Have you ever imagined of a train ride with suite bathrooms, an onboard spa, and a bar full of whiskey that has an open-air veranda to breathe in some fresh air along the route. If yes, this is not only part of your imagination. The Belmond Royal Scotsman luxury train offers a magic experience through Scottish Highlands.
The Belmond operator service runs also six other high-end rail journeys around the globe, including the Belmond Royal Scotsman, which will return to tracks on April 12, 2021 until October.
The train winds through Scotland, with routes that include Glamis Castle, Eilean Donan Castle, Culloden Battlefield, Alnwick Castle, and Glenfinnan Viaduct, as well as experiences like stopping at whisky distilleries or going clay pigeon shooting.
Due to pandemic, there’s a capacity of 40 passengers that can be on each trip, meaning there’s plenty of room for proper physical distancing, plus there are private bathrooms in each cabin for comfort and hygiene. For those looking for even more seclusion, the train will be available for private charters for up to 24 guests in 2021. Those trips can be tailored to individual interests, from golf to whisky to stargazing. Two-night charters start at £35,000 (about $47,491).
The Royal Scotsman was launched in May 1985, and started in rented carriages when quickly won such acclaim that it was awarded the Queen’s Award for Export. It soon upgraded to bespoke Edwardian-style carriages, and over the years, the train went from steam heating to electricity, as well as upgraded from steel to wood. In 2007, the operation was absorbed into the Belmond (formerly the Orient-Express) family.
One of the most luxury additions it’s the Spa, which makes this vehicle the first spa carriage in Europe. The price tags starts at £3,195 (about $4,330) for a two-night journey and £12,500 (about $16,950) for seven-night trips.