Well, this forum can tell you about the rail travel aspects.My wife has long expressed the with to take a journey on the Caledonian Sleeper possible to Fort William to stay for two to three days before returning to London. Can anyone offer information on a forum covering that subject?
Thanks for the Mallaig tip which I will follow up looking for accommodation and the best way for foot passengers to travel from Fort William to Mallaig.I would get off the sleeper, have a look around Fort William, then carry on to Mallaig and stay my nights their and utilise the Small Isles ferries to Islands of Rhum, Eigg, Canna and Muck. Beautiful scenery all the way with the experience of Inner Hebridean Islands. Beautiful. Enjoy whatever you choose.
Thanks for the advice. I can see that we will have to book an open return train ticket home.You don't need a package. Book the sleeper. Book a hotel or a B&B. If you fancy a trip to the small isles, you can just buy a foot passenger ticket from the CalMac offices in Mallaig.
If you look at the ferry timetables you'll see that most days the boat goes out, stops at various islands and comes back again. You can just do this as a day trip without getting off the boat at all if you want.
Small Isles: Mallaig - Eigg - Muck - Rum - Canna - CalMac Ferries
www.calmac.co.uk
I would agree with others that Mallaig is a nicer place to stay than Fort William. There are also various small villages and towns along the rail line between Fort William and Mallaig some of which have hotels and many have B&Bs (but double check how far they are for the station). Places like Arisaig or Morar.
In the summer there's the steam train between Fort William and Mallaig of course. Does a couple of return trips a day.
Many thanks. This looks good and its on the list to go through with my wife.You don't need a package. Book the sleeper. Book a hotel or a B&B. If you fancy a trip to the small isles, you can just buy a foot passenger ticket from the CalMac offices in Mallaig.
If you look at the ferry timetables you'll see that most days the boat goes out, stops at various islands and comes back again. You can just do this as a day trip without getting off the boat at all if you want.
Small Isles: Mallaig - Eigg - Muck - Rum - Canna - CalMac Ferries
www.calmac.co.uk
I would agree with others that Mallaig is a nicer place to stay than Fort William. There are also various small villages and towns along the rail line between Fort William and Mallaig some of which have hotels and many have B&Bs (but double check how far they are for the station). Places like Arisaig or Morar.
In the summer there's the steam train between Fort William and Mallaig of course. Does a couple of return trips a day.
Many thanks for the advice. I had a quick look for MK3 sleeper trains and could find no mention other than historical. Are there sleepers other than the Caledonian?I don't have a lot of experience of the area, I haven't been that far up the West Highlands since the mid-2000s. I would however agree that continuing beyond Fort William to Mallaig would be better, if only for the scenery. The little islands I've never done, but they are certainly something I'd like to do, and I'd also recommend researching those.
My main reason for posting is to comment from my experience in October on the sleeper. As you'll have found out by now, it is vastly different to the MK3 sleeper trains, which is fantastic. I'll not go on too much about the sleeper, but I will mention the bouncing the MK5s do. Don't get me wrong, it's not like a Pacer over jointed track was, but it's still not great. By the time I'd boarded the sleeper I had been awake for well over 20 hours, so when I finally hit the hay I slept really well. I doubt I would have otherwise.
However it's also worth adding that the bedding is incredible. So much so I'd have been very happy to take it home with me, so comfortable! I definitely didn't want to get up and out from under the quilt.
Also worth noting was the light shining through the gap around the doorway, and a really annoying light above the head which I couldn't find an easy way to block out. Oh and the walls between cabins aren't terribly thick...
Personally, based on my experience of the sleeper, I'd go by day train and stay in proper accommodation next time. The price I paid, £145 even some months in advance, was not good value for money. I'd prefer to buy a sensibly priced Advance to travel during the day and stay in a modest hotel upon arrival.
Use the regular train - if you go north on the sleeper you will have a couple of hours to wait in Fort William.Thanks for the Mallaig tip which I will follow up looking for accommodation and the best way for foot passengers to travel from Fort William to Mallaig.
Many thanks for the advice. I had a quick look for MK3 sleeper trains and could find no mention other than historical. Are there sleepers other than the Caledonian?
Almost certainly worth you getting a Senior Railcard, if you qualify for one a Disabled Persons Railcard would be even better (having a hearing aid meets the criteria).Brilliant, what a helpful amount of information. I only wish that your reply's could have come to me automatically. One question, Is it worth getting a senior Railcard in that does if activate any form of discount?
You would get discount on "normal" trains (such as Ft Wm-Mallaig) and any other rail journeys within the year/3 years, and it might swing the balance WRT using Offpeak tickets.Brilliant, what a helpful amount of information. I only wish that your reply's could have come to me automatically. One question, Is it worth getting a senior Railcard in that does if activate any form of discount?
I have just read through my potential booking on the CaledonionAlmost certainly worth you getting a Senior Railcard, if you qualify for one a Disabled Persons Railcard would be even better (having a hearing aid meets the criteria).
I am at the stage of deciding whether to go any further with our journey on the Caledonian Sleeper when I found that the two Rail Cards I bought at a cost of £60.00 are a waste of space on the Caledonian Sleeper but coincedentallyI'll try and assist from a sleeper point of view. This is what normally operates in 'normal' non-covid times.
Firstly sleeper accommodation. There are four types of accommodation on the Caledonian Sleeper:
- Caledonian Double - superior double en-suite room
- Club - twin en-suite room (bunk beds)
- Classic - room with optional interconnecting door (bunk beds)
- Seats (guessing this isn't an option for you)
Secondly, let's look at fares. This is where it becomes a bit more confusing. You can normally book tickets up to a year ahead either through Caledonian Sleeper's website or through their contact centre. In theory any station ticket office can sell sleeper tickets as well but it is often hard to find a member of staff who knows how to sell them as so few are sold. I bet most ticket office clerks have never, ever sold a ticket for a sleeper train! Tickets are sold as singles.
Fares are sold on a 'per room' basis, and are either flexible (amendments permitted up to two days before departure) or non-flexible (no changes). At present I believe only flexible fares are being sold due to covid but I think flexible fares generally cost about £20 more. The price ovaries according to the time of year and day of the week. To get an idea I've chosen Wednesday 15th September, London to Fort William and the current fare showing are:
Caledonian Double £470 per room
Club £300 per room
Classic £175 per room
Seats not available
It really depends how much you want, or can afford, to spend. I'm sure you'd like to go Caledonian Double but Classic might suit your budget better. If you go for Club or Classic then one of you will need to use the top bunk.
A railcard could see you make a saving on some of these fares. Unfortunately railcards cannot be used on Caledonian Double fares, so I cannot think of a way to reduce the price. If you qualify for a Disabled Railcard (if either you or your wife use a hearing aid then you should meet the criteria, costs £20 for a year) then the price of the Club room and Classic room on the date I checked is reduced by 34% to:
Club £198 per room
Classic £115.50 per room
Only one of you needs to have a Disabled Railcard as a companion is able to accompany the holder and also qualify for the discount. This still leaves you with the potential issue of bunk beds.
If neither of you qualify for a Disabled Railcard then you could both get a Senior Railcard. A Senior Railcard costs £30 for a year and also gives a 34% discount on Club and Classic rooms but bizarrely only when solo occupied, so you would have to book two separate rooms. It is worth noting that Classic rooms have an option of an interconnecting door so this could potentially be a way round having to use the top bunk (if that is a problem for you). Solo occupied rooms with a Senior Railcard on the date I checked are:
Club £161.70 per room
Classic £95.70 per room
For completeness there is another way to obtain tickets and that is if you are using a 'normal' Off-Peak or Super Off-Peak rail ticket then you can purchase a berth supplement which allows you to use a room. There are some other ticket types that can be used with berth supplements but they're probably not really relevant here. Using a 'normal' ticket and a berth supplement appears to be more expensive so I won't go into any more detail here.
I am at the stage of deciding whether to go any further with our journey on the Caledonian Sleeper when I found that the two Rail Cards I bought at a cost of £60.00 are a waste of space on the Caledonian Sleeper and I nearly cancelled and then I read your mention of the disability matter. I am registered disabled by loss of hearing drawing a War Disability Pension as a result I will check to see where that takes me. Many thanks.I'll try and assist from a sleeper point of view. This is what normally operates in 'normal' non-covid times.
Firstly sleeper accommodation. There are four types of accommodation on the Caledonian Sleeper:
- Caledonian Double - superior double en-suite room
- Club - twin en-suite room (bunk beds)
- Classic - room with optional interconnecting door (bunk beds)
- Seats (guessing this isn't an option for you)
Secondly, let's look at fares. This is where it becomes a bit more confusing. You can normally book tickets up to a year ahead either through Caledonian Sleeper's website or through their contact centre. In theory any station ticket office can sell sleeper tickets as well but it is often hard to find a member of staff who knows how to sell them as so few are sold. I bet most ticket office clerks have never, ever sold a ticket for a sleeper train! Tickets are sold as singles.
Fares are sold on a 'per room' basis, and are either flexible (amendments permitted up to two days before departure) or non-flexible (no changes). At present I believe only flexible fares are being sold due to covid but I think flexible fares generally cost about £20 more. The price ovaries according to the time of year and day of the week. To get an idea I've chosen Wednesday 15th September, London to Fort William and the current fare showing are:
Caledonian Double £470 per room
Club £300 per room
Classic £175 per room
Seats not available
It really depends how much you want, or can afford, to spend. I'm sure you'd like to go Caledonian Double but Classic might suit your budget better. If you go for Club or Classic then one of you will need to use the top bunk.
A railcard could see you make a saving on some of these fares. Unfortunately railcards cannot be used on Caledonian Double fares, so I cannot think of a way to reduce the price. If you qualify for a Disabled Railcard (if either you or your wife use a hearing aid then you should meet the criteria, costs £20 for a year) then the price of the Club room and Classic room on the date I checked is reduced by 34% to:
Club £198 per room
Classic £115.50 per room
Only one of you needs to have a Disabled Railcard as a companion is able to accompany the holder and also qualify for the discount. This still leaves you with the potential issue of bunk beds.
If neither of you qualify for a Disabled Railcard then you could both get a Senior Railcard. A Senior Railcard costs £30 for a year and also gives a 34% discount on Club and Classic rooms but bizarrely only when solo occupied, so you would have to book two separate rooms. It is worth noting that Classic rooms have an option of an interconnecting door so this could potentially be a way round having to use the top bunk (if that is a problem for you). Solo occupied rooms with a Senior Railcard on the date I checked are:
Club £161.70 per room
Classic £95.70 per room
For completeness there is another way to obtain tickets and that is if you are using a 'normal' Off-Peak or Super Off-Peak rail ticket then you can purchase a berth supplement which allows you to use a room. There are some other ticket types that can be used with berth supplements but they're probably not really relevant here. Using a 'normal' ticket and a berth supplement appears to be more expensive so I won't go into any more detail here.