UK's Scenic Rail Journeys '24: June 12: Excellent day to Mallaig

Found the quick way to the station, it takes half the time. This was one of the best three scenic journeys of the tour so not much text here, just plenty of photos.

Auch

Auch, horseshoe curve

When constructing the railway it was cheaper to construct this huge curve and a short viaduct, seen in the distance, rather than a direct route straight across the valley.

Achallader

Rannoch Moor, quite remote

Loch Treig

Lochybridge

Loch Treig

Now we arrive at Fort William which is a terminus station so I move to another seat to continue facing direction of travel.

Banavie

Just past Fort William is the end of the Caledonian Canal which runs from Inverness in the north. Here we have a flight of seven locks known as Neptune's Staircase.

Glenfinnan with tourists watching the trains over the viaduct

Ranochan

I have a couple of hours in MLG before taking the same train back to CNR and find a nice cafe near the harbour serving local fish and chips

Mallaig harbour

Lunch with a local beer: Skye Red

Arisaig: the most westerly station

Loch Nan Uamh

Our Lady of the Braes, Polnish church

Ranochan

Glenfinnan viaduct, with tourists below

Loch Eil

Corpach

Neptune's Staircase

Corrour is very remote and used to be one of the least used stations in the UK until this was mentioned in a book. There's now a guest house and the station is used by over 10,000 people a year.