Caledonian Days

Activity Level:

Summary

In the days before widespread private car ownership, a day out in Scotland meant getting on a train or boarding a steamer – sometimes both – and for millions of people the highlight of their year was a trip ‘doon ra watter’ on the Firth of Clyde or a leisurely train ride to the Highlands. This new tour is an unashamedly nostalgic recreation of such excursions, along with the opportunity to see some of the locomotives and ships that survive from the golden age of excursion travel in Scotland.

We begin at the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway, home to the largest collection of preserved steam locomotives in Scotland, where a short but authentic steam-hauled train journey recalls the glory days of the Caledonian and North British railways.

After a visit to the excellent Riverside Museum of Transport and Travel in Glasgow, we take a train to Wemyss Bay with its unexpectedly grand station and take a modern day ‘steamer’ across the Firth of Clyde to Rothesay, just as Glaswegians used to do in their thousands on high days and holidays.

A full day excursion takes us on the West Highland railway line, a superbly scenic route that takes in lochs, glens, moors and mountains, to the bustling town of Oban on the west coast. After some free time here in the seafood capital of Scotland we take the train back to Crianlarich before following the route of the long gone but equally scenic Callander and Oban railway line, on our way back to our hotel in The Trossachs.

Finally we have a prowl around the paddle steamer Maid of the Loch at her berth at the southern end of Loch Lomond, another chance to catch a glimpse of those innocent yet exciting day trips of old – in true Caledonian style.

Our tour is led by popular tour manager Alastair Walker, whose extensive knowledge of and passion for the railways of Scotland will add to our enjoyment.