BELMOND ROYAL SCOTSMAN

A commercial train project reflecting Scotland’s cultural heritage, with a luxurious and contemporary twist.

Rose wanted to evoke the comfort and pace of travel in a bygone era, an indulgent oasis of calm where guests can slow down to reclaim the romance of journeying in style, a time to observe and connect with the journey, nature and the creation of extraordinary new memories.

After a day exploring the Scottish Highlands the luxuriously appointed new cabins provide a sanctuary from the public areas of the train. Intimate and indulgent they extend the character of the refurbished Observation and Dining Carriages into The Royal Scotsman’s more private spaces, to make a cohesive whole. The theme of Edwardian elegance and country house comfort is continued. Starting with the train’s original mahogany marquetry we add inspiration from the Scottish Arts and Crafts movement and the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh whose botanical watercolours and architectural drawings decorate the Observation Car.

This however is not a historical recreation. These influences are refined and redefined for the modern explorer. The effect is fresher, delivering a timeless quality that combines modern convenience and engineering with fabrics and finishes reflecting the landscape of Scotland - luxurious durable materials applied in a range of colours, drawn from the gorse and heather of Scottish Highlands in purples, deep blues, greens and ambers. Fabric choices reflect the Scottish narrative – durable luxurious tweeds and cloths from Scottish mills – Holland and Sherry, Bute and Lovatt mill and fabric designs by Mackintosh for Sanderson.