There are some journeys that are simply legendary. A cruise on the Nile, Route 66, the Trans-Siberian Railway, the Camino de Santiago… Add to these the Belmond trains, true legends of travelling ‘the way it used to be’: a slow pace, the luxury of elegant surroundings, the intimacy of a small group of fellow travellers (maximum 36 guests and 12 staff) and the guarantee of unique scenic and cultural explorations.

We board the Royal Scotsman, a train that has been in service since 1985, travelling through the mountains and valleys of the Scottish Highlands, an ancient and wild land. And this is certainly the most sophisticated way to visit it. Indeed, the journey begins even before you board, as you walk on a red carpet accompanied by the melody of a bagpipe and a glass of whisky, which George Bernard Shaw called ‘liquid sunshine’.

The interior of the Royal Scotsman is a tribute to local craftsmanship: the carriages are made of mahogany, the details are inlaid and the custom-built suites evoke the Edwardian era, with the comforts of country homes. At the centre of the convoy is the so-called observation carriage, where the collection of Scotch whiskies becomes a journey within a journey. In the lounge, there is a dining table made of Scottish larch, an armchair handmade from scrap wood from the coast and a sofa draped in tartan, where the double lines represent the train tracks and the 37 different threads, the years of service of the train.

Since June this year, two new, even more spacious and elegant suites have been added to the convoy. The dark wood, stone detailing and shades of green, grey and blue are a tribute to the Scottish landscape whizzing past the windows. The walls are decorated with motifs inspired by Celtic symbolism and the mirrors are a tribute to the Edwardian memories of the train.

The main itinerary lasts five days and covers some 1,158 km (720 miles) in the deep Highlands, with stops at various locations around Scotland. You explore castles and distilleries, cross historic bridges and viaducts and visit iconic locations such as Kyle of Lochalsh, gateway to the Isle of Skye. The Royal Scotsman is a deep immersion in Scottish culture, where the train journey alternates between meetings with local families, tastings of local produce and characteristic Scottish activities such as clay pigeon shooting and fly fishing, or a safari on a laird’s estate.

On board, dinner is served by candlelight, with typical Scottish dishes: fresh oysters from the Kyle of Lochalsh, Aberdeen Angus beef and smoked salmon from Inverawe. In addition to the ‘classic’ itineraries, themed tours are also available, such as the Highland Survival Adventure or A Taste of Scotland, a gourmet journey accompanied by Michelin-starred chef Tom Kitchin.

The Royal Scotsman reached an even higher level of hospitality in 2023 with the launch of the Dior Spa on board: a space where beauty meets the Scottish landscape through treatments designed to rejuvenate body and mind as the train continues on its journey. The spa has two treatment rooms, made of lacquered wood and decorated with Dior’s signature Toile de Jouy pattern in burgundy.

Prices for a two-night itinerary in a Grand Suite start at €7,100 per person. The price is all-inclusive and includes private transfers to and from the hotel or airport, as well as one spa treatment per person in the Dior Spa.