It was a beautiful sunny morning in Fort William when we
all got ready on time and were at the station ready to board the 10am Jacobite
Express. I know my sister really wanted to go on this train and we finally did
make it this time; being way ahead of the schedule so that we didn’t miss this
last opportunity to get on the train together! This train journey is described
as one of the most spectacular journeys in the world. This 84-mile round trip
takes you through impressive routes starting from the highest mountain in
Britani- Ben Nevis, passes by the deepest freshwater loch in Britain and the
shortest river in Britain – Loch Morar and finally rests next to the deepest
seawater loch in Europe – Loch Nevis.
So, if you want to go see some of the most beautiful
natural landscapes that Scotland has to offer, this train is a must for you. I
think all of us got excited on the train when we approached the 21 arched
Glenfinnan viaduct which has become even more popular because of the famous
train scene of Harry Potter. The train stopped at Mallaig for an hour and a half
where we were able to enjoy walking around the busy fishing port and we grabbed
a quick lunch at the stopover. Later we got back on the train and were on our
way back to Fort William witnessing the spectacular scenery unravel before us.
It was now time for my sister and I to say our goodbyes to
our small road trip together and meet again back in Stirling in a few days before
I headed back home to Nairobi. The four of us went ahead with our journey to
the Isle of Skye. On our way we were supposed to see the Eilean Donan Castle
but since we’d taken the train in the morning, we’d missed our chance to go
inside the castle as it was closed. Even then we were delighted to see the
beautiful castle from outside, which is one of the most photographed views of
Scotland. The castle might look familiar to you as it was featured in one of
the James Bond movies. This magnificent castle is strategically located on its
own little island overlooking the Isle of Skye, surrounded by water and a small
bridge connecting it to the mainland.
I think one of the most dramatic landscapes that I have
driven through is Isle of Skye. The drive through the mountains, waterfalls,
sea cliffs can’t be explained in words. For hours together we kept driving like
we were the only ones left in this beautiful raw, untouched, unpolluted world
of fairies and greenery. Our resting point for the day was a small cottage
located in the middle of the highland with no neighbors for miles and miles
away. They had a horse ranch where these gorgeous horses with their foals were
grazing. The kids enjoyed watching the foals playing around jumping, kicking,
getting tired, then suckling and fooling around with each other. It was a treat
to see such serene environment where you can see greenery till your eyes meet
the sky. Aakaash enjoyed petting the horses and played with the watch dogs
there. Finally, we called it a night to be well-rested and ready to explore the
final remaining leg of the journey.
