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Fort William
6 days from
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The Highlands & Hogwarts route via sleeper train

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152 kg CO2
What's included:
  • Transport
  • Accommodation
  • Journey guide with tickets
  • WhatsApp support
  • Disruption replanning

Journey at a glance

Trip overview
  • London

  • Sleeper with cabin

    1 night

  • Fort William

    1 night

  • Mallaig

    Stop

  • Fort William

    1 night

  • Inverness

    1 night

  • Sleeper with cabin

    1 night

  • London


Full itinerary

Journey
1 night
12hrs 42mins
Standard class

LondonFort William

Slip into your private sleeper cabin and enjoy an overnight journey from London to Fort William. The last two hours offer a feast of fine scenery as the train crosses Rannoch Moor, then drops down into Glen Spean to reach Fort William.
Stay
1 night
Fort William

Fort William

Known as the outdoor capital of Scotland, Fort William sits on the shores of Loch Linnhe and is surrounded by spectacular Highlands scenery. It's a fun, lively town, and with easy access to Ben Nevis and other Munros (Scottish mountains), it makes a great base for hiking or climbing.

The Garrison

Where you could stay1 night

The Garrison

Byway favourite
The trendy hotel and former police station has colourful rooms and beautiful loch views; you could even spend the night in an old cell (let us know if you'd like to!).

Find out more

Recommendations

  • Check out Fort William's dedicated vegan café The Wildcat for lunch or visit one of the other great restaurants serving vegan food. To make a day of it, hike Ben Nevis and then enjoy one of the plant-based options from Glen Nevis at the base of the mountain.

  • Catch the latest blockbuster or Scottish indie film at the family-run Highland Cinema, housed in a beautiful traditional building.

  • Within easy reach of Fort William, Ben Nevis is the UK's highest peak. Take a full day to climb to the top of the mountain or walk half an hour up the hill to the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre for one of their shorter and more sedate suggested walks. You can also explore the area by mountain bike on a selection of dedicated trails.

Journey
1hrs 22mins
Standard class

Fort WilliamMallaig

Travel along the spectacular route that takes you over the 21-arched Glenfinnan viaduct to Mallaig - the iconic journey to Hogwarts from the Harry Potter films. You can travel on the Jacobite Steam Train (aka the Hogwarts Express) if available.
Stop
Mallaig

Mallaig

A charming fishing port at the end of the 'road to the Isles', Mallaig is the main ferry hub for access to the Small Isles and Outer Hebrides. It's a lively little town overlooking the Sound of Sleat, with independent shops, lovely walks and is a short hop from some spectacular beaches.

Recommendations

  • Find out more about the history and culture of the area at Mallaig Heritage Centre. Having experienced the scenic train journey here, it's especially interesting to learn more about how the Fort William–Mallaig railway line came into being.

  • Make the journey across Loch Nevis to The Old Forge, one of Scotland's few community-owned pubs. The former smiddy's forge is only reachable by an 18-mile hike over munros or a 7-mile boat trip, but you'll be rewarded with an exceptional welcome and fantastic local ales.

  • Do a circular walk around Mallaig that offers great views over the harbour and across Loch Nevis to Knoydart.

Journey
1hrs 22mins
Standard class

MallaigFort William

Take the ScotRail train inland to Fort William, tracing the rails of the iconic West Highland Line.
Stay
1 night
Fort William

Fort William

Known as the outdoor capital of Scotland, Fort William sits on the shores of Loch Linnhe and is surrounded by spectacular Highlands scenery. It's a fun, lively town, and with easy access to Ben Nevis and other Munros (Scottish mountains), it makes a great base for hiking or climbing.

The Garrison

Where you could stay1 night

The Garrison

Byway favourite
The trendy hotel and former police station has colourful rooms and beautiful loch views; you could even spend the night in an old cell (let us know if you'd like to!).

Find out more

Journey
2hrs 5mins
Standard class

Fort WilliamInverness

A fabulous bus journey running the length of Scotlandโ€™s Great Glen, paralleling Loch Ness for a good part of the way. Look out for Urquhart Castle, the perfect spot to break your journey and catch the spirit of these Highland landscapes.
Stay
1 night
Inverness

Inverness

Inverness enjoys a fine setting by the River Ness, with Loch Ness and its alleged monster well away to the southwest. The graceful city is home to fine restaurants and museums and in 2019 it topped a list of the most cultured cities in the UK.

The Glen Mhor Hotel

Where you could stay1 night

The Glen Mhor Hotel

The Glen Mhor Hotel offers rooms in Victorian townhouses and apartments located on the banks of the River Ness, a 3-minute walk from Inverness city centre and a  10-minute walk from the train station.  The Ness Bank area is a charming conservation area in the city, set below the castle and opposite both The Eden Court Theatre and Inverness Cathedral.

Find out more

Recommendations

  • Open canoe hire and guided paddlesports on Loch Ness, Moray Firth & Cromarty Firth, plus they offer kayaking. 

  • The Moray Firth is home to the world’s northernmost pod of bottlenose dolphins. Climb aboard a low-impact boat with Dolphin Spirit and see these beautiful creatures up close.

  • Enjoy haggis-loaded fries, jackfruit stovies or pizza at one of Inverness' many vegan-friendly hotspots. You can even find some locally made, artisan vegan cheese.

Journey
1 night
12hrs 30mins
Standard class

InvernessLondon

In the evening, board the Caledonian Sleeper at Inverness station. Find your private cabin for the night and settle in for the journey as you speed down towards London while you sleep.

Before you book

Please make sure that you're happy with your trip before booking, as fees apply to changes made after booking. Check our FAQs for more information. To make changes to this trip before you book, please email hello@byway.travel