at Skipton, indulge in a festive afternoon tea, and experience the enchanting glow-winter illuminations at RHS Harlow Carr Gardens plus free time to explore the medieval city of York.

4 Days 25/11/2026 from £695

Stratford Festive Delights 2025

5 Days 23/12/2025 from £985

Scenic Scotland at Christmas 2025

Experience a magical Christmas on this relaxing tour in scenic Scotland. Journey through picturesque countryside, explore vibrant cities, and visit the impressive Stirling Castle in all its festive glory. Indulge in a chocolate tasting with the Highland Chocolatier plus a wonderful Christmas Day lunch, mince pies, and festive cheers galore.

8 Days 20/12/2025 from £1,820

What our customers say

Sounds like the holiday for you?

View Dates and Book

Why Book with Railtrail

Railtrail Tours is 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

Unique Experiences

Our tours are unique to us, created by our team of rail travel experts who each have a lifetime of knowledge and experience in the rail holiday industry

Financial Protection

Railtrail Tours are members of ABTOT and ATOL, meaning you can relax knowing that you are fully protected when booking any holiday with us.

Loyalty Rewards

For every pound spent you will receive Loyalty Points on return from your holiday, which can then be used as a discount on future bookings.

Award Winning Team

We were proudly awarded Silver at the British Travel Awards for ‘Best Small Travel Company for Rail Holidays’ in 2024.

More about us

Destinations

Tour Types