The Complete Four Seasons Collection 2023-24

H ebridean I slands D iscovery

Escape from it all as you island hop from Skye to Uist and from Harris to Lewis on this magical Railtrail 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 finish the tour by passing through the magnificent Cairngorms.

8 DAYS

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’ ★ Visit the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland ★ Naturalist’s paradise of birds & wildlife ★ 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 Also included in your Tour Fare: ★ Dinner every evening plus one lunch ★ Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class) ★ Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager ★ Hotel Porterage DAY 1 We spend our first night in Glasgow at the contemporary Radisson Blu Hotel ideally located close to the central railway station. Spend time admiring Glasgow’s Charles Rennie Mackintosh architecture or explore the city using the ‘Clockwork Orange’ Glasgow’s underground system before our first dinner together this evening. (D)

DEPARTS Wednesday 16 August 2023 Monday 25 September 2023

Fares From £1679

FARES

FARE REGION

FIRST £1985 £2005 £2035 £2055 £2069 £1965 £1929 £1875 £1829 £1889 £1989 £1919 £1815

STANDARD

London: Depart Euston, Return King’s Cross

£1845 £1855 £1879 £1885 £1899 £1835 £1809 £1795 £1769 £1779 £1849 £1809 £1759 £1699

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

DAY 5 Today we ctravel to the Isle of Harris and Lewis, a rugged landscape of moorland, deep-sea lochs, mountains, and a proud history. With an expert local guide, we explore Harris and enjoy lunch in a local hotel before continuing northwards to Lewis and the capital Stornoway to our hotel for two nights. (B,L,D) DAY 6 We experience the dramatic landscape of Lewis on a full day tour in the company of our island guide, including the impressive standing stones of Callanish , a traditional thatched blackhouse settlement, and the ancient broch at Carloway. (B,D) DAY 7 This morning we depart the Hebrides, crossing to Ullapool for the spectacular journey through to Inverness. We have a little free time in Invernes s before boarding our train to Stirling, journeying through the glorious Cairngorms . We stay at the Highland Hotel for one night, close to the magnificent Stirling Castle from which there are great views over to the Wallace Monument. (B,D) DAY 8 We bid farewell to Stirling as we make our way homeward. (B)

Scotland

DAY 2 This morning 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 the next two nights. (B,D) DAY 3 Today we take a scenic tour of the Isle of Skye , the largest island in the Inner Hebrides. We travel to the north west of the island with views over the famous Cuillin Hills to visit Dunvegan Castle , the oldest continuously inhabited

castle in Scotland. In the afternoon we journey back south to the island’s capital Portree and enjoy free time to explore the pretty harbour. (B,D) DAY 4 We travel the shores of Loch Snizort to Uig for our ferry cruise to North Uist. Our journey onward to Benbecula takes us past numerous lochans and beautiful beaches before we arrive at our hotel the Dark Island, for a relaxing evening in a tranquil location. (B,D)

Join & Leave at Hotels

£20 tour discount for holders of National Rail cards Single Room Supplement £360 AUGUST DEPARTURE SUPPLEMENT £140

*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. 7 nights’ bed, breakfast & Table d’hôte evening meal plus one lunch Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class) Rail & coach travel, with transfers as described All excursions and admissions as detailed Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager Hotel porterage HOTELS • Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow • Kings Arms Hotel, Kyleakin • Dark Island Hotel, Benbecula • Caberfeidh Hotel (August) , Caladh Inn (September) Stornoway • Stirling Highland Hotel, Stirling For further details of our Hebridean Islands Discovery hotels, please visit our website www.railtrail.co.uk

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Visit: www.railtrail.co.uk – for full tour details and fares, and to book online or call 01538 382323 – to book or to request a detailed tour itinerary

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