The West Highland Rail Line was voted in 2009 by readers of Wanderlust Travel Magazine the World’s Best Rail Journey.

Still considered by many to be the most scenic rail journey in the world, the West Highland Line departs from Glasgow Queen Street taking you into Scotland’s wilderness – to parts of Scotland you can only see by train.

You’ll travel by majestic mountains, heather moors, stunning lochs and small, remote train stations with nothing but wilderness for miles around. Look out for deer along the way.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The route:

From Glasgow you’ll travel north along the west coast, through Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. The line splits at Crianlarich, past Loch Awe to Oban, or higher up to Rannoch Moor and on to Fort William and Mallaig (5h 30mins).

After Crianlarich on the Mallaig line the views become even more special.

The remarkable Horseshoe Curve circles the glen beneath Ben Dorain, beyond there the landscape transforms into the wilds of Rannoch Moor where you’ll travel over peat bogs with distant mountains on all sides.

As you approach Fort William look out for Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest peak.

After Fort William, you’ll travel across the Glenfinnan Viaduct, featured in Harry Potter films for the fictional Hogwarts Express.

On the way to Mallaig you’ll pass Lochs Eilt, Ailort and Nan Uamh before arriving at Morar’s sandy shores, where Local Hero was filmed. As you enter Mallaig you’ll see the Isle of Skye, which is just a short ferry trip from the port.

Highlights:

• Views of the Cobbler at Arrochar
• The mighty Ben Lui (Oban line) between Crianlarich and Loch Awe
• The world’s first concrete rail viaduct, Glenfinnan Viaduct (Mallaig line) towering high over the waters of Loch Shiel
• Monessie Gorge (Mallaig line) close to the River Spean

 

Stops along the way:

• Ardlui at the tip of Loch Lomond
• Arrochar & Tarbet
• Crianlarich, Tyndrum or Bridge of Orchy (here you can join the West Highland Way)

Our destination was Arisaig, Britain’s most westerly station, a quiet and peaceful destination with views of the small isles of Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna. The journey from Glasgow Queen Street to Arisaig took five hours.

We travelled with: ScotRail

We stayed at: The Arisaig Hotel

Train Stations

Glasgow Queen Street

Dalmuir

Dumbarton

Helensburgh

Garelochhead

Arrochar & Tarbert

Ardlui

Crianlarich

Tyndrum

Bridge of Orchy

Rannoch

Corrour

Tulloch

Roy Bridge

Spean Bridge

Fort William

Banavie

Corpach

Loch Eil

Locheilside

Glenfinnan

Lochailort

Beasdale

Arisaig

with final destinations Morar & Mallaig.