Get Whisky-ed Away on the Scottish Rails with The Royal Scotsman

In April it kicks off its season of classic journeys and introduces three NEW itineraries: Classic Whisky, Country Homes & Gardens, and Classic Golf.

Classic Whisky Journey

• Duration: 4 nights
• Highlights: The Royal Scotsman has partnered with The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, the world's foremost specialist in single cask, single malt whiskies. An Ambassador from the Society travels with the guests onboard, leading them through several tastings of rare and exclusive malts. (Just be sure to bring a notebook to remember them all!) The group will visit Glenlivet, Glen Ord (one of the country's oldest), and Tullibardine distilleries. Other activities include:
o Fly-fishing at Rothiemurchus Estate;
o Boat trip in the village of Plockton to see wild seals;
o Round of golf at a private course in Ballindalloch; and
o Tour of Glamis Castle, the childhood home of the late HM Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.
• Price: Rates start at $6,800 USD for a twin cabin
• Departing Date: April 21

Country Homes & Gardens Journey

• Duration: 4 nights
• Highlights: Back by popular demand! Acclaimed British gardening writer Sue Chivers, author of Horticulture Gardeners Guides: Planting for Color, and photographer Patsy Floyd will take guests on private, VIP tours of some of the finest homes and gardens, including the following:
o Brechin Castle Gardens, one of the most acclaimed private gardens;
o Foulis Castle, seat of the Clan Munro;
o Attadale, a 30,000-acre estate in the Northwest Highlands;
o Clan Donald Estate on the Isle of Skye; and
o Ballindalloch Castle, one of the few privately-owned castles to have been lived in continuously by its original family.
• Price: Rates start at $7,570 USD for a twin cabin
• Departing Date: June 7

Classic Golf Journey

• Duration: 4-5 nights
• Highlights: Golf enthusiasts can travel throughout the country and play four of Scotland's most prestigious courses. There is also an optional stay at The Gleneagles Hotel, host of the 2014 Ryder Cup, to begin the journey with a dinner in the resort's Strathearn Restaurant. Non-golfers will also have their share of fun, with visits to historic landmarks such as Dunrobin Castle, Dalmore Distillery, and Johnston's Cashmere Centre. Courses visited include:
o The PGA Centenary Course, the longest inland course in Scotland;
o Royal Dornoch Golf Club, the northernmost championship course in the UK;
o Castle Stuart Golf Links, venue of the Scottish Open 2011-2013; and
o Cruden Bay Golf Club, designed by Old Tom Morris of St Andrews.
• Price: Rates start at $8,390 USD for golfers and $6,800 USD for non-golfers in a twin cabin
• Departing Date: September 16 or 17

The Royal Scotsman has the lure of a country house party, accommodating just 36 guests per voyage in comfortable, Edwardian-style carriages with private en-suite facilities. Glide past sweeping glens, towering peaks, and black-mirrored lochs as the welcoming staff serves critically-acclaimed dishes that showcase the finest local ingredients and hand-selected wines.

The 2013 season begins on April 21 and ends on October 25, with all trips departing from Edinburgh. Itineraries aboard The Royal Scotsman range from two-night jaunts to leisurely weeklong journeys. Escape for the weekend with the Highland Journey, a weekend train ride into the heart of the Scottish Highlands that makes stops in celebrated cities of Dundee, Aberdeen, and Inverness. Or, better yet, unwind for a whole week while touring the most renowned historic sites in the U.K. on the Grand Tour of Great Britain that circles the entire island and pauses for tours and excursions in Scotland, Wales, and England.

The Royal Scotsman is also available for private hire for journeys of one night or more for up to 36 people, inclusive of all meals, drinks, and personalized excursions. For further information or to book, please contact Orient-Express Centre, The Americas, Trains & Cruises at 800-524-2420 or email greatjourneys@oeh.com. You can also visit www.orient-express.com.