Royal Scotsman train: Scotland's luxury sleeper through the Highlands
The Royal Scotsman, a Belmond train, is a five-star country house on rails - around 40 guests, Edwardian mahogany carriages, an open-air observation veranda, the world's first Dior Spa on a train and a bar stocked with some 30 single malts, on two- to seven-night journeys from Edinburgh through the Scottish Highlands. Fares start around US$6,000 per person. Booked through Stars Desk, an accredited Belmond Bellini Club advisor, you pay the same Belmond fare and receive a US$100 per-person onboard credit, cabin-upgrade priority and VIP welcome treats, at no extra cost.
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Royal Scotsman or Flying Scotsman - and yes, it is still running
Two famous Scottish names, two very different things. The Royal Scotsman is Belmond's luxury sleeper train, running two- to seven-night all-inclusive journeys from Edinburgh through the Highlands every April to October - it is very much still running. The Flying Scotsman is the historic steam locomotive (and the name of the classic London-Edinburgh express); the retirement and museum headlines you may have seen are about that engine, not this train. And if you found a "Royal Scotsman" hotel in Victoria, Canada - that is an unrelated hotel. This page is about Belmond's train in Scotland. One more thing: the Royal Scotsman does not run to London - its journeys begin and end in Edinburgh. For a luxury day trip from London, see the British Pullman.
Why book your Royal Scotsman journey with Stars Desk
Stars Desk is an accredited advisor in the Belmond Bellini Club, Belmond's invitation-only preferred-partner program held by fewer than one hundred agencies worldwide. You pay the same best available rate published by Belmond, and receive a US$100 per-person onboard credit, priority for a cabin upgrade, VIP welcome treats and a welcome letter at no extra cost. Belmond also runs seasonal offers we apply when available - such as a complimentary night at the Balmoral in Edinburgh on select spring departures (terms vary; we confirm current offers when you enquire).
One dedicated advisor builds the whole Scottish trip around the train: flights, Edinburgh hotel nights before and after, and the Highland extras - golf, private estate visits, distillery add-ons - that turn four nights on the rails into a complete Scotland itinerary. And because we book all seven Belmond trains, we will tell you honestly whether this is the right one. See our advisor's take below.
The Royal Scotsman at a glance
| Region | Scottish Highlands - all journeys depart from and return to Edinburgh Waverley |
| Journey length | 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 nights |
| Guests | Around 40 - one of the most intimate luxury trains in the world |
| Cabins | Twin, double and dedicated single cabins, plus Grand Suites in Scottish tweeds - all with private en-suite facilities |
| Dining | Two restaurant cars, Raven and Swift - Scottish produce, formal dinner evenings |
| On board | Observation car with open-air veranda, Dior Spa car, boutique, bar with ~30 single malts |
| From (guide, per person) | ~US$6,000 (2 nights); roughly US$3,000 per person per night |
| Season | April to October |
Guide "from" prices in US dollars, per person based on two sharing. Belmond sets fares dynamically in GBP, so US figures are approximate; we confirm the exact live fare when you enquire.
Journeys: where does the Royal Scotsman go?
Every journey departs Edinburgh Waverley - a kilted piper sees the train off - and loops through the Highlands, stabling in quiet countryside sidings each night so you sleep perfectly still. Days are built around private visits and outdoor pursuits; evenings around long dinners and the observation car.
Taste of the Highlands - 2 nights
The entry point: Rothiemurchus Estate country pursuits, a private Culloden Battlefield tour and a Strathisla distillery visit.
Western Scenic Wonders - 3 nights
The west coast showcase: Morar's white sands, Glenfinnan (of viaduct fame) or the Steall Falls walk, and Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute.
Scotland's Classic Splendours - 4 nights
The signature journey: Ballindalloch and Glamis castles, Rothiemurchus, a seal-watching boat trip and the best of the central Highlands.
Scotch Malt Whisky Tour - 4 nights
The whisky train: private tours and tastings at Macallan, Tomatin and Tullibardine with the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, ending at its Edinburgh headquarters.
Clans, Castles and Isles - 5 nights
The wild west coast: Oban distillery, Duart Castle on Mull, Drumlanrig Castle and the isles.
Grand Western Scenic Wonders - 7 nights
The full odyssey: a week of west-coast Scotland, from Morar and Glenfinnan to a Balmoral Hotel brasserie lunch and seal-spotting cruises.
Special departures include an Epicurean journey hosted by Michelin-starred chef Lorna McNee. Off-train pursuits across itineraries: stargazing with an astronomer in the Cairngorms dark skies, wild swimming in a private loch, clay-pigeon shooting, golf and white-water rafting.
Life on board: whisky, tweed and an open-air veranda
The whisky train
Whisky is the soul of the Royal Scotsman: an open bar pouring some 30 single malts, distillery visits on most itineraries, and the dedicated Scotch Malt Whisky Tour for collectors.
Dior Spa on the rails
The world's first Dior Spa on a train: Highland-inspired rituals and treatments in a dedicated spa car - book ahead, slots are few.
Dining in Raven and Swift
Two mahogany-panelled restaurant cars serving Scottish larder cooking - scallops, venison, kippers at breakfast - with convivial tables and formal dinner evenings where kilts are welcome.
The observation car
The social heart: sofas, an open-air veranda at the train's tail for Highland air, and an after-dinner dram as the glens go by. Crossing the Forth Bridge from the veranda is the signature moment.
An advisor's honest take: who the Royal Scotsman is right for
Stars Desk books all seven Belmond trains, so here is what we tell clients before they commit. The Royal Scotsman is the most social train in the fleet - around 40 guests, convivial tables, a house-party atmosphere run, by every account, like a well-oiled machine. It suits travelers who want Scotland curated and handed to them: private castle access, distillery rooms you cannot book alone, and zero logistics. Be honest with yourself about two things: the cabins are classic and compact with en-suite showers - take a Grand Suite if space matters - and whisky and conversation are the fabric of the evenings, which is precisely the charm. If you mainly want scenery on a budget, we will say it plainly: a first-class ScotRail ticket through the West Highlands and a fine hotel deliver the views for a fraction of the price - what they cannot deliver is the access, the stabled-quiet nights, the piper, the spa and the single-malt education. That package is the product, at roughly US$3,000 per person per night. Solo travelers, note the rare dedicated single cabins. If you want vintage glamour over house-party warmth, compare the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express; for contemporary British design and wellness, the Britannic Explorer. Tell us how you travel and we will tell you honestly which fits.
Belmond Bellini Club benefits on the Royal Scotsman
| Book direct on belmond.com | Book through Stars Desk (Bellini Club) | |
|---|---|---|
| Fare | Best available rate | The same best available rate |
| Onboard credit | - | US$100 per person, per journey |
| Cabin upgrade | - | Priority, subject to availability |
| VIP welcome | - | Welcome treats and a welcome letter |
| Future-travel voucher | - | US$500 on qualifying bookings (terms vary) |
| Current Belmond offers | Self-serve | Applied for you - e.g. a complimentary Balmoral night on select departures |
Benefits apply to the standard best available rate and are not combinable with restricted or promotional rates. The US$500 voucher is a rotating Belmond promotion; we confirm current terms at booking. See our full Belmond Bellini Club guide.
Planning your journey: when to book
Book 9-12 months ahead
For Grand Suites, the whisky departures and July-August peak - with around 40 places per departure and a short April-October season, the calendar is finite.
Book 4-8 months ahead
Good cabin choice in spring and early autumn - May, June and September are the sweet spots for light and landscape.
Under 90 days
Occasional space, mostly twin cabins on shoulder dates. We check live availability and can hold options while you decide.
Frequently asked questions about the Royal Scotsman
How much does the Royal Scotsman train cost?
Plan on roughly US$3,000 per person per night: two-night journeys from around US$6,000 per person, four-night journeys from around US$12,000, and the seven-night Grand Western Scenic Wonders up to around US$18,500. Grand Suites run substantially higher. Fares are set by Belmond in GBP and are all-inclusive - meals, drinks including the single malts, excursions and transfers - and we confirm the exact live fare when you enquire.
Is the Royal Scotsman worth it?
If you want Scotland curated end to end - private castle and distillery access, all-inclusive dining and drams, a piper send-off and a country-house atmosphere with around 40 guests - it is the definitive way to do it, and guests consistently describe it as run like a well-oiled machine. If you mainly want Highland scenery, a first-class scenic rail ticket and a fine hotel cost a fraction; what they cannot buy is the access and the atmosphere.
Is the Royal Scotsman still running?
Yes. The Royal Scotsman runs a full season every year, April to October, on two- to seven-night journeys from Edinburgh. Headlines about retirement or museums refer to the Flying Scotsman steam locomotive - a different thing entirely.
What is the difference between the Royal Scotsman and the Flying Scotsman?
The Royal Scotsman is Belmond's luxury sleeper train - an all-inclusive Highland cruise on rails for around 40 guests. The Flying Scotsman is the world-famous steam locomotive, now a heritage engine, and also the historic name of the London-Edinburgh express. Different owners, different trains, different experiences.
Where does the Royal Scotsman go?
All journeys start and finish at Edinburgh Waverley and loop through the Highlands - the west coast (Morar, Glenfinnan, the isles), the Cairngorms and Speyside whisky country - depending on the itinerary. It does not run to London; for a luxury day journey from London, the British Pullman is its sister train.
Is the Royal Scotsman all-inclusive?
Yes - the fare covers your cabin, all meals, all drinks including a bar of around 30 single malts, the off-train excursions and visits, and transfers at Edinburgh. The Dior Spa treatments are the main extra - and exactly what the Bellini Club onboard credit is for.
What is the dress code on the Royal Scotsman?
Smart casual by day - comfortable clothes and shoes for estates and distilleries. Evenings alternate between informal dinners and formal nights, where a jacket and tie, evening dress or a kilt is the spirit of the occasion.
How many passengers does the Royal Scotsman carry?
Around 40 guests at most, with a crew ratio near one to three - among the most intimate luxury trains anywhere. Tables are convivial, and by the second evening it feels like a Highland house party.
Do you sleep while the train is moving?
No. The Royal Scotsman stables in quiet sidings each night, so you sleep completely still - one of the details guests appreciate most.
Can solo travelers book the Royal Scotsman?
Yes, unusually well: the train has dedicated single cabins, so solo guests are not forced into paying a double supplement. The social, convivial format also makes it one of the friendliest luxury trains for traveling alone. We confirm single-cabin availability for your dates.
What is the Dior Spa on the Royal Scotsman?
A dedicated spa carriage created with Dior - the first Dior Spa on a train anywhere - offering Highland-inspired facial and body rituals during the journey. Treatments are limited and book out; we reserve slots with your cabin.
How do I get an upgrade or onboard credit on the Royal Scotsman?
Book through an accredited Belmond Bellini Club advisor such as Stars Desk. You pay the same Belmond fare and receive a US$100 per-person onboard credit, priority for a cabin upgrade and VIP welcome treats, at no extra cost.
Request Royal Scotsman rates & availability
Tell us your dates and the journey you have in mind - or the occasion, and we will match it. We confirm live fares, cabins and current Belmond offers, with your Bellini Club benefits applied.
Explore the rest of the fleet on our Belmond luxury trains guide, compare the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Britannic Explorer and British Pullman, or see all Belmond Bellini Club benefits.