west highland line

The West Highland Line is one of the greatest railway journeys in Britain, indeed in the world, linking the fishing port of Mallaig on the west coast of Scotland, to Glasgow. Passenger services on the line are operated by First ScotRail, primarily between Glasgow and Mallaig with the daily Caledonian Sleeper overnight service between Fort William and London Euston. All services stop at little Bridge of Orchy station, just a stone throw from the hotel.

The line takes a circuitous route that brings it into Fort William from the north-east. The line is single track throughout and trains must wait at stations with crossing loops for opposite direction trains to pass. Over much of the Rannoch Moor section the speed limit is 30 mph to avoid damage to the foundations of the track which float on top of the boggy ground.

Shortly after leaving Queen Street Station in Glasgow, and beyond Queen Street Tunnel, the line follows a northwesterly course on the North Clyde Line before branching northward towards Garelochhead and emerging alongside the northwesterly shores of Loch Lomond; the section where the WHL is generally accepted to "begin proper". Significant points on the journey include Crianlarich, an important Highland junction of both road and rail, and Tyndrum, the smallest place in Scotland to boast two railway stations.

After Tyndrum, the line climbs onto the Rannoch Moor, passing Bridge of Orchy. In winter, the moor is often covered with snow, and the deer may be seen running from the approaching train. The station at Corrour on the moor featured as a location in the 1996 film Trainspotting. Carrying on northwards, the final stop before Fort William is Spean Bridge.

The section between Fort William and Mallaig passes over a magnificent viaduct at Glenfinnan, through Arisaig with its fine views of the Small Isles of Rùm, Eigg, Muck and Canna, and the sparkling white sands of Morar before coming to Mallaig itself. "The Jacobite" steam locomotive-hauled train operates over this section in summer.