The Jacobite Express, Central Highland of Scotland 2018 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Date: 14th June 2018

Travelled: 148 kilometres from Balloch to Fort William in the central highlands of Scotland.

Visited: Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and the Jacobite Steam Train £35pp

Stayed: Nevis Range car park, free. N56.84245, W05.04346

We wake to rain and howling wind this morning. Glad we have nothing to much planned today other than make our way to Fort William. Having a little lay-in seems apropriate after the long walk yesterday, but its not easy with bits of tree falling on the roof of the Hymer. It eventually eases a little, we breakfast and make our way to the A82 heading north.

The road narrows as we follow Loch Lomond north. Its really a bit of a goat track in some stages and passing oncoming trucks a challenge. As is my practice I turn the music up, to drown out the sounds of Pam screaming.

The road turns north-west from the loch onto the Strath Fillan. The wind is really blowing here, but the scenery breathtaking.

The driving wind and rain makes the drive a challenge, especially for the numerous walkers, cyclist and motorcycles we pass.

Must have had some rain here last night ?

We eventually rolled into Fort William, the weather has cleared a little.

We have looked online for tickets to the Jacobite Express (steam train) along the west highlands line from Fort William to Mallaig without success. I phoned them yesterday and they do hold some platform tickets for every trip. So we plan on calling to the railway station and checking out the ticket process for tomorrow. Calling into the ticket office we are told to come back at 2pm today. So we head off to the supermarket, then have lunch before returning to the railway station.

Joining the queue there are 4 people in front of us so it looks good. Chatting away and getting some strange looks, we find they are couples from Brisbane and Wollongong. Doesn’t matter where you turn, there are baby boomers out spending there children’s inheritance. Pam secures two second class tickets, then I run the Hymer down to long term parking and cough up £5 for the priviledge.

We really didn’t expect to have this opportunity. We looked at tickets 6 weeks ago and it was sold out then. We wouldn’t have booked it anyway, in a motorhome its difficult to know where you are on a particular day.

The 21 arch Glenfinnan Viaduct. According to the blurb the longest concrete arch span bridge in the world, when the line was opened in 1901. The Jacobite steam train features as the Hogwart’s Express in the Harry Potter films.

We stop briefly at Glenfinnan station which has a small museum. We are sitting with Harry and Giselle from the Gong. We have a great time chatting about travelling as we go.

The Jacobite follows the lochs and coastal shore for 90 minutes before reaching Mallaig on the west coast of the central highland.

The train terminates across the road from the port. The old village itself is a bit scruffy but the yacht haven is a nice walk.

The gulls don’t seem to mind a close up.

We have walked around Mallaig in 30 minutes and the train doesn’t leave for another 90 minutes, its past 5pm so we find a nice corner in a funny little pub with a huge great dane laying on the floor in the bar. Another couple ask if they can sit across the table, they come from Melbourne, what a day for Aussies.

Full of beer, wine and a light dinner we wander back to the train for the return journey.

Pam looking stylish as we find our carriage.

Safely back in Fort William its after 8.30 in the evening and we have no idea where to stay. After checking the car-park close by without sucess, we refer to our data-base and find a forestry car-park 2 miles out of town. We arrive to find 4 other motorhomes and the price is right. Its a late dinner and debrief over a Tennants and Sav Blanc.

Michael and Pam

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