Nice places to visit in Scotland

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I'd like to get a sleeper train from London and go somewhere nice with lakes and hills for walking. The Caledonian sleeper goes to lots of places and I wondered if anyone could give me an idea of a nice place to do those things for a weekend ?

We've just returned from a week in the Cairngorm. It's beautiful up there. We spent hours on the Riverside having little picnics, going for walks. We stayed in Ballater, close to Balmoral. Braemar is also not far. We didn't go for many big hikes as I had 2 small people with me, but there are many walking routes you could take.

I would probably travel to Fort William and further connections to Mallaig and from there are small boat trips to the Isles. Aviemore and Carrbridge are lovley too.

But, honestly travel around these areas is difficult and time consuming by public transport, you really need a car.

Just a warning, none of these places are quiet in the summer. In fact, I have just returned from the area and it was unbelievably busy with traffic, especially Fort William!

Where does the sleeper stop? Aviemore is relatively easy to get around by public transport (by highland standards!) and there’s walks you can do from the village. Or I guess you could take the sleeper to Edinburgh or Glasgow and then change
to a daytime service for more local station options.
I’ll warn you though, I’m often at Waverley early in the morning and everyone coming off the sleeper looks absolutely knackered!!

Are you hiring a car when you get to your destination? I only ask as public transport in Scotland at present is not reliable.
I travelled north last week, outbound journey the third leg was cancelled x 2 and had to wait 2 hours for the next train. The return journey the 3rd leg was missed as the 2nd train departed early.
Whilst at Inverness station the train to wick was also cancelled, all of these disruptions due to shortage of drivers.
The bus service also has multiple cancellations daily.
I don't want to sound like a Debbie Downer but this could have a real impact on how enjoyable your holiday is.

The sleeper stops at Bridge of Orchy which is in Glencoe. That is on the route of the West highland way so you could walk a leg or two of that. Spend a night at the Kingshouse hotel. You can arrange for a company to drop your bags off so you can walk with just a day pack.

There's a Scottish travel blogger I follow who doesn't drive and only uses public transport - she has great suggestions for a trip like this.

Look up "The Chaotic Scot" she's on Facebook, Instagram and has a blog.

Another vote for Aviemore. There' plenty of choice for places to stay and eat, and there are walks you can do from the village. There are also some bus services that will take you to walks a bit further afield. You could take the bus that goes up to the ski centre for walks in the Rothiemurcus forest, Loch Morlich, the higher Cairngorms, or Meall a Buachaille if you fancy a lower level peak. The bus stops at several places along the glen so there are loads of options, including walking back to Aviemore. The Speyside Way runs through the village - you can get a bus to Nethy Bridge and walk back on it. Aviemore has so many options you'd need much more than a weekend to enjoy them all!

If you are on the Cally sleeper, i would look to change at Edinburgh and stay east. It saves travel time on a short weekend.

You could hire a car from Edinburgh - or look at destinations by train. Either way, Pitlochry or Aviemore would work well for time and a wonderful mountains of Scotland experience. The drive up from Edinburgh is fantastic - you go via the Kelpies, past Stirling, and past Dunkeld through the pass - all stunning and worth a stop.

Both you might want to have a car there - there is public transport, and if you cycle Aviemore has some great routes to get out for the day. Pitlochry is a lovely small town, with a couple of hillwalks from town, and you can head out for a day to Loch Rannoch way which has some of the finest views in Scotland (see Queens View).

Aviemore is bigger and more modern, and has more walks and cycle paths. There are hill walks from town, but the bigger hills will require a cycle or car to get to as they are a few miles away. You would not leave the 10miles around Aviemore, but you won't get a big loch in that area.

That sounds like a fantastic idea for a weekend getaway! If you're taking the Caledonian Sleeper from London and love lakes and hills for walking, I highly recommend exploring the enchanting Fairy Glen on the Isle of Skye. It's a magical place filled with otherworldly landscapes, rolling hills, and, of course, the charming Fairy Pools. Perfect for a weekend of scenic walks and tranquil moments surrounded by nature's beauty.

@BrianJMoore perhaps you could explain how to get to the Fairy Glen by sleeper train....... 🤔

You can catch a connecting train from Glasgow to Balloch and explore Loch Lomond and the Trossachs.

On the east coast route there are loads of amazing places to visit from any of the stops - I particularly like Pitlochry and Fort William.

You really will need to hire a car though no matter where you go. Or pre-book a coach tour.

And remember its Lochs, not Lakes.

To reach Fairy Glen on the Isle of Skye by sleeper train from London, you can take the Caledonian Sleeper. This train offers two main routes:

1. Highlander Route: This route goes from London Euston to Fort William, Inverness, and Aberdeen. For Fairy Glen, either Fort William or Inverness are suitable destinations. From Fort William, you can travel to Mallaig and take a ferry to Skye. From Inverness, you can take a train to Kyle of Lochalsh, the closest station to Skye.
2. Lowlander Route: This route connects London Euston with Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley. However, for Fairy Glen, the Highlander Route is more relevant.

Once on the Isle of Skye, you will need to arrange transportation from the ferry terminal or Kyle of Lochalsh to Fairy Glen, as it's not directly accessible by public transport. Remember to check the train schedules and book in advance, especially during tourist seasons, as the sleeper trains can get fully booked.

Exactly…..you need to arrange private transport so hardly classed as accessible by public transport!

Aviemore is such a beautiful place to stay. Chalets overlooking the river at £850 in peak summer time. I have lived and travelled a lot in Scotland, the further north you go the more quiet and special it becomes IMO. X

Following

Other parts of Scotland outwith the usual Aviemore stuff would be the Fife Coastal Trail through the East Neuk, or Dumfries and Galloway.
Stirling and surrounding area is also worth a visit.

The sleeper stops in Dunkeld Pitlochry and Aviemore. There is enough to do locally and using public transport for a few days