Caledonian Sleeper - Highland Snow Mini Break
In 2017 after the collapse of Monarch left us without a snow break (Lapland) my son was so disappointed I planned a UK short break for a touch of snow fun.
We left on a Wednesday night from London Euston - you can get on the train at 8.30pm and it departs at 9.15pm. We were so excited - you walk along the platform at Euston for what seems like 2 miles and it’s the longest train we have ever been on. A guard takes your name and asks if you want tea, coffee or juice and your breakfast order, then shows you to your cabin. We had standard class cabins with bunk beds and an interconnecting door. Lovely pillows, sheets, a vanity kit with earplugs and an eye mask - all very exciting. My son was hysterical with joy. Warning it is very small and cramped - like a larger airline toilet but that's part of the fun.
We slept quite well considering the shaky train and the fact that I had to have the top bunk. Much to my son's disappointment they don't allow children in the top as they can fall out. Our breakfast and drinks were delivered at about 8am but you could choose the time. Then we got up and went to the lounge car. The view was like something from the moon - we had uncoupled from the rest of the train in Edinburgh and there were just three cars left and we were trundling slowly through the Highland's on the way to Fort William.
On arrival at Fort William we were met with the hire car and set off to Glencoe - about 20 minutes away. The hotel I had chosen was The Isles of Glencoe - mainly because it was directly on the loch and also it had bunk beds in a little side room ( with its own TV - deep joy for son).
The view from the room was outstanding - we were awe struck. The hotel also has a lovely family friendly pool with Jacuzzi and sauna so ideal after a long, cold day out and about. In fact, my son would have ditched any sightseeing and spent all his time in there if he had the choice (he didn't).
Over the next few days we went up various mountains. 15 minutes from the hotel there is the Glencoe Ski area with an open chair lift - and at the top there is a mountain restaurant for food and drinks with a ski school, ski runs and also free sledges. My son had great fun (as did we) but then we got cold as it was a balmy -7.
The next day we headed for the coast - we were so lucky as the weather was really cold but very sunny the whole time. We drove through stunning scenery for about an hour and found the little port of Mallaig near Lochaber. In high season there is a smokehouse where you can get smoked fish but unfortunately it was closed after Christmas. From here you can also see the mountains on Skye across the water.
The next day we again headed up a mountain and took a gondola up the Nevis Range - another ski area. You could see for miles and as it was the weekend it was very busy with skiers. This area is just on the outskirts of Fort William which would also be a good base for a short weekend or ski holiday.
On Sunday night we went to the train station to get the overnight sleeper home. I won't say this was as good an experience as on the way out and I would probably recommend flying home as not much sleep was had by us all on the way back. The whole experience was worth the lack of sleep and arriving back in London on a cold Monday morning in rush hour felt a world away from the peace of Scotland.