Caledonian Sleeper

[Dfatcontroller]

That does sound a bit of a faff to me. A long while ago (25 years or more now) I did the sleeper to Fort William followed by the coach to Inverness and the sleeper back to London. Very doable if you can afford to do 2 sleeper journeys*. Plenty of scenery to look at plus you get to see Loch Ness (and see if the monster says 'hello'). And you get some time in either FW or Inverness for a look round.

* Of course this isn't possible if your travel north on a Friday night, but it might be possible to catch the last day train from Inverness and then stop off on route on your way back on day trains.

It is possible as I suggested spending the Saturday night in Inverness.

 

[najaB]

Or look around Aberdeen, train to Dundee, look around and pick up the CS from Dundee?

That's entirely feasible, but does have the downside of having to spend time in Dundee!

 

[norbitonflyer]

Bear in mind if it's scenery you want now is the wrong time of year. At present sunset in the Highlands is about 730pm and sunrise about 7 am (Aberdeen times about 15 minutes earler than Fort Wiilliam, Inverness somewhere in between) That means you will see no secenery southbound as all departures are after sunset. Northbound the sun will rise as you reach Loch Lomond, Dalwhinnie or Aberdeen, but the time of sunrise chages rapidly at this time of year and by December sunrise isn't until 9am so you won't see much at all except the run along the edge of the Monessie Gorge in Glen Spean, betweeen Tulloch and Roy Bridge.

Wait until June and sunset isn't until after 10pm, by which time the southbound portions will be crossing the Tay Bridge, or at or Dalwhinnie, or Loch Lomond, and it will still be twilight as you cross the Forth Bridge, or reach Perth or the Firth of Clyde

And northbound it will be rising before you even leave Edinburgh

 

[cats_five]

<snip>

I'd agree, although the Aberdeen has coastal scenery and the Forth Bridge.

I was disappointed by the coastal scenery north of Fife the one time I went to Aberdeen by train. I think between Kirkcaldy & the Forth Bridge is best though shrubs and small trees are more problematic than 20 years ago. Of course Aberdeen by train from Edinburgh also crosses the Tay Bridge, with the stumps of the original bridge visible on one side.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Sunday at 08:05 ==

Remember there is no sleeper on Saturday night.

Rather than wandering round Fort William for ten hours, provided the weather is good, you coupd consder climbing Ben Nevis. I've done it using the sleeper twice (Big Ben to Ben Nevis and back in 36 hours!)

WalkHighlands gives Ben Nevis via the normal route a timing of 7-10 hours from Achintee, and that is a tidy walk from the station. I personally do not enjoy hill walking against the clock, which that would be. Also there are pretty well no midges in FW, but plenty in Glen Nevis especially on a still day. Smidge strongly recommended for outside of the town! Personally I think early May is best. Good chance of decent weather, much fewer midges & people, though in a normal year there will be plenty of snow higher up. Ben Nevis IMHO is only an option to consider if the OP is a competent hill walker, and prepared to take all the kit with him. Depending on the sleeper ticket they might be able to use the lounge at the station, which includes a shower.

However Sheil buses have an hourly bus from the station to the Lower Falls (well worth a visit especially in rainy weather!) in summer. At least they have this year.

Ember run buses to Edinburgh (E4/E4X) as well as Glasgow (E5).

 

[JamieL]

Not in anyway to diminish the satisfaction, enjoyment and physical challenge from walking to the highest summit, there is the option to use the Nevis Range Mountain Gondola for those who just want to get to a good height for spectacular views (weather dependent of course). It goes to a separate and lower peak than the main summit but still gives excellent views including of the main peak. The lower station is about six miles from the railway station so a short bus ride or a couple of hours of (easy) walking.

 

[Bill57p9]

Not in anyway to diminish the satisfaction, enjoyment and physical challenge from walking to the highest summit, there is the option to use the Nevis Range Mountain Gondola for those who just want to get to a good height for spectacular views (weather dependent of course). It goes to a separate and lower peak than the main summit but still gives excellent views including of the main peak. The lower station is about six miles from the railway station so a short bus ride or a couple of hours of (easy) walking.

Good recommendation. Great views with little effort.

Neptune's Staircase is another interesting sightseeing opportunity, again accessible by easy if fairly long walk, or bus or ScotRail.

 

[styles]

Not in anyway to diminish the satisfaction, enjoyment and physical challenge from walking to the highest summit, there is the option to use the Nevis Range Mountain Gondola for those who just want to get to a good height for spectacular views (weather dependent of course). It goes to a separate and lower peak than the main summit but still gives excellent views including of the main peak. The lower station is about six miles from the railway station so a short bus ride or a couple of hours of (easy) walking.

I was about to say something similar. Also that the Mountain Track route to Ben Nevis summit is not a spectacular walk and towards the end of the zig zags can actually feel a bit boring.

Notwithstanding the time constraints and judging weather and walking ability, there's also smaller hills for a walk which will get good views of the range, listed on the WalkHighlands website.

But obviously there's an attraction in climbing the highest mountain in the country and some people are fit and competent to do it and have plenty of time to spare. I took have done it using the sleeper service though I was in better shape at the time.

 

[Steve Harris]

It is possible as I suggested spending the Saturday night in Inverness.

You obviously didn't spot the part I've emboldened below.

Thank you very much for your suggestions. The better view from the seating coach may make up for the slightly less comfortable sleeping and the switchover at Edinburgh. The idea of making this a very short trip (out on Friday, back on Saturday, home on Sunday), with just a day wandering around Fort William getting eaten by midges, with the focus really being the CS, is now sounding like a good option. At least I'd probably sleep better on the way back (I've read a few times on here about the best way to sleep on the sleeper - spend the night on it the previous night).

Yes Sasonmida got corrected that sleepers don't run on a Saturday, but at a guess they are looking at a short trip (which my suggestion is, 36 hrs) rather than a long elongated trip (your suggestion, 60 hrs (London - London)), hence why I took the opinion it is a bit of a faff.

As others have said June to the middle of July is best if you want to take in the scenery. I have always travelled up that way at the beginning of July.

 

[cats_five]

Not in anyway to diminish the satisfaction, enjoyment and physical challenge from walking to the highest summit, there is the option to use the Nevis Range Mountain Gondola for those who just want to get to a good height for spectacular views (weather dependent of course). It goes to a separate and lower peak than the main summit but still gives excellent views including of the main peak. The lower station is about six miles from the railway station so a short bus ride or a couple of hours of (easy) walking.

I checked, there is a bus - I wasn't sure there would be! However on checking the timetable I see no buses on Saturdays or Sundays.

On a clear day the views from the SW round to the NE are extensive, and there is usually a breeze up there which helps keep the midges away. Smidge (or Moskito Guard, the same but unscented) are still recomended!

There is also Invergarry Station which again can be accessed via bus:

Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway Museum

www.invergarrystation.org.uk

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Sunday at 15:16 ==

I was about to say something similar. Also that the Mountain Track route to Ben Nevis summit is not a spectacular walk and towards the end of the zig zags can actually feel a bit boring.

Notwithstanding the time constraints and judging weather and walking ability, there's also smaller hills for a walk which will get good views of the range, listed on the WalkHighlands website.

But obviously there's an attraction in climbing the highest mountain in the country and some people are fit and competent to do it and have plenty of time to spare. I took have done it using the sleeper service though I was in better shape at the time.

I have been up Ben Nevis twice, but not via the normal route. Many years ago I went via the CMD arete which is absolutely spectacular, and a while after that went on a lead trip up Tower Ridge. So few people on the ways up, so many at the top!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Sunday at 15:19 ==

<snip>

As others have said June to the middle of July is best if you want to take in the scenery. I have always travelled up that way at the beginning of July.

Late May or early June IMHO. By July the colour in the deciduous trees is getting dull, and FW is heaving with tourists - the southbound A82 traffic is often backed up past the A830 junction and the northbound will be backed up a similar amount. Early May has fewer ridges but is early enough there might be more serious conditions up Ben Nevis.

 

[DelW]

When I visited Fort William by sleeper a few years ago, I stayed over from Friday morning arrival to Sunday evening departure, and fitted in the following:

• Walking the Caledonian Canal from the sea to the staircase locks, with lunch at the pub alongside them.
• A boat trip on Loch Linnhe.
• Circular trip Fort Bill - Crianlarich - Oban - Fort Bill, the latter leg on a West Coast Motors coach. The road route via A828 and A82 is mostly waterside and very scenic, and the coach was comfortable and not too busy.
• The Jacobite to Mallaig and back (pre-booked of course).

It made for an excellent weekend. A 90 minute late arrival on the Friday meant I had to re-plan the day's schedule, but also meant that my full northbound first-class fare was refunded under delay repay (by Scotrail at the time).

 

[norbitonflyer]

WalkHighlands gives Ben Nevis via the normal route a timing of 7-10 hours from Achintee, and that is a tidy walk from the station. I personally do not enjoy hill walking against the clock, which that would be.

There is a bus service (at least during the summer months) up the Glen to the Youth Hostel (slightly furher up the Glen from Achintee), which would save half an hour in each direction
https://bustimes.org/services/42-fort-william-glen-nevis?calendar=9574392
(Current timetable)

And although I agree walking against the clock is not ideal, you need to be off the mountain before it's dark anyway

 

[driverd]

Spending Saturday night somewhere and arriving back into Birmingham at 6:20 means being able to work on the Monday.

That might be one heck of a tough day in the office - never done the seats; getting a decent rest in the cabins can be a challenge at times!

 

[najaB]

That might be one heck of a tough day in the office - never done the seats; getting a decent rest in the cabins can be a challenge at times!

I've not travelled in the Mk5 beds but I often used to sleep better in the Mk3s than I did in my own bed!

 

[BorderCollie]

Experiencing a sock in a tumbledryer awaits...

 

[800002]

That might be one heck of a tough day in the office - never done the seats; getting a decent rest in the cabins can be a challenge at times!

I think it all depends on the type of job that needs to be done in the office.

I've rolled into work ex-sleeper (dotted sleep in the beds, mainly) a couple of times and got things done.
I called time at about 1400, though. But my job allows such freedoms.

Stepped off the Night Rivera the other morning and into the pub for breakfast and WiFi in time for my morning meetings and getting the odd jobs out of the way before I took leave.
My bosses know such things work for me when I put in leave requests and parts of the job still get done.

 

[SuspectUsual]

I think it all depends on the type of job that needs to be done in the office.

And your age!

I’ve flown overnight New York to Manchester and gone straight to work in Trafford Park before, but I was about 25 and had the (just about) boundless energy of youth.

I wouldn’t do it 30+ years later for sure

 

[najaB]

I've rolled into work ex-sleeper (dotted sleep in the beds, mainly) a couple of times and got things done.
I called time at about 1400, though. But my job allows such freedoms.

It's a few years back now, but thanks to a delayed flight into Heathrow I once did the sleeper up to Dundee (in the seats at that!) and then did a full eight-hour day of in-person technical training to a class of 15. That was rough, but you do what you have to do.

 

[800002]

And your age!

I could do with being younger!
Some might just say I'm out of practice.

That was rough, but you do what you have to do.

Indeed. Sometimes it not what you do, but how, too.
There are things I can do in the lounge / station to fill the time and then things I'm able to do during the early part of the journey. 3 to 4 hours of work on the sleeper / waiting for the sleeper is not unusual.

 

[Bletchleyite]

And your age!

Ability to sleep with noise and in a seat etc doesn't really vary by age, more by individual. And I can still do physical stuff on no sleep but I've never been able to think straight like that.

Young people might be more willing to accept adversity though.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Ability to sleep with noise and in a seat etc doesn't really vary by age, more by individual

Possibly, but I think your ability to recover does vary. As you get older the restorative value of your sleep tends to decline

 

[Bletchleyite]

Possibly, but I think your ability to recover does vary. As you get older the restorative value of your sleep tends to decline

Yes true, it takes me a couple of nights to recover from a poor night now, used to be just one.

Ability to sleep less so. My Dad (70s) can sleep properly in a seat, I (40s) can't at all and never have been able to.

 

[MadCommuter]

1S26 terminated at Motherwell this morning. Passengers transferred to 2F07 via Hamilton to Glasgow. The empty stock has now passed Newton presumably going to Polmadie. So what's going on...?

 

[Dfatcontroller]

1S26 terminated at Motherwell this morning. Passengers transferred to 2F07 via Hamilton to Glasgow. The empty stock has now passed Newton presumably going to Polmadie. So what's going on...?

The loco that drags the sleeper from Central to Polmadie failed.

 

[D1537]

1S26 terminated at Motherwell this morning. Passengers transferred to 2F07 via Hamilton to Glasgow. The empty stock has now passed Newton presumably going to Polmadie. So what's going on...?

That usually indicates that there's no ECS loco available to take the empties to Polmadie.

 

[norbitonflyer]

The loco that drags the sleeper from Central to Polmadie failed.

Has also happened that attaching a loco to the Edinburgh portion wasn't possible because of a coupling problem - possibly the problem being the lack of an available loco. So the whole train went on to Motherwell, but had to terminate there as Glasgow Central can't take a 16 coach train

 

[Sasomida]

I have a lot of options now

One plan is seats to Fort William, walk out (Ben Nevis is not going to be the target for my first hill/mountain walking visit to Scotland for a long time) somewhere but avoiding the mountain tops, stay in a bothy, walk on to Corrour, seats back to Birmingham. Looks like around 30 miles in total, carrying a fair amount, so that plan might change.

An alternative is walk to Glen Nevis YH and spend the second day walking as far up Ben Nevis as I feel I need to.

Either way, I might sleep on the way back despite being in the seats.

Or explore Fort William for a bit, train to Mallaig, stay on the coast, come back down on Sunday (shame about the 1939-1950 connection from Mallaig, which feels a little risky, especially as NationalRail seems to be insisting that the CS leaves at 1900).

Or stay somewhere, Ember down to somewhere, jump back on the CS halfway back to Glasgow.

 

[cats_five]

I have a lot of options now

One plan is seats to Fort William, walk out (Ben Nevis is not going to be the target for my first hill/mountain walking visit to Scotland for a long time) somewhere but avoiding the mountain tops, stay in a bothy, walk on to Corrour, seats back to Birmingham. Looks like around 30 miles in total, carrying a fair amount, so that plan might change.

An alternative is walk to Glen Nevis YH and spend the second day walking as far up Ben Nevis as I feel I need to.

Either way, I might sleep on the way back despite being in the seats.

Or explore Fort William for a bit, train to Mallaig, stay on the coast, come back down on Sunday (shame about the 1939-1950 connection from Mallaig, which feels a little risky, especially as NationalRail seems to be insisting that the CS leaves at 1900).

Or stay somewhere, Ember down to somewhere, jump back on the CS halfway back to Glasgow.

The Mamores (just to the south of Glen Nevis) are well worth exploring and are very accessible from Glen Nevis, rather than walk part-way up the tourist route. I use MWIS for mountain weather but it only covers the next 3 days.

The walk through to Corrour will probably be midge central...

Lots of suggestions on the WalkHighlands website:

Fort William and Glen Nevis walks

Fort William is the largest settlement on the whole western coastline of the Highlands, its stunning location having enabled it to become the self-styled 'Outdoor Capital' for all kinds of adventure activities. It is a cross-roads of major long-distance walking routes, a convenient base for...

www.walkhighlands.co.uk

The town is also the gateway to Glen Nevis, one of the most picturesque of all glens. This leads not just along the foot of the Ben itself but past the stunning ridges of the Mamores and through the dramatic Nevis Gorge to Steall Falls - surely one of the most dramatic destinations for a shorter walk in all Scotland.