Thursday 1 December 2016

Holiday in the Highlands - Part 4 - Glenfinnan, Rain and Trains

Part 4!

This time we were heading for the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct, which is probably best known for its appearance in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

A photo posted by Christine Sutcliffe (@lynkhart) on




Unfortunately this particular day was absolutely foul and we could barely make it and its surroundings out from the mist and rain. We headed instead up the hill to Glenfinnan station where, in a matter of minutes, the 'Jacobite' steam locomotive would be pulling in. It's in a limited service over the summer but draws in loads of tourists. We wouldn't have got a good view of the viaduct due to the weather so we unfortunately missed its iconic journey across but probably got a much better experience at the station.

Glenfinnan Station, Scottish Highlands   #scottishhighlands #Glenfinnan #glenfinnanstation #scotland #railway #glenfinnanrailwaystation

The viaduct and railway has a really interesting history and I still laugh that its designer was nicknamed 'Concrete Bob' which is just so wonderfully un-Victorian.

IMG_8622


IMG_9674

The rain was absolutely pelting it down and when we arrived we were the only people on the platform, but all that changed a couple of minutes before it was due to arrive when there was a sudden influx of people, most of whom got their cameras out as soon as we did and in some cases actually stood in front of me to get a photo when they could see I was there! D:

IMG_9706

IMG_9708

IMG_9724

Until you've seen a steam train in person you can't really appreciate the atmosphere of it all - the sound and smell is so evocative and you can really see why trainspotting is such a big hobby.





IMG_8653

Old vs new!

IMG_9769

IMG_9751


While I'm not into trains like my dad and my uncle, I can definitely appreciate a fine engine and the Jacobite was definitely one of them.

The Jacobite, pulled by 'Black Five' No 45407: 'The Lancashire Fusilier'  Glenfinnan Station, Scottish Highlands   #scottishhighlands #Glenfinnan #glenfinnanstation #scotland #railway #glenfinnanrailwaystation #steamtrain #steamlocomotive #thejacobitetrai

The Jacobite, pulled by 'Black Five' No 45407: 'The Lancashire Fusilier'  Glenfinnan Station, Scottish Highlands   #scottishhighlands #Glenfinnan #glenfinnanstation #scotland #railway #glenfinnanrailwaystation #steamtrain #steamlocomotive #thejacobitetrai

The Jacobite, pulled by 'Black Five' No 45407: 'The Lancashire Fusilier'  Glenfinnan Station, Scottish Highlands   #scottishhighlands #Glenfinnan #glenfinnanstation #scotland #railway #glenfinnanrailwaystation #steamtrain #steamlocomotive #thejacobitetrai

The station is obviously all kitted out for the modern trains on regular service but has such a wonderfully traditional aesthetic as well as an on-site museum and gift shop.

Glenfinnan Station, Scottish Highlands  Inverailort House, Lochailort, Scottish Highlands  #scottishhighlands #Glenfinnan #glenfinnanstation #scotland #railway #glenfinnanrailwaystation

It also had a frankly terrifying looking snow plough attachment for the front of a train...

Snow Plough, Glenfinnan Station, Scottish Highlands   #scottishhighlands #Glenfinnan #glenfinnanstation #scotland #railway #glenfinnanrailwaystation

They'd also converted one of the old carriages to a tea-room which was really nice.

Glenfinnan Station, Scottish Highlands   #scottishhighlands #Glenfinnan #glenfinnanstation #scotland #railway #glenfinnanrailwaystation

Glenfinnan Dining Car Cafe, Glenfinnan Station, Scottish Highlands   #scottishhighlands #Glenfinnan #glenfinnanstation #scotland #railway #glenfinnanrailwaystation #glenfinnandiningcar

Mum & Dad.  Glenfinnan Dining Car Cafe, Glenfinnan Station, Scottish Highlands   #scottishhighlands #Glenfinnan #glenfinnanstation #scotland #railway #glenfinnanrailwaystation #glenfinnandiningcar


The best view over the viaduct is up a big hill and as it was so wet we decided against it, so sadly this is the best shot I could manage from ground level. It doesn't look nearly as dramatic!

IMG_9894


A photo posted by Christine Sutcliffe (@lynkhart) on

Still, at least it was a better sight than the other reason for our visit...

IMG_9699

IMG_9905

 The Glenfinnan Monument, which celebrates the start of Bonny Prince Charlie's Jacobite rebellion, sits at the head of the equally stunning Loch Shiel just down from the station, and usually looks like this on a nice day.
 
Unfortunately for us, we didn't have that photographer's luck with the weather.

Glenfinnan Monument, Scottish Highlands   #scottishhighlands #Glenfinnan #glenfinnanmonument #scotland

IMG_9824

Mist can be wonderful to work with in front of the lens, but in this instance it was a real nuisance and the constant rain really didn't help.

I think my parents poses pretty much summed it up really.

IMG_9851

Instagram filters made it look a lot nicer though. XD

Glenfinnan Monument, Scottish Highlands   #scottishhighlands #Glenfinnan #glenfinnanmonument #scotland




Even without the mist and rain, the monument itself was a bit of a letdown. I was expecting it to be significantly taller for one thing.

IMG_9816

Glenfinnan Monument, Loch Shiel, Scottish Highlands   #scottishhighlands #Glenfinnan #glenfinnanmonument #scotland #lochshiel

Glenfinnan Monument, Loch Shiel, Scottish Highlands   #scottishhighlands #Glenfinnan #glenfinnanmonument #scotland #lochshiel

You used to be able to go inside and look out from the top but it was closed, I think for restoration or something. Still, the door was pretty impressive.

IMG_9837

The gate was really pretty too.

Glenfinnan Monument, Loch Shiel, Scottish Highlands   #scottishhighlands #Glenfinnan #glenfinnanmonument #scotland #lochshiel

With the weather being so awful we spent the rest of the day just driving around and hoping the sun would come out. It didn't, really, but we lived in hope.

It was still horrible when we stopped here, but the view over Loch Eilt was definitely worth stopping for even if it was a bit blustery.

IMG_9947

Loch Eilt, Scottish Highlands  #locheilt #scottishhighlands #scottishscenery #scotland

Not entirely sure why my dad decided to do that but oh well. XD

IMG_9990

Loch Eilt, Scottish Highlands  #locheilt #scottishhighlands #scottishscenery #scotland

All that rain made for some pretty impressive waterfalls!

Allt na Dìollaid waterfall, Loch Eilt, Scottish Highlands  #locheilt #scottishhighlands #scottishscenery #scotland

IMG_9907

 Polnish Chapel, Scottish Highlands.  #scottishhighlands #polnishchapel #scotland

Whilst photographing the charming little chapel on the other side of the road I spotted this bird of prey getting mobbed by crows. It was too far away to identify, though I'm pretty sure it was just a buzzard.

A video posted by Christine Sutcliffe (@lynkhart) on


The only photo I took of it was accidental as it swooped by whilst I was focusing on the other side of the loch!

IMG_9996

We pulled in at the side of the road a little further on to photograph the cliff face because of course we did. My poor mum probably regrets going on holiday with my dad and I as we do this kind of thing all the time.

IMG_0091

To be fair, they were quite impressive rock faces.

IMG_0107

Rock face near Loch Ailort, Sound of Arisaig, Scottish Highlands.  #scottishhighlands #scottishscenery #scotland #lochailort #rock #rockface #texture

Rock face near Loch Ailort, Sound of Arisaig, Scottish Highlands.  #scottishhighlands #scottishscenery #scotland #lochailort #rock #rockface #texture #lochnanuamhviaduct

IMG_0081

IMG_0041

We had a moment of hilarity en route when dad suddenly yelled out 'ELEPHANT!' as we drove down the road. Fearing he'd finally lost the last of his marbles we gingerly questioned why, and he told us he'd show us when we pulled in a bit further along. We parked and wandered back along the road until...



 Well, he wasn't wrong!

We went just down from that sign to the Glenuig Inn for our tea and very nice it was too. I had some absolutely delicious haggis-stuffed chicken fillets with whisky and mustard sauce on a bed of neeps and honey-roasted carrot. Om nom nom!

Rocks at Glenuig, Sound of Arisaig  #soundofarisaig #glenuig #texture #scottishscenery #rocks

I really loved the rocks outside the Inn.

Rocks at Glenuig, Sound of Arisaig  #soundofarisaig #glenuig #texture #scottishscenery #rocks


With the night drawing in we headed for home and hoped the next day would be a little more palatable.

A photo posted by Christine Sutcliffe (@lynkhart) on

In the meantime, I got started on a bit of watercolouring...

IMG_9303


Next post features dramatic waterfalls, stunning views and not quite as much rain, yay!

No comments:

Post a Comment