LIFT Scotland.....LIFT!

Today we set off to the Fort William train station at 0730 to give us enough time to find parking, pay for said parking and make our way to the train terminal.  We managed all that and found our way onto ScotRail headed for Mallaig.  We initially wanted to book the Jacobite Steam Train (Harry Potter train) but we were too late in booking and it was sold out (peak season, we tried booking that well before we left, we didn't leave it to chance).  As it travels over the Glenfinnon Viaduct which is the famous bridge from Harry Potter films on the Hogwarts Express.  See below pictures.

We arrived into Mallaig at approximately 0940.  Stepped into this picturesque fishing village  which was quiet and quaint.  From here Carrie was on a mission to find scones.  We finally located a little 'cafe'/tea house that had some.  So we ordered them but they tragically served them with jam and butter NOT cream.  Horrified Carrie just sucked it up and ordered it anyway.  To be fair they were fresh and delicious but would've been 11/10 had fresh cream been there to accompany them.  While sitting in the cafe we played some more cards while we drank our hot beverages and watched a table of 4 older gentleman have their morning coffee and catch ups (one of the men walked in just after us with his posse of....3 sausage dogs - it was very cute) and they were hassling everyone (stare down) to share their food with them.  They were the first generation 'robovacs' in that cafe, noses down scooping up whatever they could get hold of.  We then heard that one of them was on steroids so no wonder he was even more hellbent on eating everyone's food.

Scotland really knows how to be a dog friendly country.  All of our hotels have allowed dogs to stay, most shops/cafes/restaurants allow dogs as well and even on our train this morning too.  Another game we play over here is how many dogs we can say hello to and pat (while missing our little queen at home).  

Anyway back to Mallaig - we then were trying to work out what we were going to do in Mallaig for the rest of the day as our train wasn't due to depart until 1605.  We tried to work out if we had enough time to catch a ferry over to isle of Skye for the day and if we'd see enough.  We ended up opting to the walk around the town and the Circle of Mallaig walk that was approximately 2.8kms (up through the hills behind Mallaig).  This was beautiful and lovely scenery getting off the beaten path and of course meeting more doggos along the way.  We also got some more pictures of the landscape.  The weather was 15 degrees and slightly drizzly.  The weather here doesn't seem as cold like what a 15 degree day at home would feel like.  We've mostly been wearing t-shirts (almost a local I think).  But if this was home we'd both be rugged up.

After walking around Mallaig, we went through a few of the shops.  The old cop shop was dedicated to Harry Potter which used  the old cells as more room for the shops display.  Claire held off spending all her money here.  She thought best wait until Harry Potter world in London.

We had a quick sandwich and then headed back to the train station hoping we could sweet talk the train conductor into letting us on the Jacobite Steam Train back to Fort William.  After an hour standing around and stalking her - they had space for us to jump on.  Best 40 quid each we've spent as the weather came in worse in Mallaig and I'm really unsure what we would've done until the next train departure.  Maybe holed up in the local pub assisting with their economy. Better than spending 40 quid on pints each and then not being able to get back to the hotel from the train station.

We couldn't get many good video/photos on the steam train but was good to ride the train and experience it and got to enjoy the commentary from a lovely older Scottish gentleman explaining the landscapes we were going through.

We arrived back into Fort William at 1615 and decided we would drive to the Glenfinnan Viaduct for more close up photos because why not?!  As per our title...... bit facetious but our photos just don't do it justice, this country landscape is just so BEAUTIFUL.  Around every corner is another gorgeous picture.  It honestly looks like the trees behind the viaduct aren't real and that someone has done a watercolour of them.  It has been so nice to be away from work and really enjoying this beautiful country.   Why would anyone want to leave Scotland - yeah it rains but it's just so nice.

Anyway... after another million photos were taken, we came back into town and found a cute pub to dine in.  Carrie decided tonight was the night for some Haggis, neeps and tatties (you know while in the Highlands!).  She was a bit unsure about the whiskey sauce and asked for it on the side (incase she could taste too much of the brown liquor that she can't even bear to smell these days).  But all of it was delicious and a decent serving.  

Our last night here in Fort William and off to Inverness tomorrow via another castle and another wee loch.  Will we find the illustrious Nessie?  Stay tuned for tomorrow's instalment.