West Highland Line

Operated by Scotrail

http://www.firstscotrail.co.uk

Glasgow to Fort William and Mallaig

Frequency 4/day

Departs Glasgow Queen Street

Calling At

Fort William (3.5 hours)

Arrives Mallaig (5 hours, 3/day)

Facilities

A buffet is available onboard.

Glasgow to Oban

Frequency 4/day

Departs Glasgow Queen Street

Arrives Oban (4 hours)

Facilities

A buffet is available onboard.

Warning: Details are approximate and can change without warning. Contact details are provided for a reason: Check with the operator before you travel

This is one of the most scenic rail routes in Britain. From Glasgow it passes alongside the Clyde at its most beautiful point, before taking a turn northwards and running along the side of the famous Loch lomond for most of its length. Shortly after the top of Loch Lomond the train divides, with the Oban portion heading westwards past more amazing lochs before emerging suddenly at the coast. The Fort William branch continues northwards and upwards. The stretch across the virtually uninhabited Rannoch Moor is the highest train line in Britain. Several of the stations here have no real road access. Finally the train right around Ben Nevis and its neighbours to drop into Fort William.

If you continue along the line to Mallaig you are likely to find the altitude lower and the weather a bit more conducive as the line clings almost impossibly to the side of another series of lochs. You will pass over the viaduct made famous by the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films (look out for the statue of Bonnie Prince Charlie - the one who landed close to here to drag Scotland into a pointless and unwinnable war with the English. It was also close to here that he jumped on a boat and legged it back to France while his kin were being slaughtered - a fine example for any republican cause. Finally you will pull up by the ferry port at Mallaig, a pretty town sandwiched between an island-filled sea and the largest area of the Highlands to be completely unsullied by road.