Scottish Steam, Malt & Ale Trail 2026

Duration

6 Days

Departure Dates

16th April 2026, 14th May 2026, 11th June 2026, 16th July 2026, 24th September 2026

Prices from

£1,099 Per person

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Build up a head of steam and uncover Scotland's heritage from a different angle. Steam through the Highlands on the nostalgic Strathspey Railway, experience the scenic Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway, sail through the sky on the remarkable Falkirk Wheel, and enjoy a cruise on Loch Katrine. Visit the magnificent equine sculptures of The Kelpies and the fantastic Stirling Castle plus indulge in a whisky distillery tour and a brewery tasting.

Overview
Itinerary
Further Information
Departure Dates
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River Tay, Perth ©Shutterstock

6 days from £1,099

DEPARTS

Thursday 16 April 2026

Thursday 14 May 2026

Thursday 11 June 2026

Thursday 16 July 2026

Thursday 24 September 2026

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Enjoy a guided tour of the world's largest equine sculptures – The Kelpies
Experience the scenic Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway
Steam on the nostalgic Strathspey Railway
Take the fabulous Highland Line climbing through the Cairngorms
Delight in a tour and tasting at Deanston Distillery
Spend time in the charming Scottish town of Callander
Sail through the sky on a unique engineering masterpiece – The Falkirk Wheel
Take a cruise on Loch Katrine aboard the 'Lady of the Lake'
Indulge in a tasting at the Bridge of Allan Brewery
Enjoy free time in Stirling plus a visit to the fantastic Stirling Castle

Also included in your Tour Fare:

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

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.

B, D

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.

B, D

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.

B, D

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.

B, D

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, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

HOTEL

Royal George Hotel, Perth

Ideally located in the heart of Perth with stunning views over the River Tay, the Royal George Hotel offers a restaurant serving seasonal dishes, a relaxing lounge with a log fire, award-winning gardens, a fitness centre, and a games room. The charming bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom, a flat-screen TV, and free Wi-Fi.

FARES

Fare Region	First*	Standard
London: Kings Cross	£1,375	£1,255
Greater London	£1,385	£1,255
South of England	£1,439	£1,285
East Anglia	£1,445	£1,289
South West	£1,519	£1,335
Heart of England	£1,405	£1,249
Midlands	£1,379	£1,255
Yorkshire	£1,329	£1,229
North East	£1,265	£1,195
North West	£1,349	£1,225
South Wales	£1,469	£1,299
North Wales	£1,399	£1,255
Scotland	£1,215	£1,155
Join & Leave at Hotel	£1,109
Single Traveller Supplement	£70
Deposit	£110

*Please note: Some local and regional train services are Standard Class only, so First Class ticket holders will travel in standard class accommodation for these sections of journeys.

£10 tour discount for holders of National Railcards

May & June Departure Supplement £80

July & September Departure Supplement £120

5 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
16th April 2026	£1,099 Per person	Book Now	Callback
14th May 2026	£1,179 Per person	Book Now	Callback
11th June 2026	£1,179 Per person	Book Now	Callback
16th July 2026	£1,219 Per person	Book Now	Callback
24th September 2026	£1,219 Per person	Book Now	Callback

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Royal George Hotel, Perth

Loch Katrine

Deanston Distillery

Strathspey Railway

Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway

Museum of Scottish Railways

Bridge of Allan Brewery

Stirling Castle

The Kelpies

Falkirk Wheel

Loch Katrine ©Shutterstock

Lady of the Lake

Bridge of Allan Brewery

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Scottish Steam, Malt & Ale Trail 2026

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What our customers say

Sounds like the holiday for you?

Why Book with Railtrail

Unique Experiences

Financial Protection

Loyalty Rewards

Award Winning Team