logo
Iconic overnight 417-mile train journey that takes passengers to the Scottish Highlands

Iconic overnight 417-mile train journey that takes passengers to the Scottish Highlands

Daily Record09-07-2025
Aberdeen to Plymouth is now the UK's longest direct train at 695 miles, but the Caledonian Sleeper offers a more memorable experience
After more than a century of service, the UK's longest train journey has reached the end of the line. The historic Aberdeen to Penzance route, which began in 1921, made its final trip on May 16.
The final trip marked the end of a 775-mile journey that connected Scotland's North East coast with the far south west of Cornwall. CrossCountry, which operated the service, said it had been withdrawn to allow for a 'more efficient timetable.'

Now, the longest direct train ride in Britain is the Aberdeen to Plymouth service, clocking in at 695 miles. But for those who believe a rail journey should be more than just distance, the Caledonian Sleeper offers something far more memorable, The Mirror reports.

Running from London Euston to Fort William, this overnight service glides through the spine of Britain into the heart of the Highlands.
The route covers 417 miles and calls at 18 stations, including the historic capital of Edinburgh, Glasgow Queen Street, and the seaside town of Helensburgh, before rolling into Fort William beneath the shadow of Ben Nevis.
Board in the evening and you'll wake up either in a new city or greeted by breathtaking Highland views.
Travellers can snooze their way across the country in private rooms and step off the train refreshed, right in the heart of their destination.
There's more than just scenery on offer. The Club Car invites guests to enjoy a drink, a meal, or a snack, with a menu celebrating some of Scotland's finest local produce.

From hand-picked single malts and craft gins to hearty dishes made with regional ingredients, it's a true taste of Scotland on the move. Accommodation options are designed for comfort and convenience.
Those seeking extra privacy can book a Caledonian Double with a double bed or a Club Room with twin bunks, both of which include en-suite shower and toilet facilities, complimentary breakfast, and priority access to the Club Car.

Families and groups can choose a Classic Room with bunk beds, which can also interconnect to the room next door.
Budget travellers can opt for a seat in the seated coach, the most economical way to travel, with a special menu available for delivery to your seat.
Travellers heading southbound from Scotland should look for services after 19:00 (or after 20:00 if departing from Edinburgh Waverley), while those departing northbound from London Euston should search for trains after 21:00.

The Caledonian Sleeper runs six nights a week from Sunday to Friday, and tickets can be booked up to 12 months in advance.
Caledonian Sleeper train route
London Euston 21:15
Crewe 23:45
Preston 00:30
Edinburgh 04:50
Glasgow Queen Street 05:48
Dalmuir 06:06
Dumbarton Central 06:17
Helensburgh Upper 06:33
Garelochhead 06:47
Arrochar & Tarbet 07:09
Ardlui 07:25
Crianlarich 07:48
Upper Tyndrum 08:02
Bridge of Orchy 08:18
Rannoch 08:45
Corrour 09:00
Tulloch 09:21
Roy Bridge 09:31
Spean Bridge 09:39
Fort William 10:00
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Edmunds: Five expert tips to make cross-country EV driving easy
Edmunds: Five expert tips to make cross-country EV driving easy

The Independent

time2 hours ago

  • The Independent

Edmunds: Five expert tips to make cross-country EV driving easy

The idea of a cross-country road trip in an electric vehicle might seem daunting. After all, it's not hard to envision getting stranded on the side of the road with a depleted battery or being stuck in a parking lot, charging for hours. But there are ways to easily avoid these worst-case scenarios. The experts at Edmunds have plenty of experience driving electric vehicles, and here they share their five best tips on how to make cross-country driving in an EV easy. Use EV route planning applications Minimizing the number of charging stations you visit and your time at them is key to efficient road-tripping in an EV. To accomplish this, use a route planning application. A route planner helps you determine where and when you should stop to charge to reach your destination. The navigation system in most new EVs typically has this functionality built in. You simply enter your destination, and the navigation system automatically calculates where you will need to charge along your route. In our experience, Tesla vehicles have the best route planning capability. EVs that utilize Google Maps as their onboard navigation system have a similar capability. Many of the latest EVs from General Motors, such as the Chevrolet Equinox EV, have Google Maps integration. Alternatively, you can use an EV route planning smartphone app such as A Better Route Planner (ABRP) or PlugShare. We prefer ABRP because it's available as an app or through an internet browser. It also shows more details at each stop, like the expected battery percentage. When using a route planner, stick to Level 3 fast charging stations when driving. Slower Level 2 stations will take hours but are ideal for overnight charging. Use Tesla charging stations The Tesla Supercharger network of fast charging stations is the largest in the country. We recommend using them on a cross-country trip because they are usually very reliable and have more charging stalls per location than most networks. Teslas have access to them and certain non-Tesla EVs are also eligible to use them, but most non-Tesla EVs need an adapter to charge at a Tesla Supercharger. Check with your local service center or search online to determine if your EV is compatible. If you have a non-Tesla EV that has access, change the settings in your route planner to include Tesla stations. If your EV cannot charge at Tesla stations, you'll need to utilize other third-party charging station networks. Some of the largest networks include Electrify America, EVgo and ChargePoint. Have a backup plan, and leave a range cushion When planning a route that does not use Tesla Superchargers, it's best to have a backup charging station for each stop. Charging stations can sometimes be out of order, and in some cases, like during a holiday or on busy highways, there could be long lines. To find the status of a specific charging station, download the app of the company the station belongs to. Make sure to leave yourself enough range to make it to your backup station as well. Stay in hotels with on-site charging stations Staying at hotels with on-site charging stations can save time and money. Hotel charging stations are typically Level 2 stations that can fully charge your battery overnight, allowing you to start your trip immediately instead of charging before you hit the highway. They are usually more affordable than fast charging stations, and in some cases, are free. One way to find hotels with charging stations is by using the PlugShare app. This app contains a database of charging stations, and you can filter it to show stations connected with lodging locations. Use charging stations that have amenities It's fair to expect that each charging stop you make in your EV will take 20-45 minutes. To make the most of that time, charge at stations with a convenience store, retail store or restaurant nearby. That way, you can use the bathroom, grab some stacks or even get a full meal while your vehicle is charging. Many charging stations are located near stores or restaurants, but not all. You can use Google Maps or similar smartphone apps to find out what's within walking distance of the charging stations you plan on using. You can change the stations your route planner recommends as long as they aren't too far away. Edmunds says Planning a cross-country trip in an EV takes extra effort, but doing it properly can make the journey nearly as smooth as in a gas-powered car. Give yourself access to as many fast charging stations as possible by choosing an EV that's capable of using Tesla Supercharger stations. ____ This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds. Michael Cantu is a contributor at Edmunds.

World's biggest great white shark heads for Martha's Vineyard beach in major tourist warning
World's biggest great white shark heads for Martha's Vineyard beach in major tourist warning

Daily Mirror

timea day ago

  • Daily Mirror

World's biggest great white shark heads for Martha's Vineyard beach in major tourist warning

OCEARCH, a non-profit research organisation that tracks marine animals, tagged the 30-year-old male great white shark named "Contender" in the waters east of Massachusetts The world's biggest shark is heading straight towards Martha's Vineyard in the US, after being pinged near an affluent tourist destination. ‌ The 14ft predator, which weighs a whopping 1,653 pounds, was recently detected on Friday afternoon, around 50 miles off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts. ‌ OCEARCH, a non-profit research organisation that tracks marine animals, tagged the 30-year-old male named "Contender" in the waters east of Massachusetts, between Nantucket Shoals and Georges Bank. ‌ It was seen heading towards the wealthy holiday destination of Martha's Bay, home to celebrities and multi-millionaires. Former US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama own a £10million mansion on the island. OCEARCH first tagged the shark in the North Atlantic, 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia coast, off Jacksonville. It took six people, including three fishermen and scientists, to tag and release "Contender", which is then electronically tracked through the Argos satellite system, according to Dr Harley Newton, OCEARCH Chief Scientist & Veterinarian. The predator can be tracked through OCEARCH's Global Shark Tracker app, where anyone can follow the animal as it moves. The animal has been pinged several times, including on January 26 and February 6, which means the tag attached to the fin was spotted above the surface for a brief period of time as it swam. It was last pinged on June 7. ‌ Dr Harley Newton, OCEARCH Chief Scientist & Veterinarian, previously told The Mirror there were some tourist hotspots the shark might visit. She said: "This is the exciting question about Contender, as this is the first season we will be able to watch him migrate to a summer/fall foraging area. ‌ "Although there are many places in the Northeastern US and Canada where he could go, there are two primary locations where many white sharks spend the summer: Cape Cod, Massachusetts or Nova Scotia, Canada. "Though Contender is an adult male white shark, and the largest we at OCEARCH have ever tagged and sampled in the Northwest Atlantic, but he is certainly not the largest male white shark ever caught. "Contender was 13 feet 9 inches total length and estimated to weigh 1653 lbs. But male white sharks can grow up to 18 feet. "The adult age class animals have been more elusive than smaller, younger, age classes so we were excited to have the opportunity to tag, sample and release him. Based on our Global Shark tracker, he has travelled 1870 miles to date from the place he was first tagged and released. We won't know until he shows us, which is all the more reason to follow him on the tracker."

Turkey's Marmaris tops list of cheapest summer holiday destinations for families
Turkey's Marmaris tops list of cheapest summer holiday destinations for families

Daily Mirror

time2 days ago

  • Daily Mirror

Turkey's Marmaris tops list of cheapest summer holiday destinations for families

Turkey's Marmaris has been named the cheapest short-haul holiday destination for UK families, according to Post Office Travel Money, which ranked Sunny Beach in Bulgaria in the second spot Turkey's Marmaris has been crowned the most affordable short-haul holiday destination for UK families. ‌ The coastal resort boasts the lowest costs among 16 popular locations for a selection of 10 tourist essentials, according to Post Office Travel Money. This featured merely £67.67 for a three-course meal for two adults and two children with wine and soft drinks. ‌ Additional bargain prices included 16p for a 1.5-litre bottle of mineral water from a supermarket, £1.81 for a bottle or can of cola at a cafe or bar, and £2.61 for insect repellent. Post Office Travel Money explained the bargain rates for UK holidaymakers are partially attributed to a dramatic decline in the Turkish lira's value. ‌ Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, emerged as the second most economical destination, whilst Portugal's Algarve claimed third place. ‌ Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at Post Office, said: "The collapse of the lira makes Turkish resorts like Marmaris a natural choice for families. However, visitors should be aware that while sterling is worth a third more than last July, local prices have increased dramatically because of the currency's collapse. "Thankfully, once the positive exchange rate is applied to those local prices, British visitors will only have to pay around 10% more than a year ago, and this increase is much lower than in many other destinations." The complete cost for the selection of items at Marmaris (£128.99) stood at nearly half the expense when compared with the priciest destination examined, Spain's Ibiza (£242.79). Costs for British holidaymakers have increased in 13 out of the 16 destinations surveyed. Ms Plunkett explained: "We found big price variations in the destinations surveyed, particularly comparing those in the eurozone. For example, prices in the Algarve are almost £100 lower for the same 10 items surveyed than in Ibiza. "This makes it vitally important for holidaymakers to do their homework and take enough travel money to cover costs in the resort they are visiting." The Mirror's data team recently put together an interactive map showing the most bargain and biggest rip-off destinations in the world. Click here to check it out.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store