9-Day / 8-Night Gentle 🚂

Once you arrive, use the public transportation information we provide to travel to Glasgow. Pick up your train tickets at Glasgow Queen Street Station and travel to Ardlui on the West Highland Line. The train quickly leaves Glasgow behind and heads deep into the wild west coast. It travels along the Clyde to Helensburgh and then north via Garelochead and Loch Long. From there, you’ll enter a world of deep forests, towering mountains, and mirror-like lochs as you enter Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.

The train journey from Glasgow to Ardlui is 50 miles / 80 km.

This walk combines stretches along the lake’s shores, through forests, across heathland, and through open countryside, offering a wide variety of landscapes. After a short boat ride, you’ll leave the northern shore of Loch Lomond and walk through a hidden valley to Beinglas. A gently ascending path leads you along the River Falloch and its valley to a junction above Crianlarich. From there, you’ll have a stunning view of the breathtaking mountain scenery surrounding the charming Highland village where your walk ends.

Looking up at the legendary peaks of Ben More, Stob Binnein and Cruach Àrdrain, you climb uphill to join the trail above the village. Continue along a hill track through quiet forests before the trail descends into the glen. Follow the old Military Road through Strathfillan, where you pass the remains of St Fillan’s Priory, founded by Scottish hero Robert the Bruce in the 14th Century. Near Tyndrum you pass the location of the Battle of Dalrigh and the legendary Lochan of the Lost Sword.

Train Journey: 134km

Take a day trip to Oban, the picturesque and bustling port town that serves as the gateway to the islands and is known as Scotland’s seafood capital. From Tyndrum, the Oban Line runs north past Inverlochy and then along the northern shore of Loch Awe in the shadow of Ben Cruachan. Look out for Kilchurn Castle and the foaming rapids at the Falls of Lora, near Connell, before the train pulls into Oban. Explore the town and take a few local walks before returning to Tyndrum by train.

The trail from Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy follows the old Military Road beside the railway line into the northern part of beautiful Strathfillan. Walk along the steep sided flank of Beinn Odhar where the impressive pyramid of Beinn Dòrain soon comes into view directly ahead. The Kinglass glen then opens up on your right with two impressive railway viaducts. From there it is an easy walk above the railway line to Bridge of Orchy.

From Bridge of Orchy, you can follow the West Highland Way for a few more miles. The views over Tulla Loch are terrific as you pass over the heights of Mam Carraigh into Glen Orchy. Stop at Inveroran for a short break before returning to Bridge of Orchy on a quiet country road along the shores of Loch Tulla and the River Orchy.

Train Journey: 42 miles / 67km

Continue by train as you journey on the West Highland Line across the picture-perfect Highlands through the remote wilds of Rannoch Moor where you pass the UK’s highest altitude train station in Corrour. Continue to Spean Bridge, in the Great Glen, your stop for the night.

After a short transfer to Gairlochy, follow a footpath between the River Lochy and the Caledonian Canal, which runs from coast to coast through Scotland. Pass an old, hand-operated swing bridge and enjoy the view of the valley until you reach Neptune’s Staircase, a series of eight locks that together form the longest step-lock system in the UK. Continue to the canal’s sea locks and the coast, then cross the River Lochy and pass Old Inverlochy Castle before arriving in Fort William. You have the option to shorten this walk with a taxi transfer to skip the final few miles.

Train Journey: 42 miles / 67km

Many people regard the section from Fort William to Mallaig as the nicest part of the West Highland Line. Beyond Fort William, you’ll trace the iconic curve of the Glenfinnan Viaduct, probably the most famous piece of rail track in the world after being used by the Harry Potter films as part of the route to Hogwarts. The route takes you past several beautiful lochs and sea lochs, such as Eilt, Shiel, Ailort and Nan Uamh, before passing Morar’s sandy shores. The final stretch into Mallaig brings glimpses of the Isle of Skye, which is just a short ferry trip away.

In Mallaig, you can soak up the atmosphere of a working fishing port while at the same time its remote location makes it a great place to relax.

There are regular train and bus services departing Mallaig. We recommend you travel south via the West Highland Line (approx. 5hrs 30mins by train to Glasgow) to retrace your journey and take all that Highland scenery in again. Or you can continue your adventures up into the Isle of Skye and beyond to explore the Inner or Outer Hebrides. Your hosts can usually provide the most accurate local details, but if you need additional guidance, our team is happy to help.