Nighthawke wrote:Lovely set Andy with a nice mix of viewpoints and angles. It really is a great setting for a heritage run. We did it last year and found myself sitting opposite a chap I worked with a few years ago - small world!
This year we drove Fort William -Mallaig to take the Skye ferry. The views just aren't he same from the road though!
I drove it 22 years ago and I thought then that the railway would have better views hence I always wanted to do it. Generally I think the railway is better but the old coast road now the B8008 which was by passed about 10 years ago by the new dual carriageway (the old road was the only single track A road in the UK) has terrific coastal views between Arisaig and Morar and if you are driving to Mallaig and have time it is worth driving the old road to see it. Overall, yes the railway has better views but you need to do both.
The railway has gained even more popularity especially with children due to the Harry Potter effect, they even have a small Haarry Potter shop on the train! I suppose the films got another generation interested in steam trains so that's a very good thing and I was amazed at the number of people on the hillsides around the Glenfinnan viaduct waiting to see the train cross it - that's a pic I still haven't got so a return is a must at some point as that is one view you won't get when actually on the train. Glenfinnan and the sea loch is a superb view.