Looking for wide-open spaces, untamed nature, and mysterious castles? Some the vertiginous cliffs of the Isle of Skye to the the endless moors of the Highlands, some Edinburgh's medieval alleyways to the Street art murals in Glasgow, Scotland is a spectacular destination to explore by train. With some of the most scenic rail routes in Europe (including the legendary West Highland Line), it’s the perfect playground for a low-carbon, slow-paced, and spectacular adventure.
Article
Discover Scotland by train: the ultimate guide (7, 10 and 15-day tours)
Article
Scotland's most beautiful train journeys
Thanks to Eurostar and train connections in London, it is possible to travel to Edinburgh or Glasgow in just 4 to 5 hours with one of the three companies that offer daytime service. These options not only allow you to significantly reduce your carbon footprint, but it's also a great way to get to Scotland in slow travel, enjoying the magnificent scenery along the way. Another rather magical option is to traveling overnight on a sleeper train thanks to the company Caledonian Sleeper, which serves Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Fort William, and a multitude of Scottish cities.
The easiest route (and 100% by rail):
Long-distance trains between London and Scotland are operated by:
There is also an option night train :
Article
The Caledonian Sleeper: travel to Scotland by night train from London
Once there, the Scottish rail network makes it easy to explore the Highlands, the lochs, the islands, and the national parks… all without having to drive. This takes the stress out of driving on the left and lets you enjoy the scenery at your leisure. Scenic routes like the West Highland Line (toward Fort William and Mallaig) offer unforgettable journeys through some of the country’s most iconic landscapes. Finally, traveling by train through the land of the Highlands It also helps you save money. We were able to compare this option with the Road trip in an electric car which could also be a nice option, but when it comes to the budget, there's no contest!
Article
Scotland's most beautiful train journeys
Harry Potter fans beware: here's a turnkey tour to explore the world of Harry Potter by train! Thanks to this legendary loop through the UK (and Scotland in particular), you'll find yourself at the heart of the film's sets and in the footsteps of J.K. Rowling.
Article
Scotland by train, in the footsteps of our favorite heroes (Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Rebelle...)
To help you organize your train trip to Scotland, we've put together a 7-day tour from Paris but also since Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nice and Toulouse. And if you have more time, you will also find a circuit of 10 days and 15 days from these 6 cities (see bottom of page). In each case, we've tried to include the following main points of interest:
Article
Discover Scotland by train: the ultimate guide (7, 10 and 15-day tours)
The most interesting pass for an itinerant trip :
👉 Ideal for combining Highlands + islands + big cities.
Often interesting if you combine England + Scotland.
⚠️ Railcards generally pay for themselves after 1 or 2 long-distance trips.
This guide is produced in partnership with the tourism office:
Train emits about 4x less CO₂ than plane over 874 km. Discover our methodology
