Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Travel

Take an Exclusive Steam Train Tour Around Great Britain in 2018

Mike Richard
By

Diehard train travel fans, it’s time to cash out a chunk of your 401K and splurge on what will prove to be the most epic and luxurious cross-country rail tour of this century. Golden Eagle Luxury Trains has just announced an exclusive steam train tour of Great Britain for 2018. With less than 40 spots, it’s almost guaranteed to sell out.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The sole departure of the Tornado 10th Anniversary Tour of Great Britain on October 14, 2018, will begin in the Highlands near Edinburgh, Scotland. It will journey more than 2,200 miles in total through some of the United Kingdom’s most popular cultural destinations. Stops along the way include Chester, Oxford, Stonehenge, and Bath before arriving in Penzance. Specific highlights include dining in Scottish castles, meeting with local royalty, a private tour and tasting at the Glenfarclas Distillery, and a visit to Edinburgh Castle for a private banquet dinner, and first-hand glimpse of the Scottish Crown Jewels.

BELMOND ROYAL SCOTSMAN-1
Image used with permission by copyright holder

But, as with every great trip, it’s less about the destinations and more about the journey. For this tour, the train will be pulled by the famed Tornado, a main line, coal-fired steam locomotive. In April of this year, it made railway headlines as the first steam locomotive to hit 100 miles-per-hour on British tracks in more than 50 years. This trip will mark only the second time the locomotive has been used to pull a sleeper train. In 2012, its first such duty was to haul the Royal Train with HRH Prince Charles aboard.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The 10 sleeper cars are part of the widely acclaimed Belmond Royal Scotsman (sister train to the Venice-Simplon Orient Express). All are intricately designed in the classic Edwardian style with the world’s highest standards of luxury. Inspired by classic Pullman coaches, each cabin is awash in plush bedding, tartan furnishings, and mahogany cladding, plus en-suite baths. Additional carriages include a first-class Observation car, two formal dining cars, and a Bamford Haybarn Spa car.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Clearly, this is not your average dinner train trip. This is an exclusive trip of a lifetime for classic rail travel enthusiasts. The price tag? Just $39,995 per person. That includes 14 days of tours, transfers, nine nights aboard the train, luxury hotel accommodations in Edinburgh and St. Ives, all meals, porterage, and gratuities. They even throw in most drinks.

Mike Richard
Mike Richard
Contributor
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
The best bars in New York City: Our top picks
Here's where to belly up to the bar in NYC
The Quixote Bar.

If you're known as The City That Never Sleeps, you probably have a few good bars to your name. New York is the ultimate beehive, going strong regardless of the borough or time of day. That makes for a pretty rich NYC bar culture.

Sure, there are trending establishments that draw huge lines—look at you, Double Chicken Please. But there are also excellent dives, tremendous wine bars, and watering holes that make you reexamine the definition of a great cocktail.

Read more
Yellowstone vs Yosemite: Which national park should you visit?
A breathtaking view of Yellowstone National Park at sunset.

When speaking of national parks, two often dominate the conversation: Yellowstone and Yosemite. While both are crown jewels of the National Park System, each offers a distinctly unique experience. These parks attract millions of visitors annually, but which one reigns supreme for the summer traveler? Let's compare these iconic destinations.
Yellowstone National Park

Established in 1872 as the first national park in the world, Yellowstone National Park sprawls across three states: Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Covering over 2.2 million acres, it’s a vast land of natural wonders. Here's what it's famous for:
Geothermal geysers
Yellowstone is home to over 10,000 hydrothermal features, including more than 500 geysers. The star of the show is Old Faithful, a geyser famous for its predictable eruptions. Besides geysers, the park boasts multicolored hot springs, fumaroles, and mud pots.
An abundance of wildlife
Yellowstone’s ecosystem is a sanctuary for a diverse array of wildlife. Visitors marvel at herds of bison roaming the valleys, spot elusive wolves in the Lamar Valley, and observe grizzly bears in their natural habitat. Just make sure that you're following the rules when it comes to interacting with animals. The park is a living showcase of wildlife management and natural balance.
Unparalleled views
The park's landscape varies from rolling grasslands to dense forests and high-altitude lakes. Yellowstone Lake is the largest high-altitude lake in North America, offering stunning views and fishing opportunities. Hiking trails range from easy walks to challenging backcountry adventures, catering to all levels of outdoor enthusiasts.
Yosemite National Park

Read more
8 helpful tips for taking a red-eye flight
Say goodbye to jet lag
Night Flight

Red-eye flights, named for their tendency to depart late at night and arrive early in the morning, offer a wide range of benefits for travelers looking to save money and optimize their time. From the luxury of saving daylight hours to the chance for lower rates, red-eyes are an appealing option for many. These flights often feature less congestion at airports and shorter security lines, leading to a more relaxed overall travel experience.

Despite their advantages, red-eye flights can also cause issues such as disrupted sleep patterns, cramped quarters, and fatigue upon arrival. However, with the right strategies and a little bit of preparation, you can turn your red-eye experience into a smooth and stress-free adventure. These are just a few red-eye flight tips to consider.
1. Match your flight to your sleep habits

Read more