How far in Advance do I need to book tickets on the West Highland Line in Scotland for a Multi-part Journey?
I will be in Glasgow, UK in a few weeks, and I am planning a distance running excursion in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Since I won't have a car, I am considering options for taking the train.
My current plan is to
- Take the West Highland line from Glasgow to Ardlui
- Run from Ardlui to Crainlarich (or Tyndrum) on the West Highland Way
- Catch another West Highland line train from Crainlarich (or Tyndrum) to Oban, where I will stay overnight
- Repeat the next day back from Oban to Glasgow, stopping somewhere else for a run
My question is, how far in advance do I need to book those tickets? In a perfect world, I would love to be able to buy them at the station so that I do not have to be on a precise schedule. Do those trains fill up, so I need to book in advance? Is it possible to buy such tickets at stations (I am from the US, if that matters with regard to paying for things). Otherwise, should I buy tickets on the Scotrail website?
Thank you!
Best Answer
Depending on how much rail travel you plan, you may find it convenient to get one of the Britrail passes for Scotland. The pass has to be bought from outside the UK, and is only valid for people who are not UK residents. However, if the trip you describe is your only rail travel, it would be much, much cheaper to buy a return ticket.
Once you pick a travel day, the pass turns into a go-anywhere ticket for the area in which it is valid. That allows a lot of flexibility. For example, if the weather is so bad that running is not practical on the first day, you can go back to Glasgow, do some more rail touring and indoor activities, and then take a train to Oban later in the day.
Pictures about "How far in Advance do I need to book tickets on the West Highland Line in Scotland for a Multi-part Journey?"
How long does West Highland Line take?
It's not fast, taking 3h45 for the 123 miles from Glasgow to Fort William or 5h15 for the 164 miles from Glasgow to Mallaig, stopping at all wayside stations.What is a Flexi Pass?
Flexipass is the perfect solution if you need to travel the same route just once or twice a week. With a Flexipass, you can make 10 single journeys or 5 return journeys on the same route within 60 days. As the name suggests, it's the most flexible way to travel by train!Is West Highland Line a steam train?
There are two ways to travel along the iconic West Highland Line, the most famous of which being the majestic Jacobite Steam Train.Does the normal train from Fort William to Mallaig go over the viaduct?
Yes , we took the local train from Fort William to Mallaig and that does exactly the same journey as the Jacobite steam train and goes over the Glenfinnan viaduct.14 things you should know before you go to Scotland
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