Railtrail Annual Brochure 2020

H ebridean I slands D iscovery

Island hop from Skye to Uist and from Harris to Lewis on this magical tour of the Hebridean islands. Every day is different as each sublime, rugged and breathtaking landscape unfolds before you. Arrive in style on the stunning West Highland line and pause on your journey home in beautiful Speyside on a unique tour of the Highlands and Hebrides.

DAY 1 We spend our first night in Glasgow at one of the great railway hotels, the Grand Central, adjoining central station, which boasts as its claim to fame the site of the world’s first long-distance television transmission by John Logie Baird in 1927. Spend time admiring Glasgow’s Charles Rennie Mackintosh architecture before our first dinner together this evening. (D) TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ★ ★ Cruise betwixt the Isles amidst dream-like seascapes; look out for whales, dolphins & sea eagles ★ ★ Both branches of the West Highland Railway journey – one of the best in the world ★ ★ The romantic ‘rail route to the Isles’ ★ ★ Naturalist’s paradise of birds & wildlife of the BBC TV series “Islands on the Edge” ★ ★ Discover Hebrides ancient history spanning back 5000 years ★ ★ Uists’ white shell beaches & freshwater lochs ★ ★ Sample the traditional island lifestyle ★ ★ Magnificent Highlands scenery, Ullapool to Inverness and through the Cairngorms to Stirling ★ ★ Dinner every evening ★ ★ Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class) ★ ★ Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager Also included in your Tour Fare:

Fares From £1455

Isle of Harris

© Paul Tomkins / Visitscotland

Day 2 We journey north on the stunning West Highland Line , admiring the watery landscapes of the Firth of Clyde and Gareloch. With scenery becoming ever more dramatic, we trundle beside Loch Long and skirt the ‘bonnie banks’ of Loch Lomond before climbing into the western Highlands. At Crianlarich, we continue northwards, over Rannoch Moor and across ‘Harry Potter’ famed Glenfinnan Viaduct where the Highlander Monument stands before reaching Mallaig on the Atlantic coastline. Stroll around this small town and harbour before boarding our ferry to the Isle of Skye and then transferring onwards to our hotel for two nights. (B,D) Day 3 Today we take a scenic tour of the Isle of Skye , the largest island in the inner hebrides. This morning sees

us travel to the North West of the Island, with views to the brooding Cullin Hills , for a visit to Dunvegan Castle , the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland. This afternoon sees us journeying back south to the island’s capital, Portree for free time in this town with its pretty harbour. (B,D) Day 4 We travel the shores of Loch Snizort to Uig for the ferry cruise to North Uist. Our journey to Benbecula , takes us past numerous lochans and beautiful beaches before arriving at our hotel, the Isle of Benbecula House Hotel, for a relaxing evening in a tranquil location. (B,D) Day 5 We cruise to the Isle of Harris and Lewis; a rugged landscape of moorland, deep-sea lochs, mountains and

Stornoway Harbour

© William Mckelvie/AdobeStock

Caribbean-like waters and beaches of the Outer Hebrides

Callanish, Isle of Lewis

© Shutterstock

© VisitScotland/ScottishViewpoint

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

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