Belmond has launched two new Grand Suites aboard Royal Scotsman, A Belmond Train, Scotland, set to join the rake in May 2024. Mirroring the aesthetic of a luxury country house, the Grand Suites will elevate the onboard experience with en-suite bathrooms, double beds and private living area. Grand Suite guests will also enjoy added amenities, including private transfers to and from the train and one spa treatment in the train’s dedicated spa carriage, the only one of its kind in Europe. =
The spacious Grand Suites, designed by Tristan Auer, will brim with references to Scottish culture and its landscape. Dark wooden paneling embellished with intricate marquetry form the backdrop for the Grand Suites, complete with a double bed set against an embossed headboard and a separate lounge area including a dressing table, dining table made of Scottish Larch, sofa and armchair. Reflecting the surrounding landscape, the hand-crafted wall covering, upholstery and furniture will have a color palette of green, grey, beige and blue hues, and local materials, such as stone and wood, will adorn the en-suite bathrooms. Decorative patterns will echo Edwardian flair through Pictish stone motifs and Celtic symbolism.
The statement armchair that will be in the day lounge area is a tribute to the Orkney Chair—an iconic piece of furniture originating in the namesake Scottish archipelago over a century ago. Traditionally handmade with driftwood gathered from the shoreline and with no set design instructions, no chair is the same. For the Grand Suites, the Scottish design staple will be reinterpreted in a fresh, more contemporary light, and upholstered with the finest textiles from iconic Scottish brand, Araminta Campbell. The bespoke tartan design crafted by Araminta Campbell will cover both the armchair and sofa and will be imbued with references to the train. The three sets of tram lines (double lines) will depict the train’s three most legendary journeys—Scotland's Classic Splendours, Western Scenic Wonders and Taste of the Highlands—while its main check block will be made up of 37 threads, representing every year the train has been touring the Highlands.
The Royal Scotsman offers an all-encompassing experience through the heart of the Highlands with its two-to seven-night selection of themed journeys, all roundtrip from Edinburgh Waverley station. Guests enjoy onboard dining with their fellow travelers in the two wood-paneled dining cars, live entertainment each evening, and an array of off board excursions including wild swimming, foraging, water rafting, whiskey tastings, and castle visits. The new suites will take the train’s accommodation categories to four: Grand Suites, Double, Twin and Single cabins.
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