Leaving Fort William, the road follows the same dramatic corridor as the West Highland Line, a route widely regarded as one of the most scenic railway journeys on the planet. It’s a rare experience: lochs, moorland and mountains unfolding in tandem whether you’re behind the wheel or watching the train glide past.
At Glenfinnan Viaduct, the journey reaches its most iconic moment. During the warmer months, the arches carry the Jacobite Steam Train — the famous steam service that appears in the Harry Potter films as the Hogwarts Express. At other times of year, modern passenger trains continue the same route, ensuring the experience remains accessible year-round, just with a different rhythm.
Whether you choose to ride the rails, stop to watch a train cross the viaduct, or simply absorb the scale of the landscape from the road, this stretch is one of the defining highlights of the WC300 Core Route. As Mallaig’s harbour comes into view, with ferries, fishing boats and island horizons beyond, it feels less like an arrival and more like a natural pause at the edge of the mainland.
