Inside Track Railway Holidays

Inside Track Railway Holidays Railway touring company focusing on nostalgic travel with an emphasis on fun

We offer a packaged holiday with the central theme to all our holidays being nostalgic transport and in particular steam trains, A healthy dose of scenic attractions, museums and local interests make our holidays always varied and most importantly loads of fun- Fun being the key note.

Although the final day of the Scottish Highlander lacked the mileage of the previous day, it certainly included plenty o...
28/05/2026

Although the final day of the Scottish Highlander lacked the mileage of the previous day, it certainly included plenty of time travel as we went back to the 18th Century first at the excellent Highland Folk Museum - the Beamish of the Highlands - and then with a stop across lunchtime at Culloden Battlefield.

We spent a gorgeous sunny afternoon enjoying a cruise down the Caledonian Canal and out onto Loch Ness, cruising as far as Urquhart Castle and back again. It was too hot to see Nessie, but we completed our day with a drive around the south side of the Ness/Beauly Firth and back down for our final dinner at the Balavil followed by live music in the bar!

Monday on the Scottish Highlander was the big Skye circular day. Our Newtownmore base made the journey to Fort William...
27/05/2026

Monday on the Scottish Highlander was the big Skye circular day. Our Newtownmore base made the journey to Fort William via Laggan Dam and the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge relaxed before we headed to Glenfinnan.

The current lack of The Jacobite steam train meant we couldn't travel the West Highland Extension on it but also we could get parked at Glenfinnan! Back to Fort William for a quick explore and then all aboard the very busy 12:18 from Fort William to Mallaig where there was time to enjoy a late lunch before the short ferry journey to 'the Misty Isle' - Skye.

Living up to its name, we drove across the south east corner of Skye and off the island over the famous bridge, we boarded our second Scotrail train of the day for the beautiful Kyle line from Kyle of Lochalsh to Dingwall. Here, it was back on the coach for the short drive to the North Kessock Hotel for an excellent dinner and a rather splendid mural of the old ferry from before the Kessock Bridge was built. We then made our way back to the Balavil after a very long but varied day.

Sunday on the Scottish Highlander was Speyside day, starting with climbing Cairngorm on the Cairngorm Mountain Railway t...
25/05/2026

Sunday on the Scottish Highlander was Speyside day, starting with climbing Cairngorm on the Cairngorm Mountain Railway to view the Spey valley, then travelling in style on the Strathspey Steam Railway, enjoying afternoon tea as lunch as we went before following the old Speyside line to Keith Town and the Keith & Dufftown Railway Association line back to Dufftown with appropriate local refreshments en route!

Transfer day on the Scottish Highlander, bringing us back from the Far North to the heart of the Highlands. As with the...
24/05/2026

Transfer day on the Scottish Highlander, bringing us back from the Far North to the heart of the Highlands. As with the journey up, this was achieved by a combination of road and rail.

First, the coach as we crossed the north east corner of Britain and headed down the coast to Helmsdale. Here, we explored the Timespan Museum, telling the story of how Helmsdale was founded after the infamous Highland Clearances.

Now deep in the old county of Sutherland, the next call was the seat of the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland; Dunrobin Castle. Arriving in time for the falconry display, we had plenty of time to explore before the short drive to one of Britain's least used railway stations - Dunrobin Castle Station - to board our train south to Inverness.

Two large loops inland combined with coastal scenery and skirting the Dornoch and Cromarty Firths brought us back to Inverness and the coach for an hour's journey south to our base for the rest of the holiday, the Balavil in Newtownmore.

Friday was Orkney day on the Scottish Highlander. We began by crossing to Orkney on the MV Hamnavoe, the larger of the ...
23/05/2026

Friday was Orkney day on the Scottish Highlander. We began by crossing to Orkney on the MV Hamnavoe, the larger of the 2 regular ferries from the British mainland to Orkney. We got good views of the Old Man of Hoy before entering Scapa Flow and landing on Orkney Mainland.

We rapidly disembarked and even more rapidly travelled back in time over 5,000 years to the Ring of Broghar - incredibly bathed in intermittent sunshine.

We remained in the Neolithic period at Skara Brae, the incredible village unearthed by a storm over a hundred years ago. More recent is the neighbouring Skaill House. We zoomed forward to more recent history at the incredible Italian Chapel on Lambholm, the only surviving relic of the Italian prison of war camps on Orkney where prisoners involved with building the Churchill Barriers were housed.

The Churchill Barriers were originally to secure the Royal Navy anchorage in Scapa Flow after a German U boat was able enter and sink HMS Royal Oak just a few weeks into the war. Over 800 men perished, many of whom remain inside the Royal Oak beneath Scapa Flow. We returned to island capital Kirkwall where there is a memorial to the men lost on the Royal Oak in St Magnus Cathedral.

Finally, we made the modern day use of the Churchill Barriers as key parts of the Orkney road network, taking us past the remains of the block ships sunk as temporary protection on to South Ronaldsway and St Margaret's Hope (pronounced 'Hup') for the catamaran MV Pentalina back to the mainland and road transfer back to Thurso.

The first full day of the Scottish Highlander saw us head for the Far North by road and rail. Under grey skies, we paus...
22/05/2026

The first full day of the Scottish Highlander saw us head for the Far North by road and rail. Under grey skies, we paused at North Kessock to view Kessock Bridge before pressing on to Invergordon. A large cruise ship was in as explored the town known for its murals, and a rather nice public garden. We foraged for lunch supplies before joining the train north. Ever more stunning scenery passed by as we headed north, passing coastal views before heading inland to some of the most remote parts of the rail network. A brief call at Thurso and we arrived at Wick.

All aboard the coach and we headed north over an unusual double track railway (anyone know why it's there?) brought us to John O'Groats and our good friend Walter, who pointed out the islands by name and told us the story of John O'Groat.

We continued on to the actual most northern point of the British mainland, Dunnet Head. Conditions were perfect for pictures before we continued on to new base for the next 2 nights in Thurso; The Pentland Hotel.

The Scottish Highlander got underway on a difficult day for the rail network, which meant many in the group had delayed ...
21/05/2026

The Scottish Highlander got underway on a difficult day for the rail network, which meant many in the group had delayed journeys. We all made it eventually for a first night which was spent in the former Station, now Royal Highland, hotel which retains much of its Highland Railway splendor in the public areas.

Next, the Far North!

Steamy Staffs came to a close with a morning at the Middleport Pottery, a working heritage site still home to Burleigh P...
06/05/2026

Steamy Staffs came to a close with a morning at the Middleport Pottery, a working heritage site still home to Burleigh Pottery. The Pottery's future was secured when the then Prince of Wales, now King Charles, took an interest in its fate and funded purchase and restoration through the Prince's Regeneration Trust.

Today, Burleigh Pottery share the site with visitors and craft workshops. We had a virtual tour of the site and its history surrounded by master moulds saved from many local potteries.

We then had the opportunity to explore the heritage trail around the site, including a restored workers cottage across the road from the factory, before an excellent buffet lunch and the short coach transfer to Stoke Station for trains home.

Bank Holiday Monday on the Steamy Staffs took us north from Stone to the Staffordshire Moorlands and first off the Churn...
05/05/2026

Bank Holiday Monday on the Steamy Staffs took us north from Stone to the Staffordshire Moorlands and first off the Churnet Valley Railway. A full round trip including the steep, curving gradient up to Ipstones also saw lunch served in the form of sandwich pack ups!

We then travelled off the Moors to the Foxfield Railway, another steep line, this time originally serving a colliery. Today, it is the home of some beautifully restored North Staffordshire Railway coaches, which we travelled on accompanied by the Chairman of the Trust that owns them to explain all about them. Before we travelled, there was time for a drink in Foxfield's own real ale pub!

Finally, it was back to the Moorlands for a ride on the delightful Rudyard Lake Steam Railway alongside the tranquil Rudyard Lake; actually a reservoir - anyone know for what purpose it was built?

Sunday on the Steamy Staffs began with quiet reflection at the National Memorial Arboretum before heading for the rather...
04/05/2026

Sunday on the Steamy Staffs began with quiet reflection at the National Memorial Arboretum before heading for the rather more hectic dinosaur day at Statfold Country Park - also home to many narrow gauge steam 'dinosaurs'!

Then it was to another Country Park at Chasewater for the Chasewater Light Railway and a delightful trip with their enthusiastic young (and older) volunteers by the lake there.

Finally, it was our own private train at the Amerton Railway followed by a look around their sheds and just a short trip back to the Stone House Hotel.

Address

120 Churchill Road
Bicester
OX264XD

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441869324444

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