Scottish Steam, Malt & Ale Trail 2027

Duration

6 Days

Departure Dates

15th April 2027, 17th June 2027, 9th September 2027

Prices from

£1,249 Per person

Similar tours are available in the following categories:

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
Helpful Links

River Tay, Perth ©Shutterstock

6 DAYS FROM £1,249

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT

Book by 31st March 2026 using code EARLYBIRD100

to save £100 per person!

DEPARTS

Thursday 15 April 2027

Thursday 17 June 2027

Thursday 9 September 2027

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 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	£1,559	£1,425
Greater London	£1,575	£1,429
South of England	£1,639	£1,465
East Anglia	£1,645	£1,465
South West	£1,735	£1,519
Heart of England	£1,599	£1,425
Midlands	£1,575	£1,429
Yorkshire	£1,515	£1,399
North East	£1,435	£1,355
North West	£1,539	£1,395
South Wales	£1,679	£1,479
North Wales	£1,589	£1,429
Scotland	£1,379	£1,309
Join & Leave at Hotel	£1,259
June Departure Supplement	£40
September Departure Supplement	£80
Single Traveller Supplement	£140
Deposit	£125
£10 discount for National Railcard Holders

*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.

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 Tour Manager

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

Number of passengers:

Date	From Price	Book Now	Callback
15th April 2027	£1,249 Per person	Book Now	Callback
17th June 2027	£1,289 Per person	Book Now	Callback
9th September 2027	£1,329 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 Scottish Steam, Malt & Ale Trail 2027 rail tour.

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

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

Scottish Steam, Malt & Ale Trail 2027

Register interest

What our customers say

Sounds like the holiday for you?

Why Book with Railtrail

Unique Experiences

Financial Protection

Loyalty Rewards

Award Winning Team