Belmond Royal Scotsman

Welcome aboard the Belmond Royal Scotsman, a luxury train in Scotland that is your impeccable host for a spectacular journey into the beautiful Scottish Highlands. This is travel the way it was meant to be: luxurious, leisurely and full of discovery.

Considered to be the world's most luxurious train, you will be joined by a maximum of just 35 other guests as you explore the magnificent scenery in Scotland, visiting places unseen by most visitors.

Unwind in one of the most unique spas that Scotland has to offer, on board Belmond Royal Scotsman. Two serene treatment rooms provide a haven of peace, while an exceptional menu of all-natural therapies work to rejuvenate body and mind. Simply sit back, relax and let the therapists indulge you as the beautiful scenery glides by.

Fine Dining

Dining on board this luxury train in Scotland is an exquisite experience. The fixed menus reflect the seasonal changes and are consistently regarded as the best in any hotel in the world. The extensive cellar provides a range of fine wines to accompany lunch and dinners, and a fine range of liqueurs and malt whiskies are offered. The choice of a full Scottish cooked breakfast or a Continental breakfast is available every morning.

Both Dining Cars are beautifully decorated with rich mahogany panelling and luxurious fabrics. Victory provides 16 elegant settings grouped in twos and fours, while Raven has larger tables for six or eight. This offers you the chance to make new friends with your fellow guests or simply enjoy the company of the one you're with.

After dinner, relax with a rare scotch malt whisky in the stunning Edwardian Observation Car as a local Highlander regales you with stories of life in Scotland in centuries gone by. Then, retire to your mahogany-adorned State Cabin, with private facilities, for a peaceful night's sleep as the train slips quietly into a siding where it stables for the night.

There are a variety of rail journeys available on the Belmond Royal Scotsman, from one to seven nights in duration. You'll travel through some of the most breathtaking scenery in Europe. Travelling at a leisurely pace, so you miss none of the splendour outside your window, you'll wind your way through beautiful glens, around stunning lochs and along mile after mile of unspoilt coastline. Of course, there are stops along the way; a chance to experience Scotland at first hand, with hospitality at a number of exclusive destinations.

"When it comes to sheer glamour, no ride on rails compares with a trip on the Belmond Royal Scotsman"

This luxurious Scottish train is exclusive and intimate accommodating a maximum of only 36 guests in wonderful State Cabins, all with private facilities. Once on board, you'll find a level of hospitality and personal service that's all too rare in the modern world. From the moment you arrive, to the time when you, sadly, have to leave, you'll want for nothing. Except, perhaps, a chance to do it all again.

All prices are per person and are fully inclusive of accommodation, meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, entertainment and off-train visits, as well as the services of your on board host; there solely to make your journey more enjoyable.

Treat yourself to a memorable luxury train journey in Scotland aboard The Belmond Royal Scotsman and experience the very best of this wonderful country in world-class luxury.

Cuisine On Board Belmond Royal Scotsman

The Belmond Royal Scotsman's restaurant has gained rightful acclaim as one of the finest in Britain - moving or still. Here, the fruits of Scotland's famous natural larder - salmon, shellfish, game and Aberdeen Angus beef - are all used with verve and imagination by our award winning chef.

Dining on the Belmond Royal Scotsman is an exquisite experience. Our fixed menus reflect the many seasonal changes and are consistently regarded as amongst the very finest in Britain.

The train's chefs create dishes to exacting standards despite the restricted space. Dining on board the beautifully decorated, mahogany-panelled dining room is an experience to savour with meals prepared with local ingredients, such as Scottish smoked salmon, and served with wine for all tastes.

Our extensive cellar provides a range of fine wines to accompany lunch and dinner, and we offer a fine range of liqueurs and malt whiskies. The choice of a full Scottish cooked breakfast or a continental breakfast is available every morning.

Both Dining Cars are beautifully decorated with rich mahogany panelling and luxurious fabrics. Victory provides sixteen elegant settings grouped in twos and fours, while Raven has larger tables for six or eight. This offers you the chance to make new friends with your fellow guests or simply enjoy the company of the one you're with.

Formal and Informal Dinners

There are formal and informal dinners aboard the Belmond Royal Scotsman, usually on alternate nights. For the formal dinners we encourage a tuxedo or kilt for gentleman and a cocktail dress or similar evening wear for ladies. For the informal dinners a jacket and tie is the norm for gentlemen, except at times of unusually hot weather.

Cuisine

With its game-rich glens, lush pastures cropped by Aberdeen Angus cattle and rivers home to wild salmon, it's not surprising that Scotland is known for flavoursome, quality cuisine. Not only is the country's beef exceptional, but the choice of other tasty meats includes grouse, pheasant and venison, all of which speak of mountains and forests where creatures roam free. The jagged coastline, with its islands and inlets, shelters a wealth of seafood including scallops, oysters, crabs and other shellfish, while further inland are the lochs and burns where trout and other freshwater fish swim. All of these are brought to table with local specialities from the fields – oatcakes, neeps and tatties (turnips and potatoes) – and followed up with delectable desserts that include delicious Dundee fruit cake and melt-in-the-mouth shortbreads.

There's nothing quite like a hearty Highland breakfast, especially when it's served aboard the Belmond Royal Scotsman train. Succulent kippers, potato scones and a steaming bowl of porridge get the day off to a warming start. Admire the picturesque surroundings as you take lunch. A bowl of lightly steamed mussels by a romantic harbour or vegetable-rich Scotch broth in a cosy inn are the perfect preparation for a whisky-tasting session or exploring an ancient castle with the laird. Aboard the train, a lunch might start with lightly seared salmon, in preparation for the wicked sticky toffee pudding to come. Dishes are served as the train passes the dramatic landscapes that supply them: fields of barley, open seas with fishing boats, streams tumbling down from misty mountains.

As evening falls, the train's grand formal dinner is a highlight of any journey. Guests are invited to dress the part and are welcomed to the bar and dining cars where they can enjoy an aperitif. Once seated at softly lit tables, the menu might begin with a warm pigeon salad accompanied by blackcurrant dressing, continue with spiced roast halibut and conclude with vanilla apple mousse. For while the ingredients of Scottish cooking are wholesome, fresh-from-the-fields produce, the ways in which they are prepared are as innovative as one would expect of a nation long accustomed to welcoming visitors to its shores.

Sample Menus

Lunch

Chicken and langoustines salad with baby squash and queen scallops
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Bitter chocolate tart with kumquat marmalade

 

Dinner

Seared scallops with sauce vierge
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Roast loin of lamb with wild mushrooms and truffle risotto
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Iced hazelnut parfait with raspberry coulis
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There is a fixed menu for each meal, but do request an alternative if the posted menu does not suit you. Special diets can be arranged with the Chef on board - just advise us in advance.

Belmond Royal Scotsman - General Information

Check-in Procedure

Special Diets

These can be arranged with the Chef on board - just advise us in advance. There is a fixed menu for each meal, but do request an alternative if the posted menu does not suit you. Please advise us at the time of booking of any allergies which we need to be aware of.

Clothing

For daytime excursions and relaxing on board, we recommend casual, comfortable clothing. In the evening we recommend a jacket and tie for informal dinners and black tie/tuxedo or kilt for formal dinners (see journey itinerary for details).

Luggage

Cabins on the train have limited space, therefore we recommend each guest travels with one suitcase and one carry-on bag. Twin State Cabins have storage space under each bed measuring 71cm x 23cm. If necessary, facilities are available at The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh for luggage storage during your journey. If you are staying at another hotel, please ask the Hotel Manager. Prior to boarding, please attach a Belmond Royal Scotsman luggage label to each piece of your luggage.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement that all clients read the Booking Conditions. Travel insurance is essential for ensuring peace of mind. You can arrange travel insurance online here.

Children and Pets

For safety reasons, pets are not permitted on the train. Children under 12 years of age may be permitted on the train - please contact us for details.

Electricity

There are electrical outlets in all cabins. Electricity in the UK runs on 220/240 volts. You may wish to bring an adapter for electrical appliances.

Wheelchair Access

Guests with restricted mobility, or those confined to a wheelchair are asked to contact us to discuss the suitability of a journey aboard the Belmond Royal Scotsman.

Smoking

In accordance with Scottish Law, smoking is not permitted on board the train at any time.

Service On Board the Belmond Royal Scotsman

The secret of the Belmond Royal Scotsman's success is the service guests receive. So attentive is it that all you have to do is simply arrive, unpack and relax. Everything else is taken care of. You can even leave your wallet or purse tucked safely away, as all meals, drinks, entertainment and excursions are included.

Pure Relaxation; Natural Splendour

Your Own Haven of Luxury

The Belmond Royal Scotsman is often described as the finest country house hotel, on wheels. It's an accolade that you'll happily agree with as you turn in for the night.

The Sleeping Cars provide fourteen twin, two double and four single State Cabins, beautifully fitted out in rich marquetry, each providing a comfortable and intimate area to relax and enjoy the stunning scenery of Scotland.

Each cabin has its own private bathroom with shower, wash-basin and toilet, constant hot water, high quality toiletries and fresh fluffy white towels every day. Other facilities include:

Each bed is furnished with a foam pillow, a hypoallergenic duvet and quilted cotton bed covers.

With the train stabled at night in a quiet siding or station, you are assured a good night's sleep.

"Plush beds and opulent bathrooms are the order of the day"

From the moment the piper welcomes you aboard in Edinburgh, to the moment you return to this historic city, you'll be in the very best of hands, on the very best of trains. With a variety of individual tours to enjoy, it won't be long before you're planning your next trip aboard the most luxurious train in the world.

Grand Suites

Joining the rake from May 2024, two exceptional new Grand Suites will complement the existing Twin and Double cabins.

The Grand Suites aboard Royal Scotsman signal the start of a new age of indulgent Highland adventure. The spacious interiors are rich in references to Scottish culture and reflect the passing landscapes. Patterns echo Edwardian elegance as Pictish stones, dark woods and local stones sit side by side with rich and sophisticated tweeds. Decorative elements in carved pewter adorn the lamps and tables. The design of the furniture and lighting is directly inspired by the Scottish islands. Together, the design elements conjure a sense of enrapturing myth and cinematic drama, while fostering the feel of a private club where members join together in a convivial spirit.

Download Grand Suites Brochure