The spectacular scenery of Scotland’s Mountains, Moors and Lochs is best viewed from the train. The Jacobite steam train (“Hogwarts Express”) carries thousands of Harry Potter fans every year over the world-famous Glenfinnan Viaduct, aka the Harry Potter Bridge (see photo).
The Royal Scotsman, “Scotland’s poshest train”, offers luxury land cruises on the West Highland Line and also on the Highland Main Line to Strathspey in the Cairngorm mountains.
ScotRail, Scotland’s national train operator, operates regular train services on the scenic rail network to Thurso for the island of Orkney, Kyle of Lochalsh for the Isle of Skye, and the West Highland Line to Oban, Fort William and Mallaig for CalMac ferries to the Western Isles. ScotRail trains also reach Stranraer in the south in the peaceful rural region of Dumfries and Galloway.
Many of Scotland’s tourist hotspots are now attracting so many car-based tourists that congestion disrupts the unique atmosphere of the Highlands. Arriving by ScotRail train at Glenfinnan station (see photo) avoids these traffic jams and gives an opportunity to visit the viaduct and also the unique Glenfinnan Station Museum, which illustrates the history of the construction of the Mallaig line completed in 1901..
The scenic line from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh brings visitors within sight of the romantic Isle of Skye. However, catching a bus over the bridge to Skye is not straightforward as there are no reliable connections between trains and deregulated buses. ScotRail and bus operator Stagecoach should cooperate to improve connections between bus and train at Kyle.
A “Skye Line” tour from Inverness by train to Kyle, then bus to Skye, linking at Armadale with the ferry to Mallaig and the West Highland Line, and returning to Inverness by coach via Loch Ness, could be a popular expedition by train, coach and ferry showing the best of Scotland’s spectacular mountains and seascapes crowned by viewing the world-famous Loch Ness.
Rail plays an essential role in tourism in rural Scotland. Growing demand for leisure travel means that some of the services now need to be expanded. For instance, there are only three trains per day between Glasgow and Fort William, a service level that has remained unchanged for thirty years. A more frequent service would boost rail’s share of the travel market and help combat road congestion and pollution in one of the world’s last remaining unspoiled natural terrains.
