Jacobite Steam Train & The Great Glen

Our two day Jacobite Steam Train & The Great Glen begins by heading north out of Edinburgh to the Forth Railway Bridge. Snap a photo of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, a memory to treasure and symbol of Scotland. Opened in 1890, the Forth Railway Bridge is a true Scottish icon recognised all over the world for being the first major steel structure, a key milestone in the development of modern railway engineering. To this day, this fantastic piece of history still holds the record for being the world’s longest cantilever bridge.

As we head over the Firth of Forth, we’ll be making our way to the small highland village of Dunkeld, perfectly perched on the banks of the River Tay, the longest river in Scotland and seventh-longest in the United Kingdom. Enjoy your time in Dunkeld by taking a riverside walk to see the Dunkeld bridge, the largest Scottish bridge built by Thomas Telford, or visit the magical Dunkeld Cathedral. Part ruin, part parish church, this cathedral takes pride of place in this well-preserved historic town.

Leaving this historic Highland town behind, we’ll head further north to the ‘geographical centre of Scotland’ and of the gateways to the Highlands, Pitlochry, for a quick stop and bite to eat. Perched on the edge of the River Tummel, Pitlochry is home to one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland, Edradour and has been at the heart of tourism in the Highlands, since the 19th century when rail travel made accessing the Highlands easier for all. We will then re-join the road north, taking us over the breathtaking Drumochter Pass and through the mountains of the Cairngorm National Park, the home of many of the highest peaks in the UK.

We will then head to the Clava Cairns, a 4,000-year-old temple and ancient cemetery. This ancient burial ground features in the well-known ‘Outlander’ television series, in the iconic scene when Claire falls through time to the 1700s. From here we’ll travel to Culloden, the last stand of the Jacobite uprising against the government forces in 1746. Explore the battlefield and walk in the footsteps of the hundreds of clansmen who gave their lives for the Jacobite cause or immerse yourself in the interactive history found inside of the Culloden Visitor Centre.

Leaving this harrowing battlefield behind, we’ll finally be heading to Fort Augustus, a peaceful little village on the banks of Loch Ness, our overnight stop for this tour.

Your second day on tour would begin short journey to Fort Wiliam, where you will be able to jump aboard the Jacobite Steam Train! Known for being one of the world’s greatest train journeys, this train ride will take you past Britain’s highest mountain, deepest loch, shortest river and most westerly station. You may know it as the Hogwarts Express!

You’ll cross the viaduct featured in the ‘Harry Potter’ films and pass the Glenfinnan Monument where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard at the beginning of the 1745 Jacobite rising before arriving in Mallaig, the pretty fishing village at the end of the famous West Highland Railway. Enjoy the journey and remember to take in those unmissable views of the highlands.

Whilst spending a lunchtime stop in Mallaig you can spend some time learning about Mallaig’s fascinating historical past at the Mallaig Heritage Centre, or sample some of Scotland’s freshest seafood. After a delicious lunch, hop back on the vintage steam engine for the journey back to Fort William, where your driver-guide will be waiting to show you more of Scotlands stunning scenery, including the breathtaking Glen Coe.

Heading south on your return to Edinburgh, you’ll enjoy a drive through Glen Coe, Scotland’s most famous and scenic glen, where the MacDonalds were betrayed. This beautiful glen may seem a little familiar due to its starring role in one of the ‘Harry Potter’ films. Our journey through Glen Coe takes us to Rannoch Moor, a remote expanse of peat bog and marsh, it’s one of Scotland’s last great wildernesses and is not to be missed, these landscapes are so stunning it was the perfect place to film a scene in James Bond’s ‘Skyfall’.