Crerar Hotels Celebrates Two Centuries Of Rail Travel And The Modern Scottish Staycation

AS THE UK marks 200 years since the world’s first public passenger railway, leading hotel group Crerar Hotels is celebrating the milestone by inviting travellers to rediscover Scotland by rail, connecting 19th-century innovation with 21st-century indulgence.

The anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1825 transformed travel forever, opening up the Great British countryside to a new era of exploration.

Two centuries later, that same spirit of discovery lives on through Crerar Hotels’ partnership with Caledonian Sleeper, offering guests a seamless, sustainable way to journey overnight from London to the Scottish Highlands before continuing to one of Crerar Hotels award-winning locations.

Alison MacLeod, Director of Marketing at Crerar Hotels, said: “Rail travel first made the staycation possible. Two hundred years on, we’re proud to celebrate that heritage, helping guests arrive rested, inspired and ready to explore the beauty of Scotland.

“Our partnership with Caledonian Sleeper makes that sense of slow, scenic travel more attainable than ever before. It’s a modern luxury that still honours the romance of Britain’s original railway journeys.”

Rail remains one of the most sustainable ways to travel, producing up to 90% less carbon emissions than driving.

For modern staycationers, it offers the rare chance to slow down, switch off and savour the journey, much like Victorian travellers did when the rails first reached Scotland 200 years ago.

Alison added: “Crerar Hotels has always been rooted in their landscapes and communities, places that owe so much of their accessibility and prosperity to the arrival of the railways.

“By encouraging guests to travel by train, we’re helping to protect those same landscapes for generations to come.”

In the 19th century, the expansion of the rail network opened the Scottish Highlands to tourism; today, the partnership between Crerar Hotels and Caledonian Sleeper continues that legacy, blending heritage with modern luxury.

From London to the Highlands, the Caledonian Sleeper offers an overnight passage to some of Scotland’s most breathtaking landscapes, and with easy connections elsewhere, to Crerar Hotels’ signature stays across the country:

Oban Bay Hotel (via Oban Station)

Arrive by train at the bustling harbour town known as the “Gateway to the Isles”. The Caledonian Sleeper connects to Oban through Glasgow Queen Street; from the station, a scenic 15-minute stroll or short taxi ride leads straight to the hotel’s waterfront views, sea-air spa and fresh-catch dining.

Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa (via Oban Station and Craignure Ferry Port)

Continue your journey from Oban with a short CalMac ferry ride to Craignure. The hotel’s luxury suites and wilderness thermal spa awaits, offering island tranquility and panoramic sea views just minutes from the port.

Glencoe Inn (via Fort William Station)

Travelling north on the West Highland Line, guests can alight at Fort William, one of the Caledonian Sleeper’s most scenic stops. From there, Glencoe is a short onward trip by bus, taxi, or car hire. The Inn offers boutique comfort amid some of Scotland’s most dramatic landscapes, ideal for walkers, photographers and romantics alike.

Dunkeld House Hotel (via Dunkeld & Birnam Station)

Nestled on the banks of the River Tay, this country resort sits directly on the Highland Main Line. The Caledonian Sleeper passes through this route, allowing easy access from London or major cities. Guests can enjoy riverside walks, whisky tastings, and countryside spa relaxation.

Fonab Castle Hotel (via Pitlochry Station)

Just one mile from the station, Fonab Castle blends history with highland indulgence. The route from London to Pitlochry on the Caledonian Sleeper delivers guests to the heart of Perthshire, where they can enjoy three AA Rosette fine dining, spa experiences, and lochside tranquility.

Golf View Hotel & Spa (via Inverness and Nairn Station)

For coastal charm, travellers can continue north on the Sleeper to Inverness, then take a short onward ScotRail service to Nairn. With white-sand beaches, a sea-view spa and renowned restaurant, this elegant hotel is a sanctuary of seaside serenity.

To learn more about the partnership between Crerar Hotels and the Caledonian Sleeper, visit: www.crerarhotels.com/caledonian-sleeper.