Travelling from Glasgow to Fort William is a key journey you’ll have to make if you wish to expertise the gorgeous West Highlands of Scotland, particularly, if you wish to hike Ben Nevis – the UK’s highest peak.
Fort William is likely one of the essential cities within the West Highlands space and makes an amazing base for actions on this superb space of pure magnificence – be that strolling, winter sports activities, whisky tastings, street journeys, steam prepare journeys or fort sightseeing.
It’s additionally simple to entry the islands of Skye and Mull, to not point out the well-known Loch Ness from Fort William too – all of which makes it a key vacation spot in your Scottish journey.
However find out how to get there?
Nicely, step one is to get to Glasgow, as that is by far the simplest Scottish metropolis to journey to Fort William from.
Should you’re taking a look at travelling from Edinburgh to Glasgow, then try this text for more information in regards to the journey.
My recommendation would then be to journey to Glasgow first (spending at the least a day on this metropolis as a result of it’s nice!) earlier than heading on to Fort William
On this article, I’m then going to cowl all the data that you must learn about attending to Fort William from Glasgow, be that by bus, prepare or automobile.
Let’s get caught in…
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First Step: Journey to Glasgow?
On the subject of getting from Glasgow to Fort William, I believed it would first be helpful to briefly point out how one can get to Glasgow within the first place.
Scotland’s largest metropolis (despite the fact that it’s not the capital), many individuals arrive into Glasgow by way of its worldwide airport.
As at all times, I take advantage of Skyscanner to search out one of the best flight offers as they embody funds airways of their searches.
When you arrive at Glasgow airport, you’ll be able to then head straight to the centre by way of taxi, Uber, automobile or a direct bus service.
You may also journey to Glasgow by prepare – which is the greener and nicer possibility when you’re already inside the UK.
I extremely suggest utilizing Trainline to e-book rail tickets to Glasgow from throughout the UK.
The principle prepare station in Glasgow – Glasgow Central – is the place most providers across the nation, together with London, arrive into.
Glasgow Central is positioned on Gordon Avenue, proper within the centre of the town, that means you’ll be able to seemingly stroll to your lodging simply from it.
I then suggest you spend at the least a day in Glasgow, exploring all the town has to supply earlier than travelling on to Fort William.
Right here’s find out how to make the journey to this essential entry city within the West Highlands…
#1 By Practice
Finest for Ease, Consolation & Views
So the primary option to journey between Glasgow and Fort Willaim is by prepare.
By the way, that is additionally the most suitable choice in my view.
Utilized by locals and vacationers alike, the prepare journey between these 2 locations is reasonable and easy.
I travelled to Fort William from Glasgow myself utilizing the prepare and located the service clear, snug and straightforward.
All trains to Fort William from Glasgow depart from the town’s second prepare station – Glasgow Queen Avenue – which is positioned on North Hanover Avenue, proper by the town’s George Sq..
The prepare journey from Glasgow to Fort William is direct, however because of the distance (120km), the variety of stops and the agricultural nature of the journey, the journey isn’t that fast, taking slightly below 4 hours on common!
However you needn’t fear, as a result of the route you’ll take is likely one of the most scenic within the UK!
Often known as the West Highlands Line, you’ll be completely amazed by the fantastic thing about the landscapes seen from the window, so staring on the gorgeous Scottish countryside rolling previous you is a tremendous option to go the time!
There’s at the least 3 providers day by day that make the rail journey between Glasgow and Fort William and tickets begin from £19 when booked prematurely on-line.
ScotRail function the route and have direct providers leaving Glasgow Queen Avenue at round 8am, 12pm and 6pm.
All these trains take roughly the identical time and are direct, so select the choice that matches finest along with your journey plans.
As at all times, I take advantage of Trainline for reserving my UK prepare tickets as they simply evaluate tons of journeys for you and make it easy to purchase and pay for prepare providers in a number of currencies (GBP, EUR and USD).
If you’re returning to Glasgow from Fort William, then shopping for a return prepare ticket will even prevent money and time, so I’d at all times go for it.
All trains from Glasgow arrive into Fort William’s solely rail station, which is a few 5 minute stroll from the city centre.
Along with the Scotrail service, there may be additionally the Caledonian Sleeper, which travels from London as much as the Highlands.
Working a day by day service, it leaves Glasgow simply after 5:30am, getting you into Fort William simply earlier than 10am.
Provided that it has an extended journey time and is costlier than the ScotRail journeys nonetheless, I wouldn’t suggest the Caledonian Sleeper for the Glasgow to Fort William stretch. I’d solely contemplate this feature when you’re travelling from London and even then, solely if you would like a particular expertise, as a result of low cost it isn’t!
#2 By Bus
Finest for Worth & Pace
You even have the choice to journey from Glasgow to Fort William (or within the different route) by bus.
The corporate that provides this route is known as CityLink they usually run 4 bus providers a day between the two locations.
- Route 916 leaves Glasgow at 6:45am and arrives into Fort William at 9:46am
- Route 915 departs Glasgow at 10:00am and arrives into Fort William at 1:15pm
- The second day by day 915 service departs Glasgow at 3pm and arrives into Fort William at 6:15pm
- Route 914 leaves Glasgow at 6:05pm and arrives into Fort William at 9:13pm
All providers take simply over 3 hours and prices begin from round £28 for a single journey.
It’s attainable to purchase return tickets too, which works out much more cost-effective – as little as £30.
This makes a bus between Glasgow and Edinburgh an amazing possibility when you’re reserving final minute or are on a funds.
Buses from Glasgow to Fort William depart from Buchanan Bus Station and arrive into the principle Fort William Bus Station, which is close to to the prepare station.
Bus tickets could be booked straight by means of the Citylink web site right here.
You do miss out on the views once you journey by bus, however it’s barely faster than the prepare and cheaper for a return journey too.
On most bus providers, there’s a bathroom – though I recommend utilizing the lavatory earlier than you board to be sincere!
A few of the newer coaches have USB charging sockets.
#3 By Automotive
Finest for Flexibility & Exploration
And the third option to journey between Glasgow and Fort William is by automobile.
You possibly can normally hire a automobile both from Glasgow airport when you’re flying in there, in addition to the town centre.
I’d go for the town centre when you’re spending a number of days in Glasgow first – this manner you don’t have to pay for a automobile throughout your time within the metropolis (you in all probability received’t want a car while within the centre of Glasgow) and may keep away from the trouble and prices of parking too.
Don’t overlook so as to add gasoline prices to the expense of renting a car once you’re making an attempt to work out prices!
Automotive rent could be fairly reasonably priced if there’s a gaggle of you travelling collectively. Seize an amazing deal on automobile rental from Glasgow right here.
Should you’re driving from Glasgow to Fort William, then it’s price understanding it takes underneath 3 hours to journey between them by street. You merely have to comply with the A82.
Should you’re planning to take your time to drive this route, then the important thing stops to make alongside the way in which are Loch Lomond, Trossachs Nationwide Park and Glencoe Valley.
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Journey Information to Glasgow and Fort William
When to Go to?
The most effective time to go to Glasgow and Fort William in my view is through the summer time months of June, July and August when one of the best climate involves Scotland.
Midges are typically an issue within the countryside throughout these months, however you don’t want to fret about these in Glasgow or Fort William – they’re solely an issue once you journey to extra rural areas in my expertise.
Visiting through the winter months of November by means of March, once you’re more likely to see snow, could be a stunning time to go to Scotland (and enjoyable when you’ve come for winter sports activities!), however do watch out for the disruption this may trigger to journey plans and deliberate actions.
Should you’re planning to hike Ben Nevis, I don’t suggest doing so throughout winter – the circumstances are harmful right now.
The place to Keep?
For a listing of really helpful locations to remain in Glasgow, try these nice choices.
For high lodging picks in Fort William, try this checklist.
How Lengthy to Spend There?
I cherished each Glasgow and the wonderful nature round Fort William and extremely suggest at the least a minimal keep of two nights in every.
Alternatively, you possibly can spend 3-4 nights in every vacation spot if you wish to take pleasure in some fab day journeys that embody fort visits, whisky tastings, seashore visits and climbing excursions.
Take a look at these sensible day journey choices from Glasgow for more information.
Journey Insurance coverage for Scotland
World Nomads affords easy and versatile journey insurance coverage. Purchase at residence or whereas travelling and declare on-line from wherever on the planet.
Alternatively, when you’re a long-term traveller, digital nomad or frequent distant employee looking for journey well being cowl, try Safetywing’s Nomad Insurance coverage insurance policies.
Journey Cash in Scotland
On the subject of getting paying for issues in Scotland, you wish to make sure you’re not being charged abroad transaction charges or getting poor trade charges when utilizing your card overseas, which is why I at all times take my Smart Card away with me wherever I journey.
The simple option to spend once you’re travelling with actual trade charges, no markups, no sneaky transaction charges and a free British pound account, you need to use your Smart card similar to a debit card in Scotland.. and it hyperlinks simply with Google and Apple pay – offered!
Get yours right here.
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In order that’s my full information on find out how to journey from Glasgow to Fort William.
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