24th December the Mallaig- Fort William train

If ever you find yourself in this part of the world the train journey between Mallaig and Fort William, voted the most scenic in the world, is a must! Check out the video link to compare the journey made during the summer with our winter one!

In the summer months you can do it in style on the Jacobite steam enginge, but we did it on the local diesel train, a dirty ramshackle thing with no working toilets (£12 return) - but who cares?! with scenery like that, the transport really didn't matter. The train is infrequent though, so check the timetable before setting off.

The journey takes you through 11 short tunnels, past Britain's shortest river (Morar), deepest fresh water loch (Morar), most westerly rail station (Arisaig), the famous 21-arch Glenfinnan Viaduct, Neptune's staircase - 12 locks on the Caledonian Canal, deepest seawater loch (Loch Nevis) and the UK's tallest mountain (Ben Nevis) and, when we did the journey, past frozen lochs, through the shadowy glens of frozen snow and rivers, with trees sepulchrally shrouded in inches of frost, and deer and stags foraging on the frozen grass. On the Mallaig to Fort William journey we were glued to the windows.On the journey back we took some photos, not too successfully through dirty, moving train windows - but what a magical trip!

Loch Eil, freezing fog:


Glenfinnan viaduct:

Glenfinnan Monument:



Glenfinnan station:

Loch Eylt, frozen: