Belmond Royal Scotsman, Scotland’s only luxury sleeper train, is offering bespoke excursions that will take guests off the rails and into the wilds of Scotland. Guests can now tailor their itinerary by choosing from a range of activities including stargazing under some of the darkest skies in Europe, in the Cairngorms; hiking the gorges of Aviemore; canoeing on Loch Ness; clay pigeon shooting at Rothiemurchus Estate or teeing off for golf at some of Scotland’s most famous links courses.

Gary Franklin, Vice President, Trains & Cruises, Belmond comments, “Our guests are increasingly looking to personalize their experience and we hope these options give them the flexibility to see the Scotland of their choice.  The experiences showcase some of the real highlights of Scotland and allow guests to connect with nature through incredible Scottish landscapes. These new experiences appeal to everyone from adrenalin junkies to whisky enthusiasts and we are very excited to be able to offer stargazing.”

The Scottish Highlands offers a rich cluster of Dark Sky Discovery sites and is fast becoming one of the best places for stargazing in the world.  Guests can choose to explore the night skies with a private stargazing excursion in the Cairngorms National Park complete with a certified astrologer whilst a late-night picnic is served under the stars.

Ensuring a good night’s sleep, The Bamford Haybarn Spa Car, has introduced a new ‘B-Silent’ Treatment, designed to relax the body and prepare guests for a sound, restful night.

For those with an adrenaline streak, activities now on offer include white water rafting, gorge walking in Aviemore, paragliding in Fort William or traditional Scottish outdoor pursuits such as clay pigeon shooting, falconry or quad biking at the famed Rothiemurchus Estate.

Guests can also choose to make the most of the outdoors and the breathtaking Scottish scenery with active excursion options such as guided cycle tours, guided hikes and options for running tours.

The lochs of Scotland are an iconic part of the Scottish scenery and there are plenty of water-based activities to choose from for guests with a love of water – from spotting the mythical ‘Loch Ness’ monster on a boat cruise, kayaking in Clachnaharry Works Loch, dolphin spotting in the Moray Firth or a quiet fishing trip on the Atholl Estate in Pitlochry.

Golf enthusiasts can choose to add a round of golf into their itinerary with tee times at Gleneagles, Royal Donorch Golf Club, Castle Stuart Golf Links, and Kingbarns Golf Links.

Scotland is known for its whisky and consequently its distilleries – Belmond Royal Scotsman itself serves over 60 varieties on board.

Those with a taste for the finest malts can choose to visit some of the Highland’s best-known distilleries. Including Glen Ord, one of the oldest in Scotland, Glenlivet Distillery, home of the iconic malt that inspired the Speyside Region; and Tullibardine Distillery in Blackford village where guests can join a tour led by the distillery’s master blender.

Departing from Edinburgh’s Waverley Station, Belmond Royal Scotsman travels on circular routes through the heart of the Highlands. With only 40 passengers on board, the train replicates a ‘Country House on Wheels’ and has two, three- or four-night itineraries.

Excursion options vary depending on the route the train takes. Prices vary per excursion option and will be given upon booking. A full list of excursions can be found here: https://www.belmond.com/trains/europe/scotland/belmond-royal-scotsman/activities

Video link can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lF7i1BxBpM