The Highlands & Isle of Skye: Rail & Hike
- Explore Scotland’s lochs, glens and mountains by rail and on foot
- Ride the West Highland line across the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct
- Wander the rugged, romantic Isle of Skye with its wild scenery & unique culture
- Enjoy visits to castles, ancient battlefields, Loch Ness and whisky distilleries
- Be welcomed by friendly accommodation hosts, delicious food, and local beer
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Edinburgh to Blair Atholl by trainYour rail and hike adventure through Scotland begins from the historic capital of Edinburgh. Hop aboard the first train (2 hours), which whisks you away into the Highlands to the small, yet delightful, village of Blair Atholl. Settle into your cosy B&B for a two night stay; the ideal base from which to explore.
The house sits in its own large grounds overlooking the fields, golf course and the hills beyond. All rooms have en-suite facilities and are tastefully decorated to suit the style of the house.
The Atholl Arms Hotel, with its superb façade and Highland grandeur, stands proudly opposite the castle in the heart of the village. The traditional Highland decor, think rich colours and a smattering of tartan, alongside modern amenities are part of what makes a stay at the Atholl Arms special. There is also a cosy lounge with a fireplace, and a hikers Bothy Bar for casual drinks and evening meals.
Please note there are not many options for eating in Blair Atholl so we suggest pre-booking your evening meal.
A warm and traditional welcome awaits you at Dalgreine Guesthouse. Every room is elegantly decorated and has tea and coffee making facilities. In addition to enjoying the elegantly furnished bedrooms, you can also relax in the outdoor seating area in the secluded garden at the front of the house.
After a hearty Scottish breakfast explore the wooded grounds of the Atholl Estate. Follow paths that meander through forest and heather-clad hills surrounding Blair Castle & Gardens, the historic home of the Earls and Dukes of Atholl and dating from the 1200s.
Alternatively, opt for a lovely riverside walk to the charming Highland town of Pitlochry. After exploring the town, perhaps enjoying an afternoon tea, return to Blair atholl via the train in just 10 minutes.
Blair Castle Grounds Loop Walk: 7 km / 4 miles (115m / 380 ft ascent)
Glen Tilt Loop Walk: 15.5 km / 10 miles (270m / 885 ft ascent)
Blair Atholl to Pitlochry: 14 km / 9 miles (60m / 200 ft ascent)
The house sits in its own large grounds overlooking the fields, golf course and the hills beyond. All rooms have en-suite facilities and are tastefully decorated to suit the style of the house.
The Atholl Arms Hotel, with its superb façade and Highland grandeur, stands proudly opposite the castle in the heart of the village. The traditional Highland decor, think rich colours and a smattering of tartan, alongside modern amenities are part of what makes a stay at the Atholl Arms special. There is also a cosy lounge with a fireplace, and a hikers Bothy Bar for casual drinks and evening meals.
Please note there are not many options for eating in Blair Atholl so we suggest pre-booking your evening meal.
A warm and traditional welcome awaits you at Dalgreine Guesthouse. Every room is elegantly decorated and has tea and coffee making facilities. In addition to enjoying the elegantly furnished bedrooms, you can also relax in the outdoor seating area in the secluded garden at the front of the house.
An early start today (1h30 train ride) will give you plenty of time to discover Inverness. This friendly city has several of Scotland’s star attractions close by. Visit Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle on an optional day trip by boat and coach or the Culloden Battlefield exhibition, scene of the last Jacobite uprising in 1745, is an easy bus ride away.
If you’d prefer to stretch your legs, set out on a superb loop walk along the peaceful River Ness and Caledonian Canal.
We Recommend: Adding an extra night in Inverness. For those who like to travel at a slower pace, the extra time allows you to spend a full day in the Highland Capital. On the following day, you can visit Loch Ness.
Ballifeary Guest House is an impressive Victorian Villa with many original features. It has a large private car park for guests use and a secured shed for those with bikes. It is ideally located only a matter of yards from Eden Court theatre and a short walk from the River Ness where many restaurants, the Cathedral and Castle can be found. The rooms have been recently refurbished to a high standard offering every comfort you would expect.
Glencairn and Ardross Guest House is a family run guesthouse. The building is an elegant detached listed Victorian building situated in a quiet street close to the scenic River Ness. Room are comfortable and tastefully furnished and have all the amenities you require.
Built in 1842, your accommodation is a well-appointed Victorian villa with stunning views over the River Ness and Cavell Gardens. All rooms have TV, hospitality tray, hairdryers and free wireless Internet. They also have available on request bathrobes, slippers, toothbrushes and toothpaste, iron and ironing board and DVD player.
Sit back and relax as you depart Inverness on the iconic North Highland Line, a stunningly scenic journey alongside remote lochs, glens and mountains to the seaside station of Kyle of Lochalsh (2h30).
Here you change for a bus which carries you over the Skye bridge to the isle itself and on to Portree (1hr) your base on Skye.
Erisco is a most relaxing accommodation on the Isle of Skye, very close to the town centre attractions of Portree. Recently refurbished and renovated, all rooms are en-suite, comfortably furnished and have all the amenities you require for a great overnight stay. Jessie and John will provide you with a very warm Skye welcome at this lovely property.
The Gables is a comfortable, modern home located in a picturesque area on the southern edge of Portree, offering stunning views of Portree Bay and Ben Tianavaig. The accommodation includes a triple room, a double room, and a twin room, each featuring a private en-suite bathroom. All rooms are equipped with TVs, hospitality trays, and hair dryers for added convenience.
Woodlands B&B offers a peaceful, welcoming atmosphere, ideal for travelers looking to explore the island’s stunning landscapes and vibrant local culture. Located just a short stroll from Portree’s bustling village center, Woodlands B&B provides easy access to a variety of shops, cozy pubs, and delightful restaurants. With cozy en-suite rooms, thoughtful amenities, and a commitment to personalized service, Woodlands B&B is the perfect base for an unforgettable stay on Skye.
The colourful waterfront houses of Portree harbour adorn many a picture postcard. Today you’re free to wander around this delightful Highland town, or you could take a walk in and around the Old Man of Storr an iconic Skye landmark.
Alternatively, take a day trip around the Isle of Skye (supplement payable), taking in the brooding black and red peaks of the Cuillins, Talisker Distillery, and the rock pinnacle of the Quiraing. Calmac also operates a ferry service from nearby Sconser to Raasay if you prefer to explore one of the islands.
Erisco is a most relaxing accommodation on the Isle of Skye, very close to the town centre attractions of Portree. Recently refurbished and renovated, all rooms are en-suite, comfortably furnished and have all the amenities you require for a great overnight stay. Jessie and John will provide you with a very warm Skye welcome at this lovely property.
The Gables is a comfortable, modern home located in a picturesque area on the southern edge of Portree, offering stunning views of Portree Bay and Ben Tianavaig. The accommodation includes a triple room, a double room, and a twin room, each featuring a private en-suite bathroom. All rooms are equipped with TVs, hospitality trays, and hair dryers for added convenience.
Woodlands B&B offers a peaceful, welcoming atmosphere, ideal for travelers looking to explore the island’s stunning landscapes and vibrant local culture. Located just a short stroll from Portree’s bustling village center, Woodlands B&B provides easy access to a variety of shops, cozy pubs, and delightful restaurants. With cozy en-suite rooms, thoughtful amenities, and a commitment to personalized service, Woodlands B&B is the perfect base for an unforgettable stay on Skye.
You can look forward to many memorable travel experiences today! First, take a scenic bus ride (1hr) to Armadale, where you catch the trusty Calmac ferry (30 mins) to Mallaig. Arriving back on the mainland, you will then ride the West Highland Line from Mallaig across the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct to the bustling port town of Fort William, home to Scotland's largest mountain, Ben Nevis. Along the way, the views are spectacular as the train winds its way past pristine beaches and mountain panoramas (2h50).
Your ferry journey and train will be pre-booked. We will also provide you with up to date information/timetables for the bus from Portree to Armadale. You can choose to pay on the bus or online at Stagecoach Bus. In peak season, we recommend booking tickets online once you have received confirmed times for the ferry and train. For those with some time in Mallaig, a short walk giving great views across Loch Nevis to Knoydart will be available on the app as well as recommended lunch spots and information about luggage storage.
Unfortunately, we are unable to book the Jacobite Steam train which runs between Fort William and Mallaig. Instead, you will be booked on to a Scotrail service which runs on the same train line (West Highland Line). If choosing to travel on the Jacobite Train, you can book directly on West Coast Railways.
Dora welcomes you with open arms to her beautiful guest house - Myrtle Bank. Overlooking Loch Linnie and just a short stroll from the town centre Myrtle Bank is a wonderful place to relax at the end of the West Highland Way.
A warm welcome awaits you at Guisachan House, a family run private guest house. They are situated in an elevated position off the main road with views over Loch Linnhe and surrounding hills only 5 minutes walking distance from Fort William town centre. They have 17 bedrooms and a guest lounge and bar offering wine, beer, spirits and malt whiskey. Wireless Internet is available for the guests. There is some photography dotted around the guest house taken by Phil, one of the owners.
Located in a prime residential area overlooking Loch Linnhe, the guest house is only 5 minutes walk from the shops and restaurants in Fort William town centre. You are assured a warm welcome at this splendid property and all rooms are en-suite with central heating, flat screen televisions and tea/coffee making facilities. There is free WiFi.
Enjoy a lovely walk today, with views of Britain’s tallest mountain, Ben Nevis, and you’ll also enjoy the impressive eight locks of Neptune’s Staircase along the Caledonian Canal. Take in the impressive panorama of the Commando memorial, as you make your way to Spean Bridge. The trail begins with an easy walk along the canal, heading up the Great Glen and through woodland that is home to red squirrels. This walk can be shortened by around 6km by getting a lift from Gairlochy to Spean Bridge (Most B&B's in Spean Bridge offer a collection service).
Distant Hills has a peaceful setting amidst some of the most spectacular scenery in the Highlands with uninterrupted mountain views. They have seven individually designed comfortable rooms with en-suite shower rooms. Rooms are furnished in contemporary quality furniture with 24 hour individually controlled heating. There is also a drying room and WIFI access.
Old Pines is a very special place to stay. Experience the beauty of their picturesque location, cosy yet luxurious rooms and the indulgence of organic, home-cooked food. On arrival, you will be greeted with fresh tea and home-made scones then you can settle into your luxury room to unwind.
Morven and Simon look forward to offering you a warm welcome. Coire Glas is situated in one acre of grounds facing south looking over the spectacular Grey Corries, home to the Nevis Range Ski Resort.
Get ready for yet another of Britain’s most scenic railway journeys as you travel south on the classic West Highland Line.
Soak up the last of the Highland scenery from your seat as you speed through the fertile Great Glen to Rannoch Moor, a remote plateau at 300m above sea level. This is a wild landscape of peat bogs, lochans and ancient forests, home now to herds of red deer.
Your delightful 3h30 journey ends in the vibrant city of Glasgow, from where you can make your onward journey. Accommodation tonight in Glasgow is not included, however please contact us should you wish us to make arrangements for you.
This trip has a carbon score of 11kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 11kg is equivalent to 2 Neapolitan margherita pizzas. Buon appetito!. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information about how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?Travelling by train is both an easy and satisfying way to ensure you experience as many of Scotland’s natural highlights as possible and also explore its intriguing history and culture. Two of Scotland’s top scenic rail journeys combine on this epic adventure by rail. This is also perfect for walkers, with hikes through some of Britain’s most impressive scenery.
Discovery | Think of it as a ‘local’s guide’ to the best of the region. It includes a combination of activity and transportation to give you the freedom to explore and cover more ground at your own pace. We do all the research and organisation for you. All you have to do is turn up and enjoy!
Rail and Hike | Perfectly planned itineraries discovering the best of a destination both by train and on foot.
Solo Travellers
The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years
This trip is graded easy to moderate and includes optional daily walks. As the walks are self-guided, you will be responsible for navigation, decision-making and safety during your trip. The terrain can be rugged underfoot on rolling terrain, but not too strenuous and generally on good tracks, paths or quiet country roads. You should enjoy a good level of fitness to make the most of this trip.
Included in the trip are 7 nights of accommodation in hand-picked small 3-4* hotels, B&B’s or guesthouses. We carefully select friendly accommodation that offers great value, food and a warm welcome.
You can add extra nights at any point during your stay. We particularly recommend doing so in Edinburgh and Glasgow as there is so much to see and do — please contact us for details. For those who like to travel at a slower pace, an extra night in Inverness breaks up the travelling and rewards you with more time to explore the Highland capital.
Accommodation Location
We will always try and accommodate you at the locations detailed in your itinerary. Occasionally, because of limited availability, there is the option to be accommodated at an alternative location. In the unlikely event that we have to accommodate you elsewhere we will advise you of this before confirming your booking. In this case you can opt to change your dates, or we can arrange transfers to and from an alternative overnight accommodation (supplement payable for transfers).
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
This holiday is available to solo walkers, although a solo supplement is payable. If you require single rooms within your party we would be happy to accommodate your request, although it is not generally possible to secure more than three single rooms in a party. A single room supplement is payable.
Meals
Breakfast is included each morning while lunch and dinner are not included so you are free to choose from the available options. Your accommodation may be able to provide a packed lunch on request and this can be booked on arrival. Alternatively, you can stop at local shops and convenient lunch stops on the way. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or nearby pubs and restaurants.
The walking routs are not extensively way marked but navigation is straightforward using the Macs Adventure App which has maps, GPS tracks and daily route information. Simply download the GPS tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that navigation on this tour will be made simple. You will find more information on downloading the app in your Macs Adventure Account.
Recommended Reading
If you would like more information on the route please see our recommendation below:
- Map: Harvey Map, Skye trail 1:40,000
- 7 Nights in small 3-4* hotels and B&B’s
- 7 Breakfasts
- Train travel on days 1, 3, 4,6 & 8
- Ferry from Armadale (Skye) to Mallaig
- Luggage transfer on day 7
- Access to maps, GPX tracks and daily route information with the Macs Adventure navigation app
- All your trip documents provided digitally through your online Macs ‘My Account’
- 24/7 Emergency telephone support from our UK & US office
- Travel to Edinburgh/from Glasgow
- Public transport or taxi travel if required on days 2 & 5
- Bus from Kyle of Lochalsh to Portree on day 4 (payable locally)
- Bus from Portree to Armadale on day 6 (payable locally)
- Optional excursions from Inverness & Portree
- Lunches, dinners, snacks & drinks
- Personal equipment
- Travel insurance
- Additional nights (recommended in Edinburgh & Glasgow)
- Guided full-day excursion on the Isle of Skye
- Guided day trip from Inverness to Loch Ness & Urquhart Castle (cruise/coach tour)
The season runs from April to October. Due to limited buses on the Isle of Skye outside of June, July & August, it is not possible to start this tour on a Monday or Tuesday outside of these months. Outside of May-September some museums and attractions have limited opening hours and some restaurants may stop serving food earlier so make sure to check before you arrive to avoid disappointment.
By Air: Both Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports are well-served by low-cost and scheduled airlines. From Edinburgh Airport you can travel by tram or airport shuttle bus to the city centre (approx. 30 mins). From Glasgow Buchanan Street Bus Station (city centre) an airport shuttle operates regularly to the airport (approx. 30 mins). Alternatively, you can book a taxi to Glasgow Airport with some taxi companies for a fixed rate - the journey from the city centre to the airport takes approx. 25 mins. Further information will be detailed in your pre-departure information pack.
Public Transport: The website www.travelinescotland.com is handy for researching train and bus timetables throughout Scotland. Your trip includes second class travel on Scotrail train services as detailed in your itinerary. These are 'anytime' tickets that can be used at any time during the specific date of travel. Full details can be found in your pre-departure information pack.
Jacobite Steam Train
Unfortunately, we are unable to book the Jacobite Steam train which runs between Fort William and Mallaig. Instead, you will be booked on to a Scotrail service which runs on the identical train line over the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct. If choosing to travel on the Jacobite Train, you can book directly on West Coast Railways
Your bags will be transferred for you on day 7 when you walk from Fort William to Spean Bridge. On this trip we ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 18kg per person. On the rail/bus days, we ask that you take all your baggage with you aboard the train/bus. The trip is designed so that during the hikes you are free to walk with just a day pack.
At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person. It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.
Online Documents
At Macs Adventure we care about the environment! We’re taking action to minimize the impact we have by converting the majority of our tour documentation for online delivery.
On this tour, all your detailed tour information will be digitally delivered. You will have access to this documentation via “My Account” on our website.
Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.
We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as the region is extremely popular especially the Isle of Skye over the summer months (June to September). The accommodations mentioned on our website are those that we normally use and are subject to availability at the time of booking, however we work with many excellent B&Bs and small hotels in the areas youll be visiting, and we will always try and accommodate your plans.
You will need good walking shoes/boots (ideally waterproof), comfortable walking clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers, a daypack and hats/gloves etc. Our info packs have a list of all equipement to bring on your walk.
Traditionally May has always been the most popular time of year because the theory goes that the weather is better and the midges have not yet appeared. Although having walked in every summer month we believe any time between late May and October offers a wonderful experience.
Midges are small biting insects (much like north American gnats) which are prevalent in the summer months. They are particularly bad on still, overcast days but do not bother you if you are moving, the wind is blowing, sun is shining, it’s raining, or you are inside so as long as you carry repellent for the odd occasion you may need it they shouldn’t have any impact on your experience.
You can use public transport or local taxis to move you to the next overnight stop. Full details are included in your info pack.
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