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Scottish train packages and ideas
HERE ARE A FEW OF McLean Scotland's FAVOURITES - please ask us for our
ideas and suggestions when thinking of booking any of
these routes. We can add them into your itinerary
or offer them to you as a package of one trip or several
combined! Why not consider adding one of these
spectacular train rides to your itinerary! Sit
back and enjoy the outstanding scenery.
STEAM
TRAINS:
  
left and centre: Strathspey Railway,
right: the Jacobite
The Strathspey Steam Railway located in
the Central Highlands of Scotland runs between the
communities o Aviemore, Boat of Garten and Broomhill.
With the Cairngorm Mountains so close the
area is a area of natural beauty.
The Jacobite Steam Railway, one of
the great railway journeys of the world. An 84
mile round trip starts near the highest mountain in
Britain (Ben Nevis), visits Britain's most westerly
mainland railway station (Arisaig), then passes close by
the deepest freshwater loch in Britain (Loch Morar), and
the shortest river in Britain (River Morar) and finally
arrives next to the deepest seawater loch in Europe -
Loch Nevis. The train stops en route at the
village of Glenfinnan, where Bonnie Prince Charlie
raised his standard in 1745. After crossing the
world famous 21 arch Glenfinnan viaduct, which has been
used in the Harry Potter movies, and
offers wonderful views down Loch Shiel, the train stops
at the station giving you time to stretch your legs and
visit the Museum in the station buildings.
ELECTRIC TRAIN
The Glasgow to Oban and Fort
William route, one of the
world's most memorable rail journeys
Your journey starts at Glasgow Queen
Street. After Dumbarton you are on to the West
Highland Line proper. Gare Loch is the first of many
lochs you'll see, with its history as a military
submarine base. At Garelochhead station you have a
panoramic view of the village. A few minutes beyond
Arrochar and Tarbet station, Loch Lomond appears on
your right, the area once roamed by Rob Roy MacGregor,
legendary warrior, robber and folk-hero. The
line descends almost to the water's edge then
it's a hard 15 mile climb up to Glen Falloch. In the
glen stand ancient Scots Pines, remnants of the
Caledonian Forest which once covered the land. You
cross over the Dubh Eas Water on a viaduct and are
about the same height above the water as the Forth
Railway Bridge is over the sea. Soon you'll see the
Falls of Falloch on the right, and then you're in Crianlarich,
where the line divides, with the southern branch
swerving west to Oban.
West from Crianlarich to Oban
The Oban branch takes you through
beautiful Glen Lochy to Dalmally, beyond which stands
the ruin of Kilchurn Castle, ancient stronghold of
Clan Campbell. You swerve round the head of Loch Awe
and enter the pass of Brander, which skirts the
towering bulk of Ben Cruachan, within which is a power
station. To the left is
the River Awe, and the village of the same name,
on the shores of Loch Etive. Near Connel Ferry you can
see the Falls of Laura, where the tidal waters flow
over a ledge of rock at the narrow entrance to Loch
Etive. Into Glen Cruitten, and
from the summit the line winds downhill. Enjoy the
splendid views of Oban, now only a few minutes away.
North from Crianlarich to Fort
William
Back at Crianlarich, the northbound
fork of the West Highland Line climbs quickly to
Tyndrum Upper and around Beinn Odhar to a unique
horseshoe bend. On then to
Bridge of Orchy. To your left is the ruin of
Achallader Castle, stronghold of the Fletchers. Then
it's on through Crannoch Wood, another vestige of the
Great Caledonian Forest. At
Gorton Crossing you start on to the wild Rannoch Moor,
with its peat bogs, streams, tiny lochs, boulders,
streams and old tree stumps and roots. Rannoch station
stands near Loch Laidon. At
Corrour Summit you are 1350 feet (450 metres) above
sea level - the highest point on the line. Before
reaching Corrour, you pass through Britain's only snow
shed at Cruach cutting. The shed protects the cutting
from winter snowdrifts, which can pile as high as
houses. To the right is
Ossian, one of Scotland's highest lochs at 1269 feet
(430 metres). As you travel
alongside Loch Treig, you gradually swoop down 415
feet (135 metres) until you're almost at water level.
At Tulloch you are virtually due
north of Craigendoran, but now you head west into the
Braes of Lochaber. The glen narrows until Monessie
Gorge, where the River Spean roars through the white
rocks, sculpted smooth by its ferocity. It's on your
left, slightly below rail level. A
little beyond Roy Bridge on the left is Keppoch House,
ancient home of the Chiefs of the Clan McDonald. And
just past Spean Bridge, high on the hill to the right,
stands the monument to the commandos, who trained here
during the Second World War. Very soon you arrive at
Fort William.
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