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Easter Train Trip To
Caithness
An Easter Train excursion weekend
to Caithness and Orkney has had the advantage this year of fabulous spring weather.
Travelling by train the length of Scotland passengers have had a great
chance to see the Highland countryside. The train seen here early on
Sunday morning was awaiting the passengers returning from an overnight
trip to Orkney. The party return today (Sunday 20 April 2003) before setting of
south again later in the morning.
Trip organised by Pathfinder Tours
THE EXPERIENCE TO THE WILD SCENERY OF THE
NORTH HIGHLANDS .... AND THE ISLE OF ORKNEY
Friday
The
luxury diesel hauled special train, formed of all First Class air
conditioned carriages, departs for the North of Scotland, with a delicious
cooked Breakfast or Brunch served 'at seat', setting the tone for the
weekend ahead. The rail route is firstly along the West Coast main line,
with a 'leg stretch' in Carlisle, before crossing the Scottish Border at
Gretna and heading over Beattock to the Clyde Valley, and on through
Stirling to Perth. The Highland
Line is then taken
for the undulating journey onto
Inverness,
arriving mid evening after Evening Dinner has been served on board. Road
coaches will then transfer you to good quality hotels, with en-suite
rooms, for an overnight stay.
Saturday
Continue our rail
journey by taking the Far North
Line from
Inverness. A full Scottish cooked Breakfast will be enjoyed on board as
the Highland scenery unfolds around you. Late morning sees our special
train arrive at the northern outpost of
Thurso,
where road coaches will transfer you the short distance to Scrabster, the
port for our ferry to Orkney.
After a ninety minute sailing across the Pentland Firth, passing the Old
Man of Hoy, you arrive in Stromness
ready for an afternoon exploring the main island and its landmarks and
attractions, such as Scapa Flow, the Standing Stones and Italian Chapel.
Come the evening and it is time to relax, with Dinner served at the
featured hotel.
Sunday
After Breakfast in
the hotel, local road coaches will return you to Stromness for the morning
ferry back to the mainland at Scrabster. We then head east along the north
coast past Dunnet Head to John
O'Groats for a
visit, before turning south for
Wick to rejoin the
special train at this Far North Line terminus. Refreshments are served as
the train threads its way across the barren lands of Caithness, into
Sutherland, before stopping at the private station at
Dunrobin,
where after an afternoon visit to the Castle and Gardens, we continue
south by the way of Lairg and Tain, with a traditional Roast Dinner served
before reaching Inverness and our hotel accommodation for the night.
Monday
Today we return
home after Breakfast in the hotel, taking the
Highland Line
for the stiff climb over the Grampians to Perth, then on through Stirling
and Motherwell back to the 'softer' scenery of Southern Scotland and
England. A Light Luncheon and Three Course Evening Dinner will be served
en-route. |