[Alina Ovesea]
2020-03-04 21:03:24
Scotland's Highlands itinerary by train
[natural] [ mountain , hills and depressions , volcanic activity , botanical , wildlife , natural wonders ]
english
8
1,004
46
Difficulty
When to visit
The Scotland Highland is a place for all seasons. We wanted to see it in the early spring and we planned our trip end of February, beginning of March.
Description
This itinerary in Scotland starts in Glasgow, then takes you to Highlands and Isle of Skye and it ends in Edinburgh. We choose train as our transport, which fits very well for this itinerary, as ScotRail has a very good coverage and some scenic routes you don't want to miss. First and second day in Glasgow are a great way to take in the culture and the culinary scene. The third day we start the adventure with a train raid to Mallaig that will pass through famous Harry Potter bridge - Glenfinnan Viaduct. From Mallaig you pass to Isle of Skye where you will spend a full day discovering what this amazing volcanic island has to offer with a private tour. Then is back to the train raids to get to Inverness and then to Edinburgh as our departure hub. Edinburgh is another amazing city that is worth to be included in the trip.
Points
Itinerary of Scotland starts at Edinburgh Airport
[starting point]
distance
0.1km
Duration
00:5 h
Description
we landed on Edinburgh Airport. We arrived with Ryanair, but there are other low cost airlines landing here. Our first 2 days we spend it in Glasgow.
Tram to Edinburgh Haymarket
[transport] [tram]
distance
11.2km
Duration
00:30 h
Description
Free WiFi
Arrive in Edinburgh Haymarket
[transport] [walk]
Train to Glasgow Queen Street
[transport] [train]
Stereo Restaurant
[food and beverages] [restaurant]
17.0
Point A Hotel
[accommodation] [hotel]
45.0
Flying duck
[food and beverages] [restaurant]
28.0
end day 1
[end day]
Subway from Buchanan Street
[transport] [metro]
3.5
distance
2.9km
Duration
00:12 h
Description
The Glasgow subway system is something you have to try. There is only one live going in a circular route and the directions are call Inner and Outer. Everything is really small - the tunnel, the train (both in height and in length), the hole station. It is an experience to try.
Botanical Garden Glasgow
[landmark] [garden]
University of Glasgow
[landmark] [building]
Kelvin Grove Art Gallery and Musem
[landmark] [museum]
Saramago Cafe Bar
[food and beverages] [coffee shop]
19.6
Gallery of Modern Art Glasgow
[landmark] [museum]
end day 2
[end day]
Description
Nest day it has an early start, we are off to Isle of Skye.
Sainsbury's Local Market
[food and beverages] [others]
10.0
Train from Glasgow to Mallaig - one of the most amazing train raids in the world
[transport] [train]
76.0
distance
263.5km
Duration
05:21 h
Description
The train that goes to Mallaig leaves at 8:23. It is considered one of the most beautiful train journey in the world. All the way to Mallaig I saw rhododendron bushes, so if you manage to take this route when the rhododendron is in bloom, I suspect it would be amazing. The trip is 5 hours long, and one of the main attractions is the Glenfinnan Viaduct. We bought the tickets with a few days before the trip, just to make sure we have a good price and that we find good seats. When buying tickets with a seat, you have this card placed right above your seat, so people with no allocated seat can know where to stay. We had a nice dog traveling right next to us. We started the trip in a British rainy weather and we reached some 500 meters altitude where we had snow. The hole trip is so wild, that we saw also some deer.
warnings
There are 4 carts, the ones in the back are for Mallaig and the ones in the front are for Oban. Make sure you are in the right ones. Also if you have a reservation, the seat will have a card mentioning that, so people with tickets with no seat would know.
Highland view
[landmark] [view point/ panorama]
Description
From here onward you will see the typical Highland view: lochs and hills. This is the reason we started this itinerary in the first place - true and unspoiled natural beauty of Scotland. And the train is the best way to see it. PS, loch is the local name for lake or sea inlet, like Loch Ness.
Loch Lomond
[landmark] [lake]
Train to Mallaig
[information] [orientation]
Description
Train carts that go to Oban split from the ones that go to Mallaig. Make sure you are in the right ones.
Monessie Gorge
[landmark] [canyon / gorges]
Description
A brief view of the Monessie Gorge
Glenfinnan Viaduct
[landmark] [bridge]
Loch Eilt
[landmark] [lake]
Arrive in Mallaig
[transport] [walk]
Buy ferry tickets (Mallaig to Armadale)
[information] [payment point]
6.0
Ferry from Mallaig to Armadale
[transport] [ferry]
Arriving on Isle of Skye
[transport] [walk]
distance
77km
Duration
00:52 h
Bus from Armadale to Broadford
[transport] [bus]
8.5
walk
[transport] [walk]
distance
0.3km
Duration
02:25 h
Cafe Sia
[food and beverages] [pizzeria]
20.0
Bus from Broadford to Portree
[transport] [bus]
11.4
Arrive in Portree
[transport] [walk]
distance
0.9km
Duration
00:39 h
Description
We finally arrived in Portree, the capital of the Isle of Skye after 13 hours on the road (train, ferry and 2 buses). But let me tell you that it was all worth it. The next day we had a private tour of the island and the day spend on the Isle of Skye was the most memorable from our Itinerary in Scotland.
Rockview Portree
[accommodation] [guest house]
66.0
end day 3
[end day]
Skye Mini Bus Tour
[transport] [minbus]
108.0
distance
24.6km
Duration
00:50 h
Description
This tour is about 9 hours and covers most of the Skye Island landmarks. The owner and our driver, Rab, is a gentleman that will tell you all the stories of Skye with fairies and all. You can contact him at 01470 521 448 or https://www.skye-minibus-tours.co.uk/. It is one of the only tour that operates during winter, with the only condition that there are minimum 3 people joining his tour. It is really hard to see the hole island in one day without the help of a local or some private transportation (car or tour). If you have more than one day you can try to arrange it using public transport. You know me, I'm all about self organizing , but this one should be done with a tour.
Old Man of Storr
[landmark] [rock formation]
walk
[transport] [walk]
distance
0.2km
Duration
00:14 h
Description
15 minute stop
Mealt Falls
[landmark] [waterfall]
Kilt Rock
[landmark] [rock formation]
minbus
[transport] [minbus]
distance
9km
Duration
00:15 h
Road over Quiraing Mountain
[landmark] [street / road]
hike
[transport] [hike]
distance
0.4km
Duration
00:17 h
Description
20 minute stop
minbus
[transport] [minbus]
distance
9.5km
Duration
00:16 h
View of Uig
[landmark] [village]
walk
[transport] [walk]
distance
0.1km
Duration
00:24 h
minbus
[transport] [minbus]
distance
4.5km
Duration
00:9 h
hike
[transport] [hike]
distance
0.6km
Duration
00:24 h
The Fairy Glen
[landmark] [rock formation]
minbus
[transport] [minbus]
distance
44.2km
Duration
00:40 h
walk
[transport] [walk]
distance
0.1km
Duration
01:01 h
minbus
[transport] [minbus]
distance
17.6km
Duration
00:29 h
Hike to the lighthouse
[transport] [hike]
minbus
[transport] [minbus]
distance
53.3km
Duration
01:05 h
Hike to Fairy Pools
[transport] [hike]
minbus
[transport] [minbus]
distance
33.9km
Duration
00:50 h
minbus
[transport] [minbus]
walk
[transport] [walk]
distance
0.8km
Duration
01:39 h
Fat Panda
[food and beverages] [restaurant]
18.0
end day 4
[end day]
Bus 917 from Portree to Kyle of Lochalsh
[transport] [bus]
15.0
Skye Bridge
[landmark] [bridge]
walk
[transport] [walk]
distance
0.8km
Duration
00:36 h
Hector's Bothy
[food and beverages] [restaurant]
25.0
Train from Lochalsh to Inverness
[transport] [train]
29.0
Arrived in Inverness
[transport] [walk]
distance
2.7km
Duration
01:17 h
The King's Highway
[food and beverages] [restaurant]
16.0
River Ness
[landmark] [river]
end day 5
[end day]
Train from Inverness to Edinburgh
[transport] [train]
54.4
Arrive in Edinburgh
[transport] [walk]
distance
21.9km
Duration
14:48 h
Victoria Street
[landmark] [street / road]
Advocates Close
[landmark] [street / road]
Hume’s Statue
[landmark] [statue / sculpture]
Security check and ticket for Edinburgh Castle
[information] [entrance]
40.0
end day 6
[end day]
end day 7
[end day]
tram
[transport] [tram]
13.0
distance
11.3km
Duration
00:32 h
walk
[transport] [walk]
Edinburgh Airport
[end point]
Statistics
501m
-27m
529m
11,196m
1,252km
57:10 h
Means of transport
train
769.2km
528.8m
12:22 h
minbus
196.6km
270.9m
04:38 h
walk
130.6km
154m
33:55 h
bus
124.5km
149.2m
02:15 h
tram
22.5km
58.4m
01:02 h
hike
5.3km
243.9m
02:44 h
metro
2.9km
18m
00:12 h
ferry
0km
0m
00:0 h