Belmond Royal Scotsman departs Edinburgh Waverley Station in the early afternoon and travels towards Alnmouth on the east coast. Here you alight for a visit to Howick Hall Gardens, a horticulturalist’s delight with extensive grounds offering a remarkable variety of unusual plants. The 20th-century gardens are primarily the work of Charles, 5th Earl Grey, his wife Mabel, and their daughter Lady Mary Howick, who favoured a natural style over formal Victorian planting.

Back on board, enjoy a delicious informal dinner in the Dining Car as you journey south to Scarborough, where the train stables overnight.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and a relaxing morning on board as the train travels on the scenic Settle to Carlisle Railway. Make sure to catch the views as you cross the magnificent 24-arched Ribblehead Viaduct, a masterpiece of Victorian engineering. After an early lunch, disembark in Hexham to visit nearby Chipchase Castle and Gardens. The fine Jacobean mansion incorporates an impressive medieval pele tower with a vaulted cellar, watchtowers at each corner and the original portcullis. The ornate grounds include a lush walled garden and wooded areas that roll down to the River Tyne.

After your visit, rejoin the train and travel westwards to Ravenglass on the Cumbrian coast, our stabling location for the night. Enjoy an informal dinner followed by live music in the Observation Car.

This morning, after breakfast, leave the train at Windermere to travel to the shores of Derwentwater, where the author Beatrix Potter spent many summers discovering landscapes, gardens and woodland creatures that inspired, among other scenarios, Mr McGregor’s garden in ‘The Tale of Peter Rabbit’. After an exclusive visit to Fawe Park you then proceed to Hutton-in-the-Forest, Lord and Lady Inglewood’s historic home in the northwest corner of the Lake District. Enjoy a private visit, including lunch and a tour of the house and gardens. Highlights include an 18th-century walled garden, elegant terraces and topiary, a dovecote and a charming woodland walk.

Rejoin the train for an informal dinner on board.

Today you journey back over the border into Dumfries & Galloway for a visit to the extraordinary Garden of Cosmic Speculation. The 30-acre sculpture park is the creation of landscape architect and theorist Charles Jencks at his home, Portrack House. A celebration of nature and the senses, its intriguing features range from a water cascade of steps recounting the story of the universe to a series of landforms and lakes recalling fractal geometry.

After lunch visit to Dumfries House, an impressive 18th-century Palladian mansion famous for its unrivalled collection of Chippendale furniture. Set in a 2,000-acre estate, the stately home’s beautiful interiors and grounds have been undergoing an extensive restoration and regeneration programme led by HRH The Prince of Wales. A Chinese bridge, walled garden and maze—which includes obelisks and a Japanese pagoda—are among the glorious outdoor attractions.

Back on board, dress for a formal farewell dinner, served on the journey to Kilmarnock where the train stables for the night.

Savour a last leisurely breakfast as the train wends its way back to Edinburgh, your journey’s end. We wish you safe onward travels and look forward to seeing you again soon.

Please note: Belmond Royal Scotsman operates within the constraints of the railway network. As such, timings, routes and associated itineraries are subject to change.