Highland line among the world’s greatest rail journeys
IT has appeared in the Harry Potter film series and attracts thousands of tourists every year to enjoy the stunning scenery along its route.
Now the West Highland line has conjured up more magic after being named as among the top rail journeys in the world.
The line from Glasgow to Mallaig is 164 miles long and runs by Loch Long, Loch Lomond, Loch Etive and Loch Eil.
It crosses the world’s first concrete rail viaduct at Glenfinnan – spectacularly shown in the boy wizard films – and passes the silver sands of Morar.
Passengers can also see Britain’s most westerly station at Arisaig.
The line has also featured in programmes such as the BBC’S Great Railway Journeys of the world.
It has now been placed second in the six best “epic” rail journeys on the planet in next month’s Sunday Times Travel Magazine.
“This magical landscape of mountains, lochs and red deer – and hardly any humans, is, unbelievably close to home,” said the magazine.
“An epic train ride in your own fair isles? You’ll believe it once you’ve careered along this single track through Britain’s wildest terrain.
“You’ll have barely settled into your seat before Loch Lomond slides into view, followed by Rannoch Moor.” It said the second part of the journey from Fort William to Mallaig “is a Greatest Hits of the Highlands”.
They included Ben Nevis, the Glenfinnan Viaduct and Loch Morar.
The California Zephyr between Chicago and San Francisco was named first by Travel with the Belmond Andean Explorer that runs between Cuzco and Arequip in Peru, third.
The Sri Lankan tea train from Kandy to Ella was fourth with the Great Expedition service between Darwin and Adelaide in Australia, fifth and the Bernina Express in the Swissitalian Alps, sixth.
In October independent travel magazine Wanderlust picked out the 85-minute trip between Fort William and Mallaig at the head of its top seven scenic rail journeys in the UK.