Home to Britain's tallest mountains and the legendary Loch Ness, the Scottish Highlands are reason enough to be on your travel bucket list.
This stunning area has become even more popular among travelers thanks to the hit reality show, The Traitors. Trains to Inverness, the largest city and cultural center in the Scottish Highlands, have been booked for 25 times between January 2022 and 2023 since the show debuted in 2022, according to train and bus travel platform Trainline. % increase.
The best way to explore the Scottish Highlands is by train. Gaze out over rolling hills and mysterious lakes from the comfort of your seat, without the need for GPS. Trainline CEO Jody Ford said in a statement to USA TODAY: “It's one of the most beautiful railway lines in the UK, and traveling by train means you can focus on the scenery and not the road. That's true.'' Travelers can arrive directly into the city center without having to worry about parking, traffic jams or unfamiliar roads.
It's no wonder that the London to Edinburgh train is one of Trainline's top three best-selling routes for American travelers.
Train travelers can also feel good about their choice, as trains have up to 75% less carbon emissions than planes.
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The most popular routes to explore the Scottish Highlands by train are: All depart from Edinburgh.
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Loch Ness: 3 hours 18 minutes by train
For those looking for the legendary Loch Ness Monster, Inverness is the nearest railway station to the famous Loch Ness. Travelers can take a bus or taxi from the station to Fort Augustus and join a boat tour or fishing charter to search for this creature. Even if we never find her, Loch Ness remains a sight to behold, with its historic piers, woodland paths and waterfalls. She is the second largest lake in Scotland and holds more water than any other lake in the UK, making Loch Ness a great place for fishing and kayaking.
Fort William and Mallaig: 5+ hours by train
It's a long train journey from Edinburgh to the charming fishing village of Mallaig, but it's well worth it. This route offers some of the best scenery in the world. In fact, passengers may recognize this train and its route over Glenfinnan Viaduct as Harry Potter's Hogwarts Express. Travelers will ride a 19th century-inspired Jacobite steam train through charming villages, the River Morale and beaches. On a clear day, you can see the Small Isles, an archipelago of islands off the west coast of Scotland, in the distance. (Travelers can also visit these islands by taking a ferry.)
Ben Nevis: over 5 hours by train
At over 4,412 feet above sea level, Ben Nevis is an ancient volcano that exploded and collapsed to become the highest mountain in the British Isles. Travelers can take the train to Fort William, a town with castles, distilleries, rugged coastline along the West Highland Peninsula, and the dramatic mountains of Glencoe National Nature Reserve. The town is also known as Scotland's 'Outdoor Capital' and thrill seekers can ski and hike to their heart's content. If hiking Ben Nevis doesn't appeal to you, there are also gondola rides that offer great views without the exertion.
By train: 4 hours and 8 minutes by train
The coastal town of Oban, with its colorful rowhouses and medieval castles, has the history and charm that many travelers seek. It is considered the gateway to the Highlands, the Scottish Islands and the seafood capital of Scotland. Island hopping is definitely the thing to do here. Travelers can hop on a ferry to Kerrera, Lismore, Mull or other unspoiled islands and enjoy cycling, diving, hiking and kayaking. During the summer, travelers may spot whales passing by on whale-watching tours.
Cairngorms National Park: 2 hours 54 minutes by train
Travelers visiting Cairngorms National Park, Britain's largest national park and a great place for stargazing and viewing the Northern Lights, should take a train from the town of Aviemore. Water sports are popular during the summer, but snow sports take center stage in the winter. The park also has the world's only dog sledding center. For adrenaline junkies, the UK's first permanent bridge-based bungee jump is here, allowing the brave to leap from a height of 42 feet. For the less adventurous, there are also gentle trails and historic castles.
Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. Please contact kwong@usatoday.com..
