Corridors — Scotland by Rail: Edinburgh, Aberdeen & the Highlands

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.

Aberdeen gleams with a colour all its own, nicknamed the Granite City for its sparkling façades that glitter in the sun after rain. Scotland's third city and capital of the North Sea oil industry, it keeps a historic heart gathered around Marischal College and the ancient university quarter of Old Aberdeen, with its King's College Chapel and St Machar's Cathedral. The long city beach and the busy harbour tell of its seafaring soul. From Aberdeen you follow the valley of the River Dee, Royal Deeside, a region loved by the British royal family: here stands Balmoral Castle, the sovereigns' Scottish residence set among woods and moors, beside the picturesque village of Ballater and the fairytale Craigievar Castle. The region is rich in castles, the whisky distilleries of the Speyside trail and the mountain landscapes of the Cairngorms. Aberdeen is a solid and fascinating city, a gateway to one of Scotland's noblest and most evocative countrysides.

Elgin arranges itself around the ruins of its majestic cathedral, once nicknamed the 'Lantern of the North' and now an evocative ruin in the heart of Scotland's Moray. The medieval High Street keeps its distinctive arcaded fronts and the market that enlivens the centre. The town is the capital of the Moray region, whisky country par excellence, ringed by dozens of distilleries along the River Spey. Within easy reach lie the golden beaches of the Lossiemouth coast and the inland woods. Single malt tastings and river views complete a stay. Elgin is the elegant gateway to Speyside, paradise for whisky lovers. 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.

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.

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.