Fort William is on the West Highland Line and the A82, so it is unusually well connected for the Highlands. Glencoe itself has no railway; coaches on the Glasgow–Fort William route stop there.
Routes at a glance
| From | How | Time | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glasgow | West Highland Line train to Fort William | about 3¾ hours | from around £20–35 |
| Glasgow | Citylink coach (stops in Glencoe) | about 2½ hours to Glencoe, 3 hours to Fort William | around £25–30 |
| Glasgow | Car on the A82 by Loch Lomond | about 2½ hours to Glencoe | fuel |
| Edinburgh | Car by Stirling, Callander and the A82 | about 3 hours to Glencoe | fuel |
| Inverness | Citylink coach or car along Loch Ness | about 2 hours to Fort William | coach around £15–20 |
| Fort William | ScotRail train to Glenfinnan | about 35 min | around £8–10 |
Times and prices are approximate and change with season and booking date — check operators for current timetables and fares.
By train
The West Highland Line from Glasgow Queen Street is a journey to savour: Loch Lomond, the wilderness of Rannoch Moor (which no road crosses) and remote Corrour before the descent to Fort William. There are only three or four trains a day, so reserve seats in summer. The line continues to Glenfinnan, Arisaig and Mallaig for the Skye ferry. The Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston reaches Fort William the following morning.
By coach
Citylink coaches from Glasgow to Fort William and Skye run several times a day through Glencoe, stopping at the ski centre, the visitor centre road-end and Glencoe village. From Edinburgh, change in Glasgow or take a train to Glasgow first. Coaches also link Fort William with Inverness (along Loch Ness), Oban and Skye.
By car
From Glasgow, the A82 runs past Loch Lomond and across Rannoch Moor into Glencoe — one of the great drives in Britain, and busy in summer. From Edinburgh, go by Stirling and Callander to join the A82 at Crianlarich. Allow more time than the sat-nav suggests: the road is single carriageway throughout, with slow lorries and motorhomes and few places to overtake. From Fort William, the A830 “Road to the Isles” leads to Glenfinnan (30 minutes) and Mallaig (1 hour).
Getting around
Local buses link Fort William with Glencoe, Ballachulish and Kinlochleven, and run up Glen Nevis in summer; services are infrequent, so check times. Trains are the best way to Glenfinnan without a car. Taxis in Fort William will take walkers to and from trailheads. Without your own transport, base yourself in Fort William.
