Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 27 on 09/06/2006.

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Intensive training

In the first of a new series on days out by train, Mark Nicholls takes a trip on the Eastern coast line

The rail route between Edinburgh and the granite outpost of the northeast, Aberdeen, is one of the most exhilarating Scotland has to offer.

For a start, you experience two incredible feats of engineering, crossing great rivers in the process: via the monumental Forth Bridge soon after leaving Edinburgh and the Tay Bridge just before arriving in Dundee.

There are golf courses, beaches, dramatic coastal scenery, inviting towns and villages and picturesque landscapes, all visible from the carriage window. And from the various stops there are historical sites and visitor centres to call at or opportunities to explore some of Scotland’s finest destinations.

Dundee is a good location as a base to explore this region by train.

Perth is just 20 or so minutes away in one direction and Aberdeen slightly more than an hour on First ScotRail’s regular services, in the other. In between are numerous halts in the undulating Angus landscape at towns such as Arbroath, Carnoustie and Stonehaven.

Booking a Freedom of Scotland Travelpass through First ScotRail allows you to roam across Scotland at your leisure for four to eight days and the pass is also valid on some coach and ferry services.

You can hop on a train at Dundee at any time of the day and head north, back south, or inland to Perth and return whenever you want, even pausing at one of the small towns on the way.

Starting in Dundee, a city with a long maritime history, you can see two famous wooden ships that are permanently doc.....

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By Mark Nicholls

Section : Scottish Travel

Page number : 52