Railtrai E-Brochure Annual 2025

S cotland ’ s F ar N orth , S hetland & O rkney

Experience a wonderful tour combining Scotland’s Far North with the beauty of the Shetland and Orkney Isles. Discover spectacular scenery, amazing wildlife, and fascinating settlements in Orkney, explore the rich history and archaeology of the Shetland Isle, and touch the top of the country at John O’Groats.

DAY 1 Journey from your home station to Stirling and, on arrival, we will make our way to the Golden Lion Hotel, our base for this evening.We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together. (D) DAY 2 After breakfast this morning, we travel on the wonderfully picturesque Highland Line that takes us to Inverness where we continue our journey to Scotland’s Far North by rail. On arrival in Thurso , we transfer to the Castletown Hotel, our base for the next two nights, and enjoy our evening meal together. (B,D) DAY 3 Today, we board our private coach and visit the Castle & Gardens of Mey, the former royal residence of Queen Elizabeth,The Queen Mother where we gain an insight into Her Majesty’s life in Caithness and spend time enjoying the peaceful gardens and grounds. Afterwards, we head to the most northerly point of the mainland, John O’ Groats , a famous point for cyclists and walkers making the great journey to or from Land’s End. We can explore the village, walk the coast, and admire the beautiful scenery and wildlife before returning to our hotel in time for our evening meal. (B,D) DAY 4 After a leisurely breakfast, we journey to Scrabster by private coach and board the ferry to Orkney sailing past the impressive red stone sea-stack of the Also included in your Tour Fare: ★ 5 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal ★ Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ★ Journey on the fabulous Highland Line ★ Explore the Castle of Mey, the former royal residence of Queen Elizabeth,The Queen Mother ★ Touch the top of the country at John O’Groats ★ Visit the fascinating Italian Chapel, Skaill House, and Skara Brae in Orkney ★ Tour the idyllic Shetland Isle and discover its Viking past at Jarlshof ★ See the beautiful Shetland Ponies ★ Discover rich archaeology and history ★ Marvel at the fantastic seascape coastline of the Far North

Fares From £1659

Shetland Ponies

© Shutterstock

6 DAYS

Old Man of Hoy. On arrival, we meet our local guide who will be with us throughout our tour of the island including a visit to the mystical ancient settlement of Skara Brae , uncovered by a storm in 1850 and older than Stonehenge.We then visit Skaill House , the finest mansion on the island, before heading to the Italian Chapel which was built by Italian prisoners during WWII. We finish in Kirkwall where we enjoy our evening meal at a local restaurant, before boarding our overnight ferry to the Shetland Islands. (B,D) DAY 5 After breakfast on board, we arrive in Lerwick and meet our guide for the day visiting a local jewellery workshop and seeing beautiful Shetland Ponies before our visit to the Shetland Museum & Archives with over 3,000 artefacts to explore. After enjoying our lunch at leisure, we head to the unusual Shetland settlement of Fladdabister and the Mousa Broch , the best preserved 2,000-year-old Iron Age tower in existence. We finish our tour at one of the most complex archeolgical sites, Jarlshof , travelling through 4,000 years of history from the Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Viking periods. Later this afternoon, we join our Northlink ship and enjoy our final evening meal on board before our overnight journey to Aberdeen. (B,D) DAY 6 After breakfast, we bid farewell to Aberdeen and make our way to the station for our homeward journeys. (B)

DEPARTS Wednesday 28 May 2025

FARES

ACTIVITY LEVEL

FARE REGION

FIRST* £1999 £2015 £2075 £2059 £2159 £2049 £2025 £1959 £1905 £1989 £2119 £2039 £1819

STANDARD

London: Kings Cross Greater London South of England East Anglia South West Midlands Yorkshire North East North West South Wales North Wales Heart of England

£1859 £1865 £1895 £1889 £1935 £1869 £1865 £1835 £1805 £1845 £1925 £1865

Scotland £1759 £30 tour discount for holders of National Railcards Join & Leave at Hotel £1689 Single Room Supplement £320 *Please Note: Some local and regional train services are Standard Class seating only and First Class ticket holders will travel in standard class accommodation for these sections of their journey. 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

HOTELS Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling

Ideally located in the heart of Stirling, the Golden Lion offers traditional Scottish hospitality in modern style and serves signature dishes in the characterful Cronies Bar & Restaurant.The contemporary bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom, a hairdryer, ironing facilities, flat-screen TV, and tea/coffee making facilities. Castletown Hotel,Thurso Nestled in the heart of the picturesque fishing village of Castletown, the Castletown Hotel offers old fashioned Highland hospitality and serves delicious Scottish cuisine using locally sourced produce.The comfortable bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom, a hairdryer, flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities. NorthLink Ferries NorthLink’s modern vessels boast relaxing bars, lounges, and restaurants plus well-stocked shops with a range of crafts and produce.The comfortable cabins provide en-suite facilities including a shower, sink, and toilet plus a hairdryer, flat-screen TV, and tea/coffee making facilities.

Skara Brae

© Shutterstock

Book now – online at www.railtrail.co.uk or telephone: 01538 382323

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