Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 30 on 01/12/2006.

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Iron road to the Isles

In the latest part of our series looking at how you can get around Scotland by train, Mark Nicholls heads to the west coast and makes Fort William his departure point

Travelling around the region from Fort William by train takes you through some of the most spectacular rail scenery to be found anywhere in Scotland.

The route south carves a path across the bleakness of Rannoch Moor to Crianlarich while the route from Fort William to Mallaig crosses the wonderful Glenfinnan viaduct on its way to the coast.

This is the route of the West Highland Line – in Gaelic, Rathad Iarainn nan Eilean – the “Iron Road to the Isles.” Fort William can be reached via the Scotrail overnight sleeper service from London Euston station. It is the main town in the west Highlands and takes its names from a fort founded in 1690, named after William, Prince of Orange. It is a lively centre with pubs, shops and restaurants.

And while there’s plenty to do and see, it makes a great base from which to explore the region.

There is the West Highland Museum in the town’s main square, which takes up the theme of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites, with many relics from those times.

On the edge of town, to the north, The Ben Nevis Distillery and visitor centre is the site of one of Scotland’s oldest licensed whisky distilleries, established in 1825. It marks the entrance to Glen Nevis and a little further down the glen is the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre, a countryside and local heritage interpretation centre – useful for weather reports and advice if visitors are planning a Ben Nevis expedition.

Glen Nevis, with Ben Nevis rising on one side, offers superb Highland s.....

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By Mark Nicholls

Section : Scotland by Train

Page number : 58