★★★★★
Day from Edinburgh, riding one way
Our driver-guide James told the history of Scotland with a quiet, dry humour that kept the whole coach comfortable and entertained all day.
Meghana · India · September 2026
Jacobite Steam Train Tour Reviews
What travellers wrote after riding the Jacobite one way, watching it cross the viaduct, or spending three days on Skye, retold in short beside each operator's own published rating. Planning a Jacobite Steam Train reservation? The ratings and prices sit side by side below.
What travellers said after the day
These are travellers' own accounts, paraphrased. The low scores stay in, because they tell you something useful. A day from Edinburgh is mostly road. The train can run late, or not as advertised. And a private pickup that arrives late costs you daylight.
★★★★★
Day from Edinburgh, riding one way
Our guide Esme filled the road with stories. The one small downside was short stops: a little more than 30 minutes at Glenfinnan would have meant more photos.
Kenneth · Denmark · September 2026
★★★★★
Day from Edinburgh, riding one way
Cliff was knowledgeable and funny. The railway kept us waiting more than an hour, though, and the train that came was not the one advertised.
Adrian · Romania · September 2026
★★★★★
Day from Edinburgh, riding one way
James was a great guide on the Saturday my fiancé and I took the tour, sprinkling Highland facts and quips all along the road. The plan for the day was always clear, and I was grateful to see the Highlands while in Scotland.
Megan · United States · September 2026
★★★★★
Day from Edinburgh, riding one way
A fun ride on the train, beautiful country all round, and a guide in James who was friendly and full of information.
Liselotte · Sweden · September 2026
★★★★★
Day from Edinburgh, watching the crossing
I have booked a lot of tours and this is one of my favourites: Keith drove and guided, with plenty of stops for photos and real free time.
Angela R. · September 2026
★★★★★
Day from Edinburgh, watching the crossing
A long day that went quickly, with history, film trivia and a playlist from Neil, who also knew the best place to stand to watch the train at the viaduct.
Travis C. · September 2026
★★★★☆
Day from Edinburgh, watching the crossing
Mostly driving, which we expected. The lunch stop in Fort William was the weak point: every coach arrives at once and the cafés were full.
Brenda L. · September 2026
★★★★☆
Day from Edinburgh, watching the crossing
A long ride with good stops and a great guide in Scott, though we felt the time at the viaduct ran longer than we needed.
Alana P. · August 2026
★★★★★
Day from Edinburgh, watching the crossing
Leon knew the area well and the views were superb. The path up for a closer look at the viaduct wants non-slip shoes, and waterproof ones if you have them.
Jessica P. · June 2026
★★★★★
Viaduct and Glen Coe day from Edinburgh
You cover a lot of ground, but I wanted more time at Glenfinnan. The train does not always run to time, and with the crowds you hurry back to the coach.
Paola · Ecuador · September 2026
★★★★★
Viaduct and Glen Coe day from Edinburgh
Plenty of hours on the bus, but the route is so scenic it hardly matters. We got to the viaduct in time to catch the train, and Vix kept everyone engaged.
Lekha · United Kingdom · September 2026
★★★★★
Train-optional day from Edinburgh
Despite the very early start, this was the highlight of two weeks in the UK. We had rain, wind and sun, and a driver-guide in Muhammad full of facts and jokes.
Brendan M. · September 2026
★★☆☆☆
Train-optional day from Edinburgh
The day did not match the description: a 6am start, about three and a half hours to Fort William with two short photo stops, and no breakfast served.
Yelena C. · September 2026
★★★★★
Train-optional day from Edinburgh
A postcard day for my parents. The coach journey is long but worth it for the views from the train, and Abby was informative and a careful driver.
Hangács · United Kingdom · August 2026
★★★★★
Train-optional day from Edinburgh
Everything went well. The guide could have said more clearly that there is no time to wait below the viaduct for the train's return, so nobody runs late.
Anakaren · Mexico · September 2026
★★★★★
Three days from Edinburgh with Skye
Cliff drove and guided and added extra stops along the way. The inn and breakfast were excellent; book dinner in Portree early for the second night.
Gemma · Ireland · September 2026
★★★★★
Three days from Edinburgh with Skye
Every place we visited was exceptional and our guide Cara was cheerful and knowledgeable. Only the weather let us down, and nobody controls that.
Alain · Canada · September 2026
★★★★★
Two days from Edinburgh, riding one way
Robin made sure we had time at every stop, the overnight stay was lovely, and the Jacobite is a must.
Salma · Morocco · September 2026
★★★★★
Two days from Edinburgh, riding one way
Our guide Hugh met our train at the station with the bagpipes. The B&B was first rate and the tour was good value.
Heather · United States · August 2026
★★★★★
Two days from Edinburgh, riding one way
I loved the tour even more than the train, though the ride is lovely for the scenery. Two days is long, but worth it if you have the time.
Mohamed · South Africa · August 2026
★★★★★
Four days from Edinburgh with Skye
My first multi-day tour. Craig was kind and knew everything, and each day was packed without ever feeling exhausting.
Emily · Australia · August 2026
★★★★★
Four days from Edinburgh with Skye
I travelled with daughters of 13 and 16 and we all loved it. By the end of four days our group of fourteen had become friends.
Erin · United States · August 2026
★★★★★
Day from Inverness, riding one way
Louise was a great guide. We ran the day in reverse, which I preferred; be ready for a long day, though it never feels long.
Sean · United Kingdom · September 2026
★★★★★
Day from Inverness, riding one way
Nobody on the train told us when the viaduct was coming and we nearly missed it. Our guide Craig had warned us what to look for, which saved it.
Elizabeth · United States · September 2026
★★★★★
Day from Inverness, riding one way
My ten-year-old's dream of riding the train came true, with sweets from the films on the way. Emily was an organised, funny and thoughtful driver-guide.
Kimberley · Bermuda · August 2026
★★★★★
Three days from Inverness with Skye
The highlight of our time in Scotland. Harrison knew the history, the legends, the plants and the wildlife, and the second day on Skye was our favourite.
Michelle P. · July 2026
★★★★★
Three days from Inverness with Skye
Torquil grew up in the Highlands and added stops and stories you would drive straight past on your own. We would book again.
Samantha M. · July 2025
★★★★★
Three days from Inverness with Skye
Torquil was friendly, helpful and careful to keep the whole group safe and happy. Our B&B on Skye was comfortable, and the staff could not do enough.
Laureen H. · September 2025
★★★★★
Private day from Edinburgh
Troy kept us to time without rushing, so we had a clear view of the Jacobite crossing, and the Three Sisters near Glencoe were spectacular.
Scott S. · June 2026
★★★★☆
Private day from Edinburgh
A long day and mostly driving: you see a great deal but get out to do little. Pack a lunch, because there is no long stop to eat.
Jennifer B. · June 2025
★★★★★
Private day from Glasgow
Our guide João was attentive and told us about every place we passed. We would go again.
Catarina F. · January 2025
★★★★★
Private day from Edinburgh
A long day over a lot of country. Colin mixed the driving with stops to stretch and look, and was wonderful with our children of 10 and 12.
Mark J. · June 2026
★☆☆☆☆
Private day from Edinburgh
The private pickup was booked for 8:30 and the driver arrived at 10, and nobody helped while we waited.
Mohammad A. · July 2025
What travellers keep saying
The guide makes the day
Across every kind of tour, the praise lands on the driver-guide by name: the stories, the music, the stop added on the way, the tip on where to stand at the viaduct.
It is a long day
Twelve hours or more from Edinburgh, most of it on the road. Travellers who expected that enjoyed it; those who wanted time to explore said the stops felt short.
The train is not a film set
Riders praise the views from the window. Those who hoped for film props inside found an ordinary heritage train, and some met a late or substituted one.
Watch the timing at Glenfinnan
Viewing tours give you time to see the crossing, but the train can run late. More than one traveller wished for longer, and one for less.
Operator ratings and review counts
These figures are the operators' own, published on their booking pages and shown as they stand. They belong to the operators, not to us. The second column says whether the fare puts you on the Jacobite, and the third where your day starts: Edinburgh, Inverness or Glasgow.
| Tour | The train | Starts | Rating | Reviews | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glencoe & Highlands Day Tour | Watches the train, no ride | Castle Terrace, Edinburgh | 4.6 | 9,302 | From $75 per person |
| Edinburgh: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glencoe & Fort William | Watches the train, no ride | Charlotte Square, Edinburgh | 4.9 | 6,350 | From $60 per person |
| From Inverness: Jacobite Steam Train and Highlands Tour | Jacobite ride in the fare | Union Street, Inverness | 4.4 | 1,059 | From $261 per person |
| From Edinburgh: Hogwarts Express, Glenfinnan & Highland Tour | Jacobite ride in the fare | Edinburgh office | 4.5 | 855 | From $261 per person |
| From Edinburgh: Magical Highlands Tour with Jacobite Train* | Train ride on the dearer option | George IV Bridge, Edinburgh | 4.5 | 824 | From $78 per person |
| From Edinburgh: 2-Day Highlands Tour with Hogwarts Express | Jacobite ride in the fare | High Street, Edinburgh | 4.7 | 465 | From $469 per person |
| 3 Day Isle of Skye and Jacobite Steam Train Tour from Inverness | Jacobite ride in the fare | Inverness, 7:30am | 5.0 | 207 | From $752 per person |
| Edinburgh: Isle of Skye & Optional Jacobite Train 3-Day Tour | Train ride on the dearer option | Edinburgh, point varies | 4.7 | 204 | From $487 per person |
| The Magical Highland Tour + optional Jacobite Steam Train Journey | Train ride on the dearer option | Edinburgh, 6:00am | 4.6 | 197 | From $79 per person |
| From Edinburgh: Isle of Skye and Hogwarts Express 4-Day Trip | Jacobite ride in the fare | Edinburgh, point varies | 4.8 | 175 | From $1,044 per person |
| Private Harry Potter, Glenfinnan Viaduct, Highland Edinburgh Tour | Watches the train, no ride | Edinburgh hotel pickup | 4.9 | 31 | From $1,063 per group, up to 4 |
| Glenfinnan Viaduct Glencoe and Fort William Tour from Edinburgh | Watches the train, no ride | Edinburgh door to door | 4.8 | 16 | From $901 per group, up to 4 |
| Private Harry Potter, Glenfinnan Viaduct, Highlands tour Glasgow | Watches the train, no ride | Glasgow hotel pickup | 5.0 | 15 | From $955 per group, up to 4 |
A tour with thousands of reviews and one with a handful are not a verdict on each other. The gap is mostly how long each has been on sale and how many seats it sells. A private day with a 5.0 from a few groups is worth reading closely rather than skipping.
Read the practical detail in the visitor guide, check the FAQs, then compare every tour on Jacobite Steam Train Tours.