SPIRIT OF SCOTLAND - Tour in treno

Edinburgh reveals itself as one of Europe's most dramatic capitals, poised between volcanic rock and ever-changing skies. Its Old Town and New Town together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site, two souls separated by a green valley, the Princes Street Gardens. Atop the crag stands Edinburgh Castle, a fortress guarding the Honours of Scotland and offering breathtaking views; from here the Royal Mile descends, the backbone of the old town, down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the sovereign's Scottish residence. Along the way open narrow alleys, the characteristic closes, St Giles' Cathedral with its stone crown, and shops of whisky and tweed. The airy, elegant Georgian New Town lines up neoclassical façades and stately George Street. Walkers can climb Arthur's Seat, an ancient volcano giving panoramas over the whole city and the Firth of Forth, or Calton Hill with the monuments that earned Edinburgh the nickname Athens of the North. The National Gallery of Scotland and the Royal Botanic Garden round out the cultural offer, while in August the city erupts with the famous Festival Fringe. The cuisine ranges from historic pubs and traditional haggis to seafood and Scotch distilleries. Within easy reach await the coastal villages of Fife and the bridges over the Forth. Edinburgh blends history, mystery and refinement in an atmosphere unlike any other. St Andrews evokes the very name of golf the world over, an elegant coastal town in Fife where the sport was born centuries ago. Its legendary Old Course is regarded as the Home of Golf, a place of pilgrimage for enthusiasts from across the planet. But St Andrews is also home to Scotland's oldest university, whose traditions and red-gowned students enliven the cobbled streets of the centre. The spectacular ruins of St Andrews Cathedral, once the country's largest, and of the castle overlooking the sea tell of a medieval past of great religious prestige. Broad sandy beaches, such as the famous West Sands, complete the town's charm. All around, the region of Fife offers picturesque fishing villages along the East Neuk, harbours, golf courses and a scenic coast. St Andrews is a town of rare elegance, where history, learning and sport blend in a unique atmosphere.

Dundee looks out over the Tay estuary, Scotland's fourth city reborn as a capital of design and culture. On the waterfront stands the V&A Dundee museum, the first outpost of the famous London institution beyond the capital, a bold architecture inspired by Scottish cliffs. Moored beside it is Captain Scott's ship Discovery, built here for the Antarctic expeditions. Once a city of jute, jam and journalism, it now boasts a lively artistic and university scene. The surrounding hills and the coast at Broughty Ferry complete the surroundings. Dundee is the surprising city of design on the banks of the Tay. Perth bears the historic title of ancient capital of Scotland, a compact city on the banks of the River Tay in the heart of one of the country's greenest regions. Here the Scottish kings were crowned at nearby Scone Palace, a stately home that guards the story of the Stone of Destiny. The elegant centre is flanked by riverside parks, the imposing St John's Kirk and a quality dining scene. But it is the surrounding countryside, the Perthshire nicknamed Big Tree Country, that enchants: majestic forests, spectacular waterfalls such as those at The Hermitage, tranquil lochs and hills dotted with castles. The picturesque village of Dunkeld with its cathedral and the whisky distilleries round out the area's charm. Northward open the gateways to the Highlands and the Cairngorms National Park. Perth is an ideal and gracious base for exploring the green heart of Scotland, where nature and history gently intertwine.

Pitlochry welcomes travellers with its flower-filled Victorian streets, an elegant town set among the wooded hills of the central Scottish Highlands. Born as a holiday resort for its healthy climate, it keeps a refined air of historic hotels, whisky distilleries and the celebrated Festival Theatre. Along the River Tummel, the salmon ladder lets visitors watch fish fight their way upstream, while trails lead to the Killiecrankie gorge and Loch Faskally. The Blair Athol and Edradour distilleries, one of the smallest in Scotland, invite memorable tastings. In autumn the woods turn gold and copper. Pitlochry is the welcoming gateway to the mountains at the heart of Scotland. Aviemore is the lively sport-and-adventure capital of the Cairngorms National Park, the largest national park in the United Kingdom, in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. Ringed by the imposing Cairngorm mountains, it is Scotland's main ski resort in winter, while in the other seasons it becomes a paradise for hikers, cyclists and nature lovers. All around stretch ancient Caledonian pine forests, tranquil lochs such as Loch Morlich with its beach, and rich wildlife of reindeer, red squirrels and eagles. The historic Strathspey Railway offers romantic steam-train journeys, while nearby there is no shortage of Speyside whisky distilleries and castles. Aviemore is the perfect base for immersing yourself in the wild nature of the Scottish mountains, among trails, outdoor sport and landscapes of rare grandeur in every season.

Inverness reigns as the capital of the Highlands, an elegant town set at the mouth of the River Ness, from which unfold some of Scotland's most legendary landscapes. Its red-sandstone castle commands the river, along whose banks you stroll among Victorian bridges and wooded islets. But it is the name of nearby Loch Ness that fires the imagination: this deep loch, wrapped in legend and the mystery of the monster Nessie, holds on its shores the romantic ruins of Urquhart Castle, from which scenic cruises depart. A short way off lies the melancholy battlefield of Culloden, where the Jacobite rising ended, and the mysterious standing stones of Clava Cairns. Eastward opens the region of Speyside, heart of Scotch whisky production, dotted with famous distilleries along the celebrated Malt Whisky Trail. Inverness is the perfect base for exploring mountains, lochs and distilleries, a town that embodies the timeless allure of the Highlands. Kyle of Lochalsh marks the meeting point between the Highlands and the Isle of Skye, to which it is linked by a spectacular sea bridge. A coastal village facing the strait, it is the main gateway to the most famous of the Hebrides. Nearby stands Eilean Donan Castle, among the most photographed in Scotland. The waters, mountains and views over the island make it an unmissable stop. An evocative crossroads between mainland and islands on the western coast. The Isle of Skye embodies the romantic dream of the Highlands, the largest and most famous of the Inner Hebrides, linked to the mainland by a bridge. Dramatic landscapes follow one another without pause: the jagged pinnacles of the Old Man of Storr, the green terraces and waterfalls of the Quiraing, the emerald pools of the Fairy Pools at the foot of the rugged Cuillin mountains, a mecca for climbers. On the north coast the lighthouse of Neist Point offers memorable ocean sunsets. The main town, Portree, with its colourful houses around the little harbour, makes an ideal base for exploring the island, while Dunvegan Castle guards centuries of MacLeod clan history. Skye is a land of Gaelic legend, whisky distilleries such as Talisker and the freshest seafood served in fishing villages. Its moors and cliffs offer unforgettable walks among wildlife and shifting skies. The Isle of Skye speaks to the soul, where nature becomes pure poetry.