Scotland 2016: Day 43 27/6/16 Loch Linnhe and Jacobite Express in Fort William

Day 43: Cruise on Loch Linnhe and travelling on the Jacobite Express

Woke to an overcast day but (fingers crossed no rain...yet). We had a leisurely breakfast which was followed by a short walk to the pier to catch the Crannog Cruise around the Loch. The cruise takes you approximately 10 miles down the loch towards the sea. During the cruise the skipper kept us entertained with some historical and geological information on the area.

Loch Linnhe - the rain moves across.

The view across the Loch

Fort William pier

Sunny start but this doesn't last long.

Looking down the Loch out towards the open sea.

Salmon Farms on the Loch

A Crofters cottage - not a pleasant existence at all.

The weather would be best described as changeable with flashes of sunshine followed closely by showers of rain. Usually you get a good view of Ben Nevis, UK;s tallest mountain, but today it was shrouded in mist over about 3,00 feet (it’ 4,414 feet high).

Dale braves the weather (all on his own)

The cruise visits close to a seal colony on a small rock island in the Loch. The seals are not concerned.

Roman bridge crossing part of the Loch

Coming back into Fort William

Church in the main street on the way to the train station

Main Street Fort William

After returning to the wharf we had another walk around Fort William and a cup of tea before boarding the Jacobite Express to Mallaig. Well known to Harry Potter fans as the Hogwarts Express.

We had decided to go first class and this was well worth the expense. Although on the “wrong” or left side of the train, the views are still spectacular as the journey skirts the many locks and travels over the magnificent Glenfinnan Viaduct, a huge concrete arch bridge 1248 feet long, 100 feet high with 21 spans of 50 feet each. It was built using crushed rock from the many cuttings the line passes through. After dinner of fish and chips on the Mallaig wharf we re-boarded the train for the return journey.