Festive Highlands Tartan & Taster 2026

Duration

5 Days

Departure Dates

1st December 2026

Prices from

£695 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
Helpful Links

Fort William ©Shutterstock

5 days from £695

DEPARTS

Tuesday 1 December 2026

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 with 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 discover Fort William, 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 final 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, flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.

FARES

Fare Region	First*	Standard
London: Euston	£1,195	£955
Greater London	£1,215	£975
South of England	£1,259	£989
East Anglia	£1,259	£1,005
South West	£1,239	£1,009
Heart of England	£1,079	£899
Midlands	£1,045	£885
Yorkshire	£955	£849
North East	£939	£839
North West	£989	£859
South Wales	£1,119	£925
North Wales	£1,065	£899
Scotland	N/A	£839
Join & Leave at Hotel	£715
Single Traveller Supplement	£85
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
1st December 2026	£695 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 2026 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

Step into Christmas in Windsor & Blenheim 2026

Step into Christmas on this delightfully festive tour based in the historic city of Oxford. Visit the charming Windsor Castle in its spectacular winter glory, discover the beautiful country estate of Blenheim Palace transformed into a winter wonderland, and marvel at the spectacular Festive Light Trail plus enjoy free time to explore 'Christmas in Oxford'.

4 Days 09/12/2026 from £819

Winchester Christmas Celebration 2026

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 23/12/2026 from £1,249

Torquay, Tinsel & Christmas Cheer 2026

Enjoy all things Christmas on this relaxing short-break tour in the beautiful seaside town of Torquay. Journey on the spectacular Christmas Train of Lights, discover the Christmas Illuminations at Babbacombe Model Village, and visit Plymouth's Winter Wonderland plus enjoy free time in Torquay to soak in the atmosphere on this magical Christmas adventure.

4 Days 18/12/2026 from £529

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

Seasonal Splendour in Stirling 2026

Experience a magical Christmas on this relaxing tour in scenic Scotland staying in the charming Stirling Highland Hotel. Visit the impressive Stirling Castle decorated for Christmas, sample a wee dram at the Stirling Distillery, and immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere of Edinburgh. Indulge in a wonderful, traditional Christmas Day lunch and enjoy mince pies, Christmas cake, and festive cheers galore.

5 Days 23/12/2026 from £860

Stratford Festive Delights 2027

5 Days 23/12/2027 from £1,069

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

Yuletide Magic in County Durham 2026

Experience a magical Christmas in style on this relaxing tour to Durham staying in the elegant Redworth Hall Hotel. Visit Auckland Palace in all its Christmas glory, discover a monumental Neapolitan Nativity, and soak in the festive atmosphere in Durham. Indulge in a wonderful, traditional Christmas Day lunch and enjoy mince pies, Christmas cake, and festive cheers galore.

5 Days 23/12/2026 from £1,120

Yuletide Yorkshire 2027

4 Days 24/11/2027 from £735

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