We leave Edinburgh’s historic Waverley Station at 13.30 and travel north crossing the Firth of Forth over the magnificent Forth Bridge. One of the first cantilever bridges in the world, the Forth Bridge was designed and built by Benjamin Baker in the late 1880s. Now considered one of the greatest achievements of the railway age Scots proudly refer to it as the eighth wonder of the world.
We climb steadily into the Highlands through the Fair City of Perth, then on to Dunkeld, Pitlochry and Blair Atholl. Once past the station we can glimpse Blair Castle on the right.
Druimuachdar, the summit of this line at 1484 feet, lies six miles south of Dalwhinnie, which is dominated by the pagodas of the nineteenth century distillery. We pass through Dalwhinnie to reach Kingussie, where we disembark to visit the Highland Folk Museum. Here you can experience something of the life of the Highlander. We see, touch, hear and smell the vivid recreation of a way of life that remained unchanged for centuries. The system of farming, runrig, land tenure and belonging to the clan survived until the Jacobite rebellions of 1715 and 1745. The power of the clans was then broken. Clanna means children and the word really implies a sense of belonging. Even now in the west crofters survive, native Gaelic speakers, whose first question to a fellow Gael will be Co leis thu? Whose are you, ie, who do you belong to?
We return to the train at Boat of Garten on the private Strathspey Railway for overnight stabling. Our formal dinner is served and afterwards we enjoy entertainment in the Observation Car.

After breakfast, we leave Dundee and continue our journey across the Tay Bridge then through the historic kingdom of Fife. We cross the Firth of Forth by means of the Forth Bridge arriving in Edinburgh Waverley station at 09.20 where our tour ends.

After breakfast, we disembark early at Aviemore, and travel by motorcoach to Rothiemurchus. The history of this estate is as rich and vibrant as the Highlands themselves. Its varied landscape soars from low-lying fields on the river flood plain, to open heather moors, conifer forests and the majestic, ancient, Caledonian pine forest. Here we enjoy clay pigeon shooting or a Highland safari, where you can learn about the local flora and wildlife from the estate’s Park Ranger.
We rejoin the train in Aviemore and head north to Inverness. Lunch is served as we pass Culloden, site of the last battle on British soil in 1746. We disembark in Inverness for our visit to Cawdor Castle. The castle was romantically linked to Macbeth by Shakespeare, and is steeped in Scottish history. Thane of Cawdor apart, Thorfinn Macbeth, Earl of Caithness and Orkney became the first king of a united Scotland laying the foundations of a country that would survive, identity intact, until the present day. Nowadays the castle is the home of Lord and Lady Cawdor and boasts beautiful gardens, lawns and five nature trails.
We return to the train in Nairn and travel east to Keith. Our informal dinner begins as we travel to Dundee for overnight stabling.

Win a fantastic three day (two nights) trip for two aboard the world famous Royal Scotsman, Europe’s legendary top class train. See the Highlands, moors, lochs and seas of a mountain kingdom with unique rail access.
The Royal Scotsman is renowned as a gourmet’s paradise and the train itself is a living testament to a gentler, more graceful age.

To qualify answer the following five questions
and pen a brief article along the lines suggested
in the second part of the competition. Send your entry to:

The Royal Scotsman
46A Constitution Street
Edinburgh
Scotland
EH6 6RS

Part One

1. In Scotland’s historic language, Gaelic, how would you express the traditional greeting, ‘Whose are you?’

2. Macbeth became king of Scotland, What other titles did he hold? Name one.

3. What station in Edinburgh would you go to if you wanted to catch the Royal Scotsman?

4. The Jacobite rebellions in the 18th century changed the political face of Scotland forever. What date did they take place?

5. Name a private railway in Scotland that the Royal Scotsman calls at for an overnight stop in the east.

Part Two
In no more than 250 words describe the wonders of a rail journey aboard the Royal Scotsman. Include references to a Scottish poet, a clan, a mountain and an island.

The Royal Scotsman
Tel. (enquiries): +44 (0) 131 555 1344
Tel. (reservations): +44 (0) 131 555 1021
Fax: +44 (0) 131 555 1345
E-mail: enquiries@royalscotsman.co.uk
Website: www.royalscotsman.com

Prize to be taken during 2003, subject to availability.