Open a luxury spa menu and you’re likely to find treatments called “spa journey this” and “spa journey that”, which are meant as journeys  of the senses but don’t really take you anywhere outside your spa suite.   Finally, someone’s come up with something that really is a literal spa journey, and it’s so practical to boot.

Coming this April 17, 2017, Belmond Royal Scotsman luxury train launches Europe’s first train spa carriage.

I can’t believe someone didn’t think about his before! Cross country train travel can leave you with hours of time on your hands  if you forgot to bring a book or want a change from the brooding Scottish landscape.  I just had lunch with a friend who declared that she hates castles. “Why? because of the ghosts?”, another friend asked. Being Asian, we’re sensitive to all forms of spirits, including bygone residents that still inhabit ancestral homes.    “No I don’t mind the ghosts,  I just hate all that old stuff,” she said.   What! This shocked me, but then, she hates landscapes too. She’s even been to Scotland and only did so because her young son wanted to go there and made her drive all over the country while he gave directions from a map.  Whatever,  what better way to while some time on a long train trip than with a massage or facial on the Belmond Royal Scotsman’s brand new Bamford Haybarn Spa. 

Bamford is a British wellness brand established in 2006 and is inspired by nature, with botanical skincare collections and organic holistic treatments. You’ll also find Bamford amenities in each of the train’s cabins.

The Bamford Haybarn Spa has been designed using sustainable wood from Scotland and the Cotswolds, and features two relaxing single treatment rooms with picture windows looking out onto the beautiful Scottish countryside.

The Bamford Bespoke Facial sounds especially relaxing. It’s a 55-minute ritual that aims to restore, rejuvenate and repair the skin. The treatment features facial reflexology, lymphatic drainage, stimulating lifting and ancient yogic breathing. The treatment ends with a deep tissue back massage focusing on Shiatsu pressure points with hot stones to release tension and promote deep relaxation. Aaaah.  I loooove any kind of hot stone massage.  Sounds fabulous to me.

Other treatments on offer include the Bamford De-Stress Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, and best of all, manicures and pedicures using eco- natural Kure Bazaar nail polishes.  Ever since my dog got pregnant and gave birth to 4 puppies, making me the exhausted and dirt-covered owner of a total of 6 dogs, I never have time any more to get many mani-pedis in my daily life.  And I love mani-pedis!  So to be able to get them on train where you have all the time in the world and nothing to do but look out the window at lakes and castles sounds just wonderful to me.

The Belmond Royal Scotsman train is known as the ‘country house on wheels’ because of its luxurious old world en-suite cabins with personal steward service.

Authentic Scottish dishes are part of the highland experience, and of course, there’s a wide choice of delicious Scottish whiskies from the bar.  The observation car is a comfortable sitting room with picture windows where passengers can take in gorgeous Scottish sights such as the Kyle of Lochalsh and Cairngorms National Park.

Belmond Royal Scotsman offers two  7-night itineraries departing from Edinburgh and travelling across the Scottish Highlands past sweeping glens, towering peaks and black-mirrored lochs.

Have you been on a train journey in the UK? What was your favourite part about it?