(Originally shared with friends and family on September 21, 2025. A note about the format of this travel journal. I’ve shared the original dates in the body of each journal entry. In order to make the journal chronological, I had ‘fudge’ the dates of the bottom of each post. Please ignore them. Also, I adopted the Scottish use of military time throughout my entries). The above photo is the Jacobite Steam Train crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Additional photos can be found here.
21 September, 2025
0926, Glenfinnan
Last night, when I was going to bed, I glanced out the window and saw a beautiful starry sky. Tara was still up so we went outside in our pjs to admire God’s creation. It was so peaceful, the only sound was the gentle song of the wind.
We got up early today and actually got to the Glenfinnan Viaduct! It is such a beautiful time of day and the viaduct, I think, is more impressive without a train. We hiked a trail to the station that we stopped at when we were on the Jacobite train, but will head back the way we came in a few minutes. I’m sure as we get closer to the viewing points, it will be crowded. The Jacobite train is supposed to pass by at 1045 or so.
10.05, Glenfinnan Viaduct
We’re on the side of a mountain with a beautiful view of the viaduct so we decided to wait for the train since we’re here. It should arrive in about 40 minutes so I’m enjoying the views and the sounds of nature (with more and more human voices in the background), and catching up on my journal
Our original plan was to go back to Kilmory for breakfast/lunch but now I’m not so sure. There is a lighthouse Tara found on the coast that is about two hours away. We’ve had gentle rain this morning that I hope stays away as I’m sitting on my Barbour on the hill. After the train passes, we want to go to the visitor center and the Highland Monument, which is across the street from the visitor center. It will probably be lunchtime by the time we’ll be ready to leave. I’m sure we’ll be hungry
1318, Fort William
We ended up seeing the train! It was quite fun to see and I hope my photos come out. As suspected, there were a ton of people there in the end. But it was a fun experience. Afterwards, we stopped at the visitor center and I bought a magnet and Tara bought two books on Scotland and on the Jacobite Uprising. We then headed to Fort William to gas up and get lunch. Right now we’re in Ben Nevis Pub waiting for our lunch. Tara ordered mussels at our servers suggestion and I played it safe and ordered fish and chips
We want to head to the lighthouse afterwards so I hope we don’t linger too long for lunch.
2020, Kilmory, Arisaig
By the time we finished lunch and returned to the car, we realized that by the time we got to the lighthouse, it would be closed. But we still could have walked around but I was actually glad that in the end, we decided not to go at all, because had we gone, I would have had to drive at night on the way home. I don’t like driving at night at home and driving an unfamiliar car on the opposite side of the road, with deer likely, didn’t sound like a good idea. In the end, we drove back to Glencoe to explore as when we first went through Glencoe, it was raining.
The drive there was lovely. We stopped, once again, to the Glencoe Visitor Center as I had spied a cloak the first time we were there. I really loved it – it had wine, pine and brown colors (good Earth colors) with a Celtic design woven in. I didn’t get it initially because it was rather pricey, but I kept thinking about it. Tara encouraged me to get it so I did and I love it! It won’t replace my Irish house coat, but will compliment it. I can see myself wrapped in it sitting on the porch in the Fall with a cup of tea. I also bought a few more things for gifts and ended up really helping the Scottish economy. I didn’t feel bad for not paying for parking!
After our shopping excursion, we stopped by a little park and walked along the river. It was a nice hike (about 1.5 miles) and we both enjoyed taking photographs. Then we headed back to Arisaig.
When we visited Castle Tioram, we spied an abandoned home on the shore of Loch Ailort. We fantasized about buying and turning it into an animal sanctuary for unwanted pets and farm animals (my dream vocation, if I’m honest), and decided to stop by to investigate it. However, it came upon us quicker than I remembered and there wasn’t a nearby place to turn around. I told Tara since we were on the road, we might as well go back to Castle Tioram and see it during the sunset. She agreed that would be a nice excursion so we continued on. When we eventually got to Castle Tioram, the tide was in and it was surrounded by water. It was so beautiful and I’m glad we were able to see it with the tide in and with the tide out. I took a ton of photos with my Nikon and can’t wait to share them when I get home.
Most of the photos I captured today were with my Nikon. When I get home, I’ll work on the photo journal and let you know when it’s available :)
I’ve really enjoyed my Adventure and it’s been great sharing it with Tara. Tomorrow, we are taking the ferry to the Isle of Skye and then will head to Drumnadrochit, where we’ll be based for three nights. Tuesday I think we’ll head into Inverness and Wednesday I have a date with the Highland Cows! Then it’s back to Glasgow and then home.
I think I’ve held up well with all the hiking and walking we’re doing. I am a little more cautious than I have been in the past with steps (not stair steps, but hiking steps), and my hip has been a little grumbly. But wine and ibuprofen sorts out all kinds of ailments so I’m not too concerned about it.
Leave a Reply