Pathfinder revives Scottish weekend landcruises with Highlands trips

Two weekend landcruise charter trains to the Scottish Highlands have been announced by Pathfinder Tours.

Visiting both Oban and Inverness, they will be operated by West Coast Railways using Mk 2 air-conditioned coaches, and north of Preston the trains will be hauled by a pair of WCR Class 37s.

The Easter Bank Holiday weekend (April 18-21) is the date for the first weekend trip.

The ‘Easter Highlander’ will set off from Cardiff behind a WCR Class 47 or ‘57’ and run via a number of station pick-ups to Birmingham New Street and Preston.

There, the Class 37s will take over and continue via the scenic Settle-Carlisle Line to Carlisle for a short break.

It then continues via the under-rated and often overlooked Glasgow South Western line via Dumfries and Kilmarnock, before passing through the Glasgow suburbs to arrive at Paisley Gilmour Street, where passengers are taken by road to Dalmuir for three nights’ stay.

A visit to the West Highland Line is planned for the Saturday, with a day trip from Dumbarton to Oban. There are also a number of off-train options for passengers to enjoy - or simply remain in Oban.

The Sunday is a high mileage day, with a trip from Dumbarton to the Highlands capital of Inverness, running via Aviemore both ways. This will allow the ‘37s’ to show their mettle on the gruelling climbs to Druimuachdar and Slochd.

On the Monday, the train returns south to Cardiff via the West Coast Main Line to Birmingham New Street, with a locomotive change at Preston planned.

Later in the year, the ‘Autumn Highlander’ will run on September 19-22, starting at Exeter St Davids and running via Oxford and Leamington Spa to Birmingham New Street, before repeating the itinerary with again two Class 37s taking over at Preston.

Pathfinder is also running its annual Mazey day special to the Cornish town of Penzance, starting at Dorridge.

This will also be a WCR operation, and while the traction is still to be confirmed, it is expected to be (subject to availability and contractual agreement) hauled by D1015 Western Champion.