A ‘COMPASS TOURS’ DAY EXCURSION
BY SPECIAL TRAIN
BY SPECIAL TRAIN
BRIEF ROUTE COMMENTARY: The train journey starts on the West Coast route via Cumbria and climbing over Shap Fell heads up through Carlisle and Lockerbie, after which we take the scenic climb over Beattock summit. At Carstairs we continue north through South Lanarkshire. On arrival at Motherwell, we skirt round the outside of Glasgow and into Cumbernauld. From there we pass Falkirk and head across in an easterly direction following the main Glasgow to Edinburgh line to Winchburgh Junction and we take a route rarely used by passenger trains up to Dalmeny where we are greeted by arguably one of the nation’s finest and most awesome structures, the Forth rail bridge. This was the world’s first major steel bridge and is 1.5 miles long, standing up to 521 metres in height and it dates back to 1890. From the train we enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding countryside, towns and cities.
At North Queensferry we join land once again but follow the beautiful Fife coastal railway, which runs via Kirkcaldy and eventually takes us inland where we enjoy miles of beautiful and sometimes hilly Scottish countryside running via Cupar and Leuchars, eventually hitting the banks of the River Tay. From here we cross the second of Scotland’s grand rail bridges the ‘Tay Bridge’, which is over 2 miles in length and crossed at a relatively calm pace affording passengers further spectacular views of Tayside and the ‘Kingdom of Fife’. Unlike its Forth cousin the current bridge crossing the Tay came about following tragic circumstances, after the original flimsy wooden structure collapsed under the weight of a steam train in a storm back in 1879 (just a short time after opening). There is still any eerie reminder in the waters below as the original Victorian brick pillars did survive alongside the replacement bridge, which is a much grander structure. Not far from our crossing we arrive at the ‘City of Discovery’, Dundee with an expected arrival time of around 11:45. We take a break of around 4 ½ hours at Dundee, departing late afternoon.
DUNDEE: Dundee (see www.angusanddundee.co.uk for further information), situated in miles of hills and beautiful countryside, is one of Scotland’s finest cities with some great attractions and an excellent range of shopping (especially handy if your planning to do some seasonal gift hunting). The station is fairly handy for the main shopping areas so you won’t have to go far to find what you’re looking for, as well as plenty of excellent pubs, bars, café’s and restaurants. Dundee’s most famous attraction is the research Ship ‘Discovery’, the very ship in which Captain Scott and Ernest Shackleton sailed to Antarctica in, and this is situated opposite the railway station so is the first sight to greet visitors to Dundee. It now forms the centrepiece of an award-winning museum where you are taken back through the history of the ship and those who famously sailed in it. Also available to visit in Victoria Dock is the HM Frigate Unicorn, a 46-gun wooden warship, the oldest British-built ship afloat, and one of the most original and atmospheric ships anywhere in the world.
Dundee also plays host to a good selection of museums and art galleries, capturing much of the area’s history and culture to great effect, as well as offering the visitor plenty to do with their afternoon. Dundee is pedestrian-friendly and small enough to explore its many attractions on foot, without having to worry about how to get to them. In the heart of the city, marked by the City Square with its historic civic buildings you'll find Overgate - a stylish modern shopping centre. This unique mall has shops on one side with a massive glass wall on the other overlooking the city churches, which include the Old Steeple, Scotland's highest surviving medieval tower, which can be viewed by arrangement. Return from Dundee is expected to be around 16:15.
SCENIC ‘EAST COAST’ TOUR TO ABERDEEN: Alternatively for those of you travelling mainly for the journey and its associated scenery we have arranged for you to have the option of staying on board the train at Dundee for a tour along the pleasant Tayside and Grampian coast line which runs up to Aberdeen via Carnoustie, Arbroath, Montrose and Stonehaven. On arrival at Aberdeen we break for between 1 ½ to 2 hours whilst the train is serviced and cleaned for the return journey, so you may enjoy a leg-stretch, bite to eat or drink nearby before our return journey which should offer a beautiful sunset as we head back towards Tayside and subsequently collect our Dundee passengers.
RELATED DESTINATION WEBSITES:
www.visitscotland.com
www.angusanddundee.co.uk
www.city-of-dundee.info
www.aberdeentoday.co.uk
www.agtb.org/agtbhome.htm
RETURN TRAIN JOURNEY: This will be an ideal opportunity to socialise with fellow travelling companions and perhaps reflect upon your time in Scotland. We do have a reasonable amount of storage space on board the train if you are planning to bring back any shopping with you in the evening and stewards will do their best to assist you in stowing this during the journey should you require any assistance. The train upon leaving Dundee takes the ‘direct’ route via Perth, Stirling, Cumbernauld, Mossend, Carstairs and the West Coast Mainline to allow us to be back at homeward stations for a reasonable time of the evening. Other southbound rail traffic is usually fairly light south of Carstairs by this time on a Saturday evening so we do anticipate a relatively swift journey between there, Carlisle and Preston.
ESTMATED TIMINGS: *PLEASE NOTE times are only those that have been requested. Confirmed final times will be sent out with your tickets around four or five days before the tour when Network Rail advise us of them.
CHILDREN UNDER 5 YRS can be brought on the train free of charge only if not taking up a seat and sharing seats with accompanying adults.
REFRESHMENTS: A buffet service of snacks, hot and cold drinks, and alcoholic beverages is available to all our passengers throughout the day – as well as an at seat trolley service, operating at occasional intervals.
THE TRAIN: The train is hired in from and operated through FM Rail of Derby and formed entirely of traditional intercity carriages hauled by heritage British Built diesel traction throughout. First class passengers are seated in tables of 2 or 4 seats with curtains, larger more deeply cushioned reclining seating. Standard class is seated mainly in bays of 4 seats around a table. If you have specific seating requests or type – please give us plenty of notice, ideally when booking.
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