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Photo credit : Tony Hardley Photography
Whether it's for its majestic Highlands, its iconic castles, its UNESCO World Heritage megalithic sites, its Celtic and Viking influences, its legendary Loch Ness monster or its Edinburgh International Festival... There are a thousand and one reasons to visit Scotland. But if there's one that's sure to appeal to all nature lovers, it's its wild landscapes, from misty lochs to towering mountains!
In this article, we present the country's most beautiful railroad lines for you to discover. It's an opportunity to combine business with pleasure: cross Scotland with ease and take in the sights, from the Lowlands to the Highlands, via spectacular coastlines and wild inland regions...
Let's start with a lesser-known train route than the famous Jacobite Steam Line, but a much more cost-effective one - the same line for a third of the price! A more affordable alternative, it links Glasgow to Mallaig via Fort William, crossing some of the Highlands' most emblematic landscapes.
The line has two main branches:
La ligne des West Highland est desservie par deux opérateurs ferroviaires : ScotRail, qui assure un service régulier de jour depuis Glasgow, et Caledonian Sleeper, qui assure le service de train de nuit de Londres à Fort William.
Considered one of the most picturesque and beautiful railroad lines in Europe, it offers spectacular scenery and total immersion in Scotland's rugged beauty. In particular, it skirts Loch Lomond, crosses Rannoch Moor and passes over the famous Glenfinnan viaduct (famous for its appearance in the Harry Potter films!).
Credit: Tony Hardley Photography - The famous Glenfinnan viaduct (which you must have seen in the Harry Pott films).er) : une portion de la West Highland Line !
As early as possible! The earlier you book, the cheaper the tickets will be, especially if you're traveling during the tourist season (May to September).
Glasgow - Oban or Glasgow - Fort William costs around £40 for a round trip in off-peak periods, and Glasgow - Mallaig around £50, but prices can of course vary. You can also take advantage of passes and discount cards (we'll explain everything at the end of the article!). In any case, keep an eye out: ScotRail regularly offers special fares, especially for off-peak journeys!
More confidential but no less picturesque is the Kyle Line, or Inverness Line, which links Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh via the Scottish Highlands. With over 100 km of track (a total journey time of around 2 hours 40 minutes), you'll enjoy spectacular views of rugged mountains, sparkling lochs and the west coast of Scotland.
4 trains run daily in each direction. It links Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh via Beauly, Muir of Ord, Conon Bridge, Dingwall, Garve, Lochluichart, Achanalt, Achnasheen, Achnashellach, Strathcarron, Attadale, Stromeferry, Duncraig, Plockton and Duirinish.
Opened in 1897, the line is considered one of the most beautiful in the UK. It offers splendid views of the mountains of the Isle of Skye on the horizon, as you arrive at Kyle of Lochalsh!
Credit: Tony Hardley Photography - The magnificent scenery all around the Kyle line!
Tickets are generally available 12 weeks before departure. Ideally, we advise you to book 2 to 3 months in advance (especially if you're leaving in summer, during the high season).
A one-way ticket will cost you £20 to £30 (around €23 to €35), but prices vary according to when you book. As always, we advise you to book as early as possible to make the most of the low fares!
Choose your seat carefully: opt for a seat on the right-hand side (towards Kyle) for the best views! And if you want to take in the sights (and the camera), we advise you to travel early to take advantage of the beautiful morning light.
After the West, head north to Scotland on the Far North Line. This line will take you through spectacular scenery, from wild moorlands and Highland mountains to picturesque lochs and charming coastal villages. And if you want to take in the sights, you'll love Forsinard Flows Nature Reserve, one of Scotland's national treasures, with 21,000 hectares teeming with life.
© VisitScotland - The splendid Forsinard nature reserve
With 4 trains a day, the line links Inverness to Thurso (northern branch) or Wick (eastern branch), passing through some twenty towns and villages.
Tickets are generally available 12 weeks before departure. Again, we advise you to book 2 to 3 months in advance.
A one-way ticket to Thurso costs around £30 (€35), but prices vary depending on when you book. As always, we advise you to book as early as possible to make the most of the low fares!
The Glasgow South Western line, or Glasgow-Kilmarnock-Carlisle line, runs along the southwest coast, linking Scotland to England! Here again, you can expect splendid scenery, from the green Scottish countryside to the rolling hills of the Southern Uplands, river valleys and rural landscapes of southern Scotland and northern England.
The line runs from Glasgow to Carlisle, England, passing through the historic town of Kilmarnock and its Dean Castle, Sanquhar (famous for the ruins of Sanquhar Castle, where the impressive Crawick Multiverse Land Art installation is just a 20-minute walk away) and the historic town of Dumfries (with its Robert Burns Museum).
© VisitScotland - The Crawick Multiverse's magnificent Land Art works
Tickets are generally available 12 weeks before departure, but international visitors can buy passes up to 12 months in advance (different from other train tickets). Again, we advise you to book 2 to 3 months in advance.
Prices vary according to time of day (peak or off-peak), ticket type and time of booking. But on average, you can expect the following fares:
To find out more :
This article was written in partnership with VisitScotland and ScotRail. To find out more, visit their websites: visitscotland.com and scotrail.co.uk !
Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).
Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.
