West Highland Line
The West Highland Line ... T
he world famous West Highland Line with its quaint Swiss chalet stations was voted the World’s Best Railway Journey by readers of the Wanderlust travel magazine ... and not without reason.
The World’s best train journey
The route from Glasgow to Mallaig and Fortwilliam snakes its way through stunning countryside and across breathtaking ravines spanned by stunning concrete structures which were record breaking and revolutionary when they were built. Borrodale Burn bridge became the world’s longest concrete span at 127 feet, and Glenfinnan Viaduct was a huge structure in concrete at 416 yards long with 21 arches. This historic route combines the romance of the Scottish Highlands with the breathtaking beauty of the rural countryside and adds a little bit of Harry Potter magic along the way. This is one train journey you will never forget whether you travel on newly-refurbished, regular ScotRail trains or the Jacobite Steam Train
Glasgow to Crianlarich
F
rom Glasgow Queen Street station the train travels uphill towards the Kilpatrick hills, providing impressive views of the Erskine Bridge and down the Clyde Estuary towards the Firth of Clyde. Pass through the small villages and towns on the Clyde – such as Bowling, Dumbarton (with its celebrated castle), Cardross (where Robert the Bruce lived) and Garelochhead – you will be treated to your first glimpse of the ‘Arrochar Alps’. At Garelochhead station you get stunning panoramic views of the Gare Loch, with Loch Long just starting to come into view. The jetty below is Finnart deep-water terminal, built by the US Navy during the Second World
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War. Tankers discharge their oil here to be pumped by pipeline to Grangemouth, 60 miles away to the east.
& Tarbet station, the world-renowned bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond appear on the right.
Approaching Arrochar, look left for great views of the celebrated ‘Arrochar Alps’, including such craggy peaks as the Beinn Narnain, Beinn Ime and the well-loved Cobbler. Shortly after departing Arrochar
Across the loch, dominated by the towering presence of Ben Lomond, this area was once home to Rob Roy MacGregor, legendary warrior, robber and folk hero. He used to question captives in a nearby cave – and wasn’t averse to dipping them in the loch to extract information! Enjoy the magnificent scenery surrounding Loch Lomond before arriving in Crianlarich. Here the train line divides, with the western route turning towards Oban, and the north continuing up to Fort William and Mallaig.
Check ScotGov Travel Restrictions Before You Go!
