Scottish Highlands Rail & Sail

Day One

We travel north through the Scottish Borders and on to Drymen for check in to the Winnock Hotel and a welcome from your hosts.

Day Two

We start our day with a scenic drive through the Trossachs National Park and head towards Katrine, once we arrive at Trossachs Pier we will board the steam ship Sir Walter Scott for a 2 hour cruise on the serene waters of Loch Katrine, where we take in the stunning views of the surrounding hills.

Day Three

This morning we make our way towards from Dumbarton Central for our journey to Fort William on the West Highland Line. Considered to be one of the most scenic railway lines in the world, our journey takes just over 3 hours as we travel deep into the wild west coast, taking in views that can only be seen from the train. We travel through Loch Lomond & the Trossachs, into landscapes of mountains, steep-sided lochs and heather moors, passing tiny, remote stations as we go, until we reach Fort William. On arrival in Fort William there will be some free time for lunch before we board our coach and take a short drive to the picturesque village of Banavie and see the impressive Neptunes Staircase, an incredible feat of engineering built by Thomas Telford between 1803 and 1822. This amazing flight of eight locks on the Caledonian Canal is the longest staircase lock in Scotland and raises the canal by 62ft. We then travel into the Nevis Range and experience stunning views from onboard the UK's only Mountain Gondola. Originally built to transport skiers to the slopes, the Mountain Gondola has become a tourist attraction in its own right, allowing visitors an opportunity to absorb the stunning views and clear mountain air. (Please be advised that due to the day's itinerary, breakfast will be served early and dinner at the hotel will be scheduled for later in the evening)

Day Four

This morning we depart the hotel and travel to the Falkirk Wheel Visitor Centre, one of Scotland's top attractions built to celebrate the millennium and to restore the link between two of Scotland's major canals. The fascinating Falkirk Wheel lifts the boat up to join the Union Canal 35m above before the boat sails smoothly from the Falkirk Wheel onto the Union Canal. Following our visit we travel to Edinburgh where the day where the remainder of the day will be at leisure to explore this fantastic city. Dominating the skyline is the majestic Edinburgh Castle, an ancient fortress perched atop a volcanic crag with spectacular panoramic views of the city and beyond. The bustling historic Royal Mile is home to the Scotch Whisky Experience amongst many other attractions and for shopping enthusiasts Princess Street is home to a number of department stores.

Day Five

We say farewell to Drymen and the Winnock hotel this morning and commence our return journey home to North Wales.

B=Breakfast Included, D=Dinner Included