Touring Scotland by train , where to stay

hardpressed

Can anyone suggest where's a good base for a holiday in Scotland when traveling by train? Fancy doing the West Highland Line so that's round about Fort William but finding it difficult to find self catering near the station. Where else would be a good place to stay where we can go out and about just by train or very short, 15 minutes max by bus.

shark_DB

Fort William it's self is a good place to stay and explore the area i.e. Mallaig and Oban branches, then prehaps transfer to Inverness for the far north lines

alanrowell

Personally I'd take the West Highland Line to Mallaig and cross to Skye, leaving there a couple days later via the Kyle of Lochalsh for the train to Inverness. You can then take a day trip to the Orkneys by the Orkney Bus or stay longer.

If you live in the London area then consider using the Caledonian Sleeper to reach Fort William or Inverness or fly from Inverness to London

ixia

have a fish supper in Mallaig and then as alan suggests go to skye.

WestonDave

For Fort William try Corpach - its the first stop (I think) out of Fort William on the West Highland line and I think the Jacobite stops there. We had a nice little wooden cabin/lodge in the grounds of someone's house, just up the road from the station. You can also do some nice walks up the canal, get a bus into Fort William and so on.

If you are thinking of doing the West Highland by steam train (the Jacobite) then book early - its no good thinking you will pick your day when you are there as it will be fully booked. Obviously this depends when you are going as it only runs steam hauled in the summer months.