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april, 2025
Event Type :
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WEST MIDLANDS
Event Details
FRIDAY 18th to MONDAY 21st APRIL 2025 A MEMORABLE WEEKEND
Event Details
FRIDAY 18th to MONDAY 21st APRIL 2025
A MEMORABLE WEEKEND AWAY TO THE SCENIC SPLENDOUR
OF THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
The Itinerary
Friday
You will be warmly welcomed aboard our special private train by friendly stewards. From joining points in South Wales, the South-West and Central England you will enjoy a welcoming glass of champagne, followed by the Great British Breakfast. Those joining us later will enjoy a lighter offering.
From Preston we head across Lancashire for traversal of the mountainous Settle and Carlisle line, during which a light luncheon will be served. Subject to the confirmed timings, we hope to have a leg-stretch break of half an hour or so at Carlisle.
A late afternoon departure takes us across the Scottish Border at Gretna for a journey over the former Glasgow and South Western Railway line, through Dumfries and up the Nith Valley to the high Ayrshire moors, then back down to the sea through Troon, with a four-course dinner served during the scenic journey. Arrival will be into Paisley Gilmour Street station, from where road coaches will transfer you to the four-star Golden Jubilee Hotel at Dalmuir, our base for the weekend.
Saturday
The day begins with a road coach transfer to Dumbarton Central, from where a full Breakfast will be served as we travel along the spectacular West Highland Line to Oban.
On arrival, join your choice of activity below:
Option A | Sail to Tobermory
By ferry across the Firth of Lorne to the scenic Isle of Mull, where waiting road coaches will take you on a guided tour to the island capital of Tobermory. Here there will be time for a stroll round at leisure, enjoying the harbour and the varied brightly painted houses, and perhaps for a snack or drink.
Option B | Oban & Dunstaffnage
After time for sightseeing in Oban, a guided road coach will transfer you to Dunstaffnage Castle and Chapel, where you can admire the mighty stronghold of the MacDougalls. In due course the road coach will return you to Oban to rejoin our special train.
Option C | Explore Oban
An easy day exploring the port and town of Oban. Perhaps visit the distillery, which put the town on the map in the 18th century, or climb to the superb viewpoint of McCaig’s Tower. Alternatively, stroll along the Corran Esplanade, visit St Columba’s cathedral or continue round to Dunollie Castle. You could even catch the small ferry to the island of Lismore, but do check the timetable as it can vary with certain tide conditions.
With everyone back on board the train at Oban, we return to Dumbarton, with a four-course Evening Dinner served amidst the wonderful moving scenery. Road coaches will make the transfer back to our hotel.
Sunday
Following the road coach transfer to our special train, your exploration of the Scottish Highlands will continue with a full Scottish Breakfast served at your seat. Once out of the Glasgow suburbs we cross the Forth-Clyde valley to reach Stirling, then head through the hills to a summit at world-famous Gleneagles, and down to Perth. From there we tackle the Highland mainline, through Pitlochry to the highest point on the national rail network – Druimuachdar Summit.
We will call first at Aviemore, where you may alight for:
Option E | Rails of Aviemore
Enjoy a steam hauled return journey along the Strathspey Railway, with the towering Cairngorm mountains providing the back drop. Back at Aviemore, road coaches will transfer you to the Cairngorm Mountain Railway, the highest railway in the UK! A return journey will be enjoyed along this funicular railway within the largest national nature reserve in Britain. Free time can be enjoyed afterwards in Aviemore whilst awaiting our return special train.
Alternatively, continue on the train over Slochd Summit to Inverness for a choice of:
Option F | Cruise Loch Ness
Road coaches will take you on a guided tour to join a cruise along the famed Loch Ness. After your search for the Monster, you will rejoin the road coach for the journey back to Inverness, with time for a spot of sightseeing before rejoining the special train.
Please note that this option is not suitable for wheelchair users or anyone with limited mobility.
Option G | The Highlanders’ Museum and Culloden Battlefield
Alight at Inverness for a road coach transfer and an afternoon steeped in history. First visit the intriguing Highlanders’ Museum before continuing to the nearby Culloden Battlefield and Visitors Centre. Our special train will be rejoined at Inverness.
Option H | Explore Inverness
Enjoy the afternoon at leisure in the capital of the Highlands, with its castle, bridges and riverside walks, botanical gardens, diverse shops and eateries.
Returning from Inverness and Aviemore, Evening Dinner will be served as we retrace our outward routing through the grandeur of the Highlands back to Perth, but then hopefully by an alternative route to where road coaches will be waiting to transfer you back to our hotel.
Tour guides will accompany you on all road coach options.
Monday
Start the day well with a hotel Buffet Breakfast, before transferring by road coach to rejoin our train for the homeward rail journey. The route will take us across to Edinburgh, southwards via Berwick-upon-Tweed to Newcastle and by way of the delightful Tyne Valley line to rejoin our outward route, with a four-course Luncheon served as the amazingly varied scenery slips past your window.
A full weekend of wonderful scenery, memories and friendships reluctantly comes to a close and we will wish you a fond farewell. ‘Mar Sin Leibh’.
THIS WEEKEND EXCURSION IS NOW FULLY BOOKED
CONFIRMED TIMINGS
| Fares | Adult | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Premier Seat | £1525 | FULLY BOOKED |
| Table for Two Supplement | £225 | FULLY BOOKED |
| Premier Table for Three | £5100 | FULLY BOOKED |
| Premier Table for Four | £5850 | FULLY BOOKED |
| Single Hotel Room Supplement | £125 | FULLY BOOKED |
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Included in our fare are all meals as described, First Class rail travel aboard our special train, your choice of optional activity each day, hotel transfers and three nights’ accommodation in a shared twin or double room – a supplement applies for single room occupancy.
We request that individuals with limited mobility give serious consideration when booking our weekend excursions. Although every adjustment possible will be made to meet accessibility requirements, our itineraries do consist of full days, where some itineraries may not have step free access, which some individuals may find tiring. Please contact the booking office if you have any questions or queries in regards to this issue.
A non-refundable deposit of £200 per person is payable at time of booking, with the balance payable six weeks before the date of departure. For parties of three, a deposit of £800 is taken to reserve the fourth seat. Seating in the carriages is arranged at tables of four, with two seats facing two. There are also a limited number of ‘Tables for Two’, with single seats facing each other (supplementary fare applies). Once your deposit is received we will send you a printed booking confirmation, along with the terms and conditions of travel for this four day excursion.
Dietary requirements: If you have any specific dietary requirements, please advise when you book with us.
Operating within the constraints of the national rail network, confirmed times are normally advised to us 7 to 10 days before the date of departure. You will receive a letter from us with your reserved seat number(s), the confirmed timings and other details relating to the excursion, once the itinerary is finalised. These times may vary by up to an hour in either or both directions – the times quoted above are for guidance only.
Locomotives: We will be in the capable hands of West Coast Railway Company class 47’s or 57’s from the pick-up stations to Preston, where a pair of West Coast Railway Company class 37’s will take over for the duration of the itinerary in Scotland. The class 47’s or 57’s will return us from Preston on the Monday.
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Main Photo: Tobamory, Scotland