Railtrail Annual Brochure 2024

S cottish S team , M alt & A le T rail

Build up a head of steam, uncovering Scotland’s heritage from a different angle. Enjoy the Bo’ness & Kinneil Steam Railway, soar above the canals by boat on the remarkable Falkirk Wheel, cruise Loch Katrine, and steam through the Highlands on the Strathspey Railway.This great railway holiday also features The Kelpies, a distillery tour, and a brewery visit.

DAY 1 Arrive in Perth and make your way to our hotel for four nights, the Royal George Hotel.Tonight, we enjoy our first evening meal together. (D) DAY 2 Today we head northwards to explore the beautiful Trossach Range by coach, enjoying a cruise on Loch Katrine on board the ‘Lady of the Lake’.We complete the day with a tour of the Glenturret Distillery , Scotland’s oldest working distillery where we get to sample a superb single malt Scotch whisky. (B,D) DAY 3 One of Scotland’s great rail journeys awaits today as we head north into the Cairngorms , passing dense forests and wild moors, flanked by the Grampians, on TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ★ Enjoy a guided tour of the world’s largest equine sculptures ‘The Kelpies’ ★ Experience the Bo’ness & Kinneil Steam Railway ★ Soar 35 metres into the air by boat at the engineering masterpiece Falkirk Wheel ★ Delight in a Glenturret whisky distillery tour and tasting ★ Steam on the former Highland Railway with the Strathspey Steam Railway ★ Marvel at the vistas as we travel by train to Aviemore ★ Take a cruise on Loch Katrine aboard the ‘Lady of the Lake’ ★ Indulge in a tasting at the Bridge of Allan Brewery Also included in your Tour Fare: ★ Dinner every evening ★ Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class) ★ Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager ★ Hotel Porterage

Fares From £699

5 DAYS

Strathspey Steam Railway

© AdobeStock

our way to the mountain resort of Aviemore. Here we enjoy a return steam excursion from Aviemore to Broomhill on the preserved section of the Highland Line known as the Strathspey Steam Railway . Back in Aviemore, we enjoy free time before we return to Perth by rail. (B,D) DAY 4 This morning we travel by private coach to Bo’ness & Kinneil Steam Railway for a return ride along the line. Following our visit, we travel to The Kelpies where we enjoy a brief tour of the world’s largest equine sculptures and get to go inside to marvel at the complexity and engineering that created these fantastic pieces of art.We reboard our coach for the short transfer to the nearby Falkirk Wheel. The Forth & Clyde Canal was originally built to link sea to sea across Scotland’s central belt however, not long after its construction, it was usurped by the railways. After falling into disrepair, volunteers began restoring the canal to its former glory with similar vigour to the pioneers of railway preservation. The Falkirk Wheel is the final piece in the jigsaw, an incredible feat of engineering and design. Our boat is lifted 35 metres by the world’s only rotating boat lift , before sailing seamlessly onto the Union Canal. We finish our day at the Bridge of Allan Brewery where we are joined by one of their guides for a presentation of the brewery and brewing process, before we enjoy a taste of their wonderful ales. (B,D) DAY 5 Our hotel in Perth bids “haste ye back,” as we make our way home. (B)

DEPARTS

Thursday 11 April 2024 Thursday 9 May 2024 Thursday 20 June 2024 Thursday 18 July 2024 Thursday 19 September 2024

FARES

FARE REGION London: Euston Greater London South of England East Anglia South West Midlands Yorkshire North East North West South Wales North Wales Heart of England

FIRST* £979 £989 £1049 £1055 £1135 £1015 £989 £935 £875 £959 £1085 £1005 £819

STANDARD

£855 £859 £889 £895 £939 £855 £859 £835 £799 £829 £905 £859

HOTEL Royal George Hotel, Perth The well-appointed Royal George is idyllically located on the banks of the River Tay and has been welcoming guests since 1773. It offers guests one of 45 charmingly decorated en-suite bedrooms which feature all mod cons including complimentary fibre optic broadband.This home-from-home offers guests’ relaxation and the best of service at its core. Enjoy relaxing by the log fire in The Helen MacGregor lounge with unspoilt views of the Perth Bridge and the River Tay! Scotland £755 £10 tour discount for holders of National Railcards Join & Leave at Hotel £709 MAY & JUNE Departure Supplement £40 JULY & SEPTEMBER Departure Supplement £60 Single Room Supplement £50 *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. 4 nights’ bed, breakfast & table d’hôte 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 Hotel Porterage

The Kelpies

© Kamira - shutterstock

Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway

Falkirk Wheel

© Shutterstock

© Shutterstock

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

55