EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN Loved by over 40s

For a train trip in the Scottish Highlands, there’s only one way to arrive: The Highland Caledonian Sleeper. Running overnight from London Euston to Fort William, this bonafide classic British train journey is the perfect way to kick-off this week-long adventure. Let the clickety-clack of the track lull you to sleep as you thunder up the West Coast main line to Scotland.

Our first stop in Scotland is Fort William station. We’ll guide you to your hotel, where we can drop off everyone’s luggage before grabbing a locally-sourced welcome lunch. Bellies full, we’ll head to the Ben Nevis Distillery, on the banks of the River Lochy, where we’ll take part in a whisky tasting – a warming introduction to this part of the world.

Today is an epic adventure in itself. After breakfast, we’ll make our way to Fort William station to board the Jacobite steam train. Unarguably one of the world’s greatest train journeys, this 42-mile stretch of track takes you past lochs, mountains and over the soaring Glenfinnan Viaduct, made famous by the Harry Potter films, to the small fishing town of Mallaig. From here, we’ll ferry across the glassy waters of Loch Nevis to the Isle of Skye before transferring to the remote waterside hamlet of Elgol where we’ll meet the Mackinnon family, who’ve lived and worked in Elgol since the 1300s. Today, their business is in showing people the jaw-dropping beauty of this slice of Scotland, with a boat trip (plus a brief hike) to Loch Coruisk. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins along the way. We’ll end the day with a transfer to our accommodation in Kyle of Lochalsh, stopping off en route at Eilean Donan Castle – one of Scotland’s most famous, and spectacular, castles.

After yesterday’s cross-country expedition, we’re taking things a little easier. Around midday we’ll head to Plockton station for the train to Inverness – a leisurely clop across the width of the Highlands, with plenty of gorgeous scenery thrown in. Once in the city we’ll head to the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery for an expert-led tour of its all-thing-Highlands collection. You’ll then have the rest of the day free to explore the city at your own pace – check out the castle, for city-wide views, and take a walk along the River Ness.

We’re getting back on track today, as we take the train south from Inverness to Aviemore. This small town offers easy access to the ski slopes, glassy lochs and ancient woodland that make up the extraordinary Cairngorms National Park. We’ll spend the rest of the morning and the first half of the afternoon exploring on foot with a guided walk, before we hop back on the train to our final destination: Edinburgh. After checking into your hotel in the capital, you’ll have the evening to yourself.

Today is the last full day of this trip, so we’re going out on a high – literally, with an Insider-led tour of the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle, which overlooks the city from its lofty position on Castle Rock. The views are stupendous, and it’s not hard to see why this imposing fortress – one of the oldest in Europe – has remained standing, despite being the most besieged place in Britain. Tour over, you’ll have the rest of the day to see Edinburgh at your own pace – take a stroll in Princes Street Gardens, browse the Edinburgh Farmers Market and dip into the National Museum of Scotland. Just make sure you’re available to meet back up with the rest of the group in the evening for a farewell dinner – where we’ll swap highlights, and toast to what we hope has been a rail-y good time!

Enjoy a final breakfast in the Scottish capital before checking out and making your way home, or on to other adventures.