If you are starting your trip from Edinburgh you could skip an overnight
stay in Glasgow by taking n early train from Edinburgh to Glasgow
in time for the morning Mallaig train, unless you particularly
want to spend a night in Glesca Toon! Check the Scotrail
website as there a few different types of rail pass.

Also if you are lucky enough to be 55 or over
Club 55 is on until 30 November , ie return
between any Scottish stations for £19.

enjoy!

Quote from: Agrippa on September 17, 2012, 10:07:36 AM
If you are starting your trip from Edinburgh you could skip an overnight
stay in Glasgow by taking n early train from Edinburgh to Glasgow
in time for the morning Mallaig train, unless you particularly
want to spend a night in Glesca Toon! Check the Scotrail
website as there a few different types of rail pass.

Also if you are lucky enough to be 55 or over
Club 55 is on until 30 November , ie return
between any Scottish stations for £19.

enjoy!

I'll be travelling around Scotland on one of these: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/promotions/pr7654870a04000401acfd92a8300c87/details.html As I work for a TOC I get a discount on the fare so it is by far the cheapest way for me to travel. It will also Include the ferry crossings and the buses in the Isle of Skye. I'm off on Wednesday so I will trawl through timetables and put together a travel plan. Once I've worked out the start and finish points I can get the train tickets and hotels/hostels booked.

If you do go to Mallaig from Glasgow,it will be from Queen St station and not Central.
Make sure you sit in the right part of the train as it splits at Crianlarich,the other half going to Oban...(also worth a visit by the way)
(With your railway pass you can take the ferry to Skye for free (McBrayne's ferry)
I would also recommend a trip on the Kyle Line.....
The only problem about exploring Scotland by train is that there are just not enough hours in a day.
Whatever you decide to do Cookie have a great trip.
If you are anything like me then once you have been you will be itching to go back as soon as you can...

                                                                         

The transport museum in Glasgow is worth seeing (and is free) as is the subway (its wee).

Edinburgh has the Castle (including 3 army museums), the Royal Mile (from the Castle to Holyrood House).

I would also recommend the Scottish Whiskey Experience on the mile.

Both have shopping, but little that are unique to them.

Harburn Hobbies , well stocked for N gauge is about 10-15 mins walk from
Waverley Station. As thomasash says the Glasgow subway is worth seeing
as it is the 3rd oldest in the world, the smallest trains and the smallest
network, just a circle. I think it's 3 foot gauge.

PS it's not called the tube , the underground or as frequently
stated by the Scottish  media "The Clockwork Orange."

After taking in what everyone has said and trawling through various timetables I've come up with a game plan for my Scotland trip and wondered what people thought about it.

I'll be leaving London on Sunday the 18th arriving bright and early Monday morning. I'll spend 2 nights in Edinburgh which should give me plenty of time to do the things I want to do there. I want to visit the zoo, see the castle and take a ride over the forth bridge.

On Wednesday I'll take the train from Edinburgh to Stirling spending the day there, visiting the castle and having a wander about the place. I'll take an evening train down to Glasgow from Stirling and after spending the evening there I'll settle down for the night.

Thursday will see me catching the 09:03 train from Glasgow up to Fort William. Once there I will embark on this walk that will realistically take me a couple of hours, http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/inverlochy-castle.shtml That'll give me a chance to take in some scenery and make it back to Fort William with enough time for Lunch and a stiff drink before taking the 16:19 from Fort William up to Mallaig. Once in Mallaig I'll have a wander about before stopping for dinner and staying the night.

Friday will mean an early start, taking the 08:40 ferry to Armadale on the Isle of Skye, once on the Isle I'll take a bus trip up to Broadford and take in some of the views. I'll be on the 16:25 bus to Kyle of Lochalsh which means I will be back in good time to get the last train across to Inverness.

Saturday and Sunday will be spent in Inverness and will include a trip down to Loch Ness. This is the crusie that takes my fancy at the moment. http://www.jacobite.co.uk/Cruises-And-Tours/Temptation.asp I'll head back Sunday night and arrive back in London on Monday morning and then catch a service back to Portsmouth.

I'm tempted to cut my stay in Inverness down to one day and extend my stay in the highlands. Maybe staying the Isle of Skye or Mallaig for the day.

Quote from: cookiescrumble on September 19, 2012, 08:02:35 PM

I'm tempted to cut my stay in Inverness down to one day and extend my stay in the highlands. Maybe staying the Isle of Skye or Mallaig for the day.

That sounds like a belting trip you have planned....
I would seriously consider spending the extra day on Skye or Mallaig over Inverness if it's possible....it really is stunning up there

Quote from: Dock Shunter on September 19, 2012, 08:11:55 PM

Quote from: cookiescrumble on September 19, 2012, 08:02:35 PM

I'm tempted to cut my stay in Inverness down to one day and extend my stay in the highlands. Maybe staying the Isle of Skye or Mallaig for the day.

That sounds like a belting trip you have planned....
I would seriously consider spending the extra day on Skye or Mallaig over Inverness if it's possible....it really is stunning up there

You may have to if they cancel the ferry due to adverse weather conditions 

cheers John.

Sounds like a cracking plan.  I wouldn't stay for too long in Mallaig (not a huge amount to do!).  I would head over to Skye - the Clan Donald centre at Armadale Castle is quite interesting if you like Scottish history (former home of the Lords of the Isles) and has some very nice grounds.  Alternatively if you can find a way to do it a trip up to see the Cuillin (some of the most attractive mountains in the UK) and the Talisker distillery could be fun!

Cheers, Mike

So you guys reckon an overnight stay on the Isle of Skye is the way to go then? This would leave 1 day in inverness which would include the Loch Ness trip.

Skye trumps Mallaig or Inverness, especially if weather fine, enjoy your trip.

Quote from: cookiescrumble on September 19, 2012, 08:31:48 PM
So you guys reckon an overnight stay on the Isle of Skye is the way to go then?

Certainly gets my vote.........
It's probably already been said but take plenty of warm clothing and waterproofs if you have them...it can get pretty frisky to say the least up there......

Quote from: Dock Shunter on September 19, 2012, 08:57:21 PM

Quote from: cookiescrumble on September 19, 2012, 08:31:48 PM
So you guys reckon an overnight stay on the Isle of Skye is the way to go then?

Certainly gets my vote.........
It's probably already been said but take plenty of warm clothing and waterproofs if you have them...it can get pretty frisky to say the least up there......

I'll be doing a shopping trip beforehand to prepare myself. I'm fine on the waterproofs front but could do with a decent pair of walking boots.
I'll re work the plan slightly tomorrow then to include an overnight stay on the Isle of Skye. That leaves just Sunday in Inverness which will mostly be taken up by the Loch Ness cruise.

Quote from: cookiescrumble on September 19, 2012, 09:11:35 PM

Quote from: Dock Shunter on September 19, 2012, 08:57:21 PM

Quote from: cookiescrumble on September 19, 2012, 08:31:48 PM
So you guys reckon an overnight stay on the Isle of Skye is the way to go then?

Certainly gets my vote.........
It's probably already been said but take plenty of warm clothing and waterproofs if you have them...it can get pretty frisky to say the least up there......

I'll be doing a shopping trip beforehand to prepare myself. I'm fine on the waterproofs front but could do with a decent pair of walking boots.

It will be money well spent as well Cookie because i'm sure once you have been up there you will soon be looking forward to planning your next trip.

Sounds brilliant!
Just one observation. If you can, try and tweak things a little so you make the journey from Fort William to Mallaig on an earlier train, difficult I know if you intend to do the whole trip from Glasgow in a single day - and also fit in the walk round Fort William! However, if you take the 16:19 it will be dark and you'll miss out on some wonderful sights; Neptune's Staircase, Ben Nevis from Corpach, Glenfinnan Viaduct, the Glenfinnan Monument and view down Loch Shiel, plus much more. I admit I'm biased and would give up something else, but it really would be a shame to be there, and not see it all.

By the way, I think the timetable changes at the end of this month and the 09:03 from Glasgow becomes the 08:21.