Discover the most scenic train routes in Scotland
Visiting Scotland by train takes you way beyond the great cultural hubs to highlands, islands and moorlands as well as many of its most magnificent margins. The soundtrack of one of Scotland’s most famous films, Trainspotting, features Lou Reed’s Perfect Day, and you will definitely have many perfect days travelling around it by train.
West Highland Line
Not only one of the most celebrated train journeys in Scotland, but also in the world. One of the joys of this route, between Glasgow and Mallaig on the west coast, is that it parts company with all roads and heads into wild spots such as Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, Rannoch Moor and Glencoe.
The Kyle Line
Also known as the Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness Line, this is one of Scotland’s best kept secrets, taking train travellers coast to coast on single track most of the way. Travel for 2 hrs 30mins to or from the Highland capital at Inverness through the Torridon Peaks, which boast nine of Scotland’s monros (mountains over 914.4 m).
Aviemore and Cairngorms National Park
Aviemore station is the gateway to Cairngorms National Park, one of Scotland’s two national parks. This is the UK’s largest national park with a mountain landscape that goes on forever, boasting 52 summits over 900m.
Trainstopping
Request stops on the Far North Line are Culrain, Invershin, Rogart, Dunrobin Castle (one of Scotland’s oldest inhabited castles), Kildonan, Kinbrace, Scotscalder and Altnabreac (step off the train onto a rough path and into wilderness, 20km from the nearest road).
Article Source: www.raileurope.com