The elegant Glenfinnan viaduct on the West Highland Railway (photo © Miroslav Liska / dreamstime.com).

17th edition: The rural route to the West Highlands (Route 3)

Enjoying a ride on two famous railway lines.

Route introduction

The highlights of this journey from Rotterdam to the West Highlands of Scotland are two railways which are both in the premier league of Europe’s most celebrated lines: the first is the Settle and Carlisle railway, a line which really engages with Pennine landscapes, and the second is the West Highland Line from Glasgow to the fishing port of Mallaig by the Sound of Sleat on Scotland’s west coast. Along the way we travel through such fine cities as York and Edinburgh.

Countries covered
Netherlands England Scotland

MAP Double click on the map (or double tap on mobile) to zoom in. You can connect onto other routes in places shown in red. Change to a layer showing a more familiar road map view by clicking on the menu at the top right of the map. Get back to the original view by clicking on the house icon shown in the top left menu on the map.

Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide

Whether you are making a long grand tour or just planning a couple of weekend breaks, Europe by Rail is the perfect guide. The book describes 50 key routes in detail. Together, they span mainland Europe and the British Isles. Find out more about the guidebook below.

The new, fully updated 17th edition of the definitive guide to exploring Europe by rail was published on 12 April 2022. With tips on ticketing, fares and accommodation, Europe by Rail has become the definitive guide to exploring Europe by train. Read here the book's word of welcome.
Europe by Rail contains all that's necessary to plan your rail journey through Europe: 50 route descriptions, a country gazetteer, rail connections, information on Eurail and Interrail passes and more.
The 17th edition of Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide was published on 12 April 2022. You can get hold of a copy in any good bookshop. Here, we list a few additional places where you can buy the book.