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Fort William
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Highlands via the Hogwarts route

Choose your dates

06 Jan 2025 - 11 Jan 2025

Departing from

Travellers & rooms

undefined Adult

166 kg CO2
What's included:
  • Transport
  • Accommodation
  • Journey guide with tickets
  • Seat reservations where required or recommended
  • WhatsApp support and disruption replanning

Journey at a glance

Trip overview

  • London

  • Sleeper with cabin

    1 night

  • Mallaig

    Stop

  • Fort William

    2 nights

  • Inverness

    2 nights

  • London

Full itinerary

Journey
TRAIN
21:15 - 10:00
1 night
12hrs 45mins
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.
Journey
12:12 - 13:38
1hrs 22mins
Standard class

Fort WilliamMallaig

Travel via Scot Rail along the spectacular route that takes you over the 21 arched Glenfinnan viaduct to Mallaig – the iconic route to Hogwarts from the Harry Potter films.
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.

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

Journey
TRAIN
16:04 - 17:27
1hrs 22mins
Standard class

MallaigFort William

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

Where you could stay2 nights

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

Change your room

Recommendations

  • Discover the history of the region at the West Highlands Museum. The collection contains artefacts relating to such luminaries as Bonnie Prince Charlie, and plenty of information about the Jacobite cause and campaign.

  • Lochaber Geopark boasts some amazing geology, with the UK’s highest mountains, deepest lochs and most stunning natural scenery.

  • 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
BUS
09:35 - 11:40
2hrs 5mins
Standard class

Fort WilliamInverness

A fabulous bus journey running the length of Scotland’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
2 nights
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.

Where you could stay2 nights

Heathmount Hotel

The centrally located Heathmount Hotel is 10 minutes’ walk from Inverness Castle, and offers classic and comfortable guest room includes a flat-screen TV, desk and tea and coffee facilities.  Scottish whisky, coffee and freshly mixed cocktails in its 2 contrasting bars, and the Heathmount restaurant offers dishes including Scottish beef and venison pie, and chicken stuffed with haggis in a whisky sauce. There are also vegetarian choices and a lunchtime menu including the popular macaroni cheese made with Orkney cheddar. The restaurant is open daily from 5pm for dinner from Monday through to Sunday, but only open for lunch from Friday to Sunday. Inverness Train Station is within a 10-minute walk, as are the town’s museum and art gallery and Inverness Golf Club. The Eden Court Theatre is around 20 minutes away, on the opposite bank of the River Ness.

Find out more

Change your room

Recommendations

  • 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.

  • Flowing out from the famous Loch and into the Moray Firth, the River Ness runs through the city and is a great place to amble along and see the sights. If you have time, head south to the Victorian footbridge to visit the Ness Islands in the centre of the river. 

  • Head out on a cruise of Loch Ness (the UK's largest lake by volume) and take in the beauty of Urquhart Castle and tranquillity of the water.

Journey
8hrs 31mins
Standard class

InvernessLondon

Take the morning Highland Chieftain train from Inverness, which cruises south through the Highlands to Perth, then dashes through Edinburgh and Newcastle to reach Kings Cross station in London.

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

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