The Train to Inverness
An Advertising Feature
Increasingly, more people from the south of the UK are booking a flight to Scotland instead of using alternate modes of transport. Rising petrol prices have a lot to answer for, as do business-related trips where reducing travel time is key. A lot of said business trips are arranged last minute and that can mean that train fares are much higher than they would be in advance. But the train affords the ability to work as you travel without long check-in times and popping ears.
For those looking to holiday in Scotland, a train ticket booked far enough in advance can be much cheaper than you’d think. Some sleeper train tickets, when booked 12 weeks in advance can cost as little as £20. Most of the journey is spent sleeping on a comfortable berth in a sleeper cabin. There are washbasins and soft towels as well as a choice of coffee, tea or orange juice in the morning. Passengers are also assigned a member of staff who is on call should they need anything and who will give a knock in the morning should you wish, to give you the time to pack and get ready for when the train arrives at your destination. The sleeper train is an excellent choice for those going further north in Scotland than just Edinburgh or Glasgow.
One of the loveliest places to get the Caledonian Sleeper to is Inverness. Inverness is set in the spectacular Highlands, with the hills covered in heather growing in wonderful patterns according to where it is burned. This controlled burning keeps it young.
It is recommended that you hire a car out here, as the drives are simply breathtaking. It is possible to drive for miles and miles through the ruggedly beautiful hills barely seeing another car.
Inverness is close to Scotland’s most famous loch, Loch Ness. The loch has a long history of folklore and legend dominated by the Loch Ness Monster. An entire museum here is dedicated to Nessie. The museum is set in a converted house overlooking the loch and the exhibits are somewhat dated, with some of the dummies looking like they were dressed in the seventies. But it is an experience. Visitors are taken on a journey through several rooms where the history of the monster is explained until in the final room reaching the slightly disappointing conclusion that she almost certainly doesn’t exist. The gift shop is full of all things Nessie related, from small porcelain figures (actually made in China) to huge stuffed Nessie’s (probably also made in China).
Further along the loch is perhaps the most beautiful cemetery you will see, right next to the water and with carefully kept green, green grass surrounding the gravestones. Of note also are the Urquhart Castle ruins on the loch. Featured on many a postcard, it is thought that the site was once an Iron Age fort before a castle was built here. The castle itself changed hands between the Scots and the English several times in the Middle Ages. Today, the ruins are as peaceful as the water.
Sophie Collard (@sophontrack) writes about fascinating places to visit and people she’s met while on her travels. She’s travelled in the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia and loves the sense of distance and changing landscapes.
