Royal Scotsman, Scottish Highlands

Condé Nast TravelerOct 8, 2025

Writer Megan Spurrell hops aboard the Royal Scotsman, a Belmond train, for four days traveling through Scotland's scenic countryside.

Elegant cardinal-painted train for travel in Scotland

9 things in this story

Royal ScotsmanPlaceElegant cardinal-painted train for travel in Scotland
Venice Simplon-Orient-ExpressPlaceRevived route of the iconic Orient-Express
Cairngorms National ParksSightScenic park the train winds through
Achnashellach ForestSightForest the train winds through
InvernessNeighborhoodLong regarded as the de facto capital of the Scottish Highlands, it is the administrative centre for The Highland…
PlocktonNeighborhoodCoastal village visited on the train route
Orient-ExpressPlaceBelmond’s iconic train is now overnighting between Paris and Portofino, bringing old-world glamour to the Italian…
Loch CarronSightLoch on Scotland's northern coast
Edinburgh's Waverly StationSight

Royal Scotsman