Guest Author - Susan Keeping

Imagine seeing the beautiful Scottish countryside reveal itself to you as you sit in the comfort of your own private state-room sipping on a glass of whiskey. Imagine enjoying gourmet meals with new friends from around the world while you pass by historic sites. Imagine hearing tales of Scottish history while you observe Scottish nature at its best. Thankfully, you do not have to imagine any of this; you can experience it for yourself. The Royal Scotsman is a luxury train in the tradition of the Orient Express that can offer you all of that...and more.

There was a time when luxury train travel seemed to be the norm for the "upper classes". The Orient Express became the place to be in the 1920s and 30s, when it ran from Paris to Istanbul. The Orient Express still exists today, but it only runs from Paris to Venice. Orient Express Hotels, Trains & Cruises owns several luxury train services; The Royal Scotsman is one of them.

Operated by The Great Scottish & Western Railway Company since 1985, The Royal Scotsman offers luxury tours of the Scottish highlands that are as short as two nights and as long as seven nights. The train leaves from Edinburgh where guests are welcomed aboard by a piper. There is a limit of 36 guests on any one tour and the price includes all meals, wine, alcohol, and side tours; children under twelve are not allowed. Guests enjoy a state-room that is fully equipped with a private toilet, shower, and washstand. Guests also enjoy gourmet food on the train. Dinners alternate between formal and non-formal; formal means a tuxedo or a kilt for men and a cocktail dress for women, non-formal means men must wear a jacket.

Among the places the tours pass are Inverness, Perth and Boat of Garten. There are also many stops along the way where guests can enjoy whiskey distillery tours, visits to private estates and tours of historic castles. Guests are also guaranteed a good night's sleep since the train stops overnight.

The Royal Scotsman is a great way to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Scottish highlands and to learn more about highland history. In the observation car, guests can listen to a highlander who will regale them with tales of highland history.

While The Royal Scotsman may be just a dream for some (it is quite expensive), but if you can take advantage of the experience it will be a wonderful memory that will remain with you for the rest of your life.