Journey to Beyond the Tartan Curtain

We came up from the deep south by a number routes: by air and bus, by bus all the way (phew!), by overnight sleeper, by daytime train. Elaine had recommended that the daytime rail journey from Glasgow Queen Street to Fort William was well worth savouring - it is, after all, part of one of the Greatest Railway Journeys of the World. Those of us who took this route were definitely not disappointed! It was a grand and fitting start to the holiday. The views were of the kind that one would normally only experience on foot.

Here are some pictures I took through a window of the moving train as it sped on its unforgettable 3.5 hour journey from Queen Street to Fort William.

The train has taken us high above the Clyde Valley, past the bonnie and sunny banks of Loch Lomond. We haven't yet reached the Bridge of Orchy but here is a flavour of the scenery as it speeds past our train.



The scenery gets wilder still, and somewhere round here is Corrour - a hiker's paradise, only reached by train or on foot.



This looks like Loch Treig.



More of Loch Teig in the blue glow of the late afternoon.

Our First Flavour of Fort William

We reach Fort William, where Elaine and Yvonna meet us with their cars to take us to "Calluna", our pleasant hostel perched on high ground in the south of Fort William.

Before our meal, we have some time to explore the path behind our hostel. From the path, you could see to Fort William and beyond. (I actually took this picture later in the holiday, but the picture gives a flavour of the rich scenery surrounding our residence).