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Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Sleeper train to Inverness

44 replies

Foxton20 · 27/12/2019 11:10

Just booked a sleeper train to go Inverness for the weekend In February with 3 children.

Booked a trip for the Saturday morning.

What else can we do? Where to eat?

So nervous 🙈

OP posts:
Ginfordinner · 27/12/2019 11:13

How old are the children? As far as I can remember each compartment has only 2 bunks.

Original poster
Foxton20 · 27/12/2019 11:29

3/10/12. It’s been sorted, we rang up. Two older children with husband and 3 year old and myself on my own 😂🥰

OP posts:
OccasionalNachos · 27/12/2019 11:34

It’ll be great, I love the sleeper train!

Ginfordinner · 27/12/2019 14:19

The bunks are really small. You won't get a 10 year old and a 12 year old in one bunk. You might need to reconsider your sleeping arrangements.

helpfulperson · 27/12/2019 14:29

There is a great swimming pool with flumes in the centre of Inverness.

Original poster
Foxton20 · 27/12/2019 14:32

You won’t get a 10@12 year old in one room? But two adults are meant to fit?!

OP posts:
Slightaggrandising · 27/12/2019 14:35

I was freezing cold on the sleeper. Totally unprepared for it!!

kristallen · 27/12/2019 14:36

Two kids on one bunk will be right. Very.

kristallen · 27/12/2019 14:36

*tight

TimeIhadaNameChange · 27/12/2019 14:40

You have three rooms? You'll be fine. Presume it'll be one of the new trains which should be fab! You have control of the heating in the cabins so you won't freeze.

Lots to do. Highland Wildlife Park in Kingussie. Day trip to Skye (though best hiring a car for that). Inverness is a nice wee place for a wander around.

Original poster
Foxton20 · 27/12/2019 15:20

Yes we have three rooms. Not sure why it would be a squeeze, my Dc are tiny 😂

I’m expecting it to be freezing, we have base layers etc.

It’s an experience. We can’t wait!

OP posts:
IM0GEN · 27/12/2019 15:29

People were saying it was a squeeze because they thought you only had two rooms with two single berths in each. Now we know you have 3 rooms ( or is one interconnecting or a double bed ? ). Anyways you will be fine.

Check the weather forecast before you pack - it’s not Siberia. It might be freezing or it might be 5 degrees.

Are you hiring a car ? It’s very useful

Gorbie · 27/12/2019 16:28

We're off to Inverness for a week this weekend, it can be cold at times yes. You'll need to check what's open as some attractions shut over the winter (may be open again by Feb) the highland wildlife park is great

kristallen · 27/12/2019 16:29

Yes I understand you had two rooms and one would have the 10&12 year old sharing a bunk! Three rooms and you're fine!

celtiethree · 27/12/2019 16:36

Fort George is worth a visit!

Ginfordinner · 27/12/2019 17:04

Ah. I misunderstood. So you have three compartments - one for the 10 and 12 year old, one for your husband, and one for you and the three year old. That works out. I thought there were two compartments, and that would have been a squeeze.

Svalberg · 27/12/2019 17:14

I can recomend Contrast Brasserie on Ness Bank. They do an early eaters fixed price menu which is very good value.

Survivingorthriving · 27/12/2019 17:21

Oh I love visiting my brother up there. We usually go to Culloden Battlefield and visitors centre, it's great but not cheap and a short bus ride from city centre. Ice rink is next to the pool but doesn't open for long so check ahead. It's a lovely walk to them along the river and there's a fab park there too (whin park) and a coffee shop in the floral hall next door to warm up. Enjoy!

Ohdeariedear · 27/12/2019 17:24

I shall give you a wave as you trundle past our window in Kingussie. 😊

fedup21 · 27/12/2019 17:27

Two older children with husband and 3 year old and myself on my own

To be fair, this sounds like your two older children are in with your husband.

CrepuscularCritter · 27/12/2019 17:41

Are you on one of the refitted trains? They are meant to be more comfortable, but I've only tried the old version. Magical journey either way. Just be ready for a fair bit of sliding from head to toe in the bunks.

As for Inverness itself, I think you'd get a tour along Loch Ness in Feb.
We hired a car and drove around the loch, stopping at lots of places including Urquhart Castle and the Visitor Centre for tales of Nessie. Culloden is well worth a visit too. And it might not be that chilly. We went in Feb, and it was long sleeve weather rather than coats.

concernedforthefuture · 27/12/2019 17:47

It's great fun but don't expect to sleep much. Trains are very noisy (squeaky brakes) and you move around more in the bunk than you'd expect (it was like being on a boat in rough seas!).

IM0GEN · 27/12/2019 17:51

You must all be very tiny - I don’t slide around at all on the mattresses.

The new sleeper coaches have an en suite loo with a shower thing above it. It’s like a cupboard, only smaller.

Dozer · 27/12/2019 20:04

Would love to do this.

Loch Ness!

IMO Skye is too far / slow to drive for a day trip from Inverness with DC. And the scenery is nicer elsewhere in the area.

TimeIhadaNameChange · 28/12/2019 10:06

Skye would be doable, we (and others from Skye) often do the reverse in a day, and plenty of tourists do come over for day trips from the east coast.

You wouldn't see the whole island, but the scenery in the south of the island towards the Cuillins is fantastic! You would need a car, though.