Caledonian Sleeper

Finally getting the train North was a great relief. The tension hanging over us in the morning as we made our final preparations and left home built to a distinct nervousness as the departures board at Euston declared our Caledonian sleeper delayed and “awaiting arrival of stock”

We should have left London on the crest of a £150m wave of new trains launched just yesterday but reports of teething trouble including water leaks into compartment, passengers without cabins and a three hour delay left the atmosphere rather foreboding. We got the all clear to board and were pleased to see the old 70’s style carriages waiting for us at platform 1, after a swift drink in the bar we retired to our very comfortable bunks and rattled our way north through the night.

Waking to a pre-ordered bacon roll and coffe, we peered out the window at such familiar scenery but from a new angle, we hugged Loch Lomond, traversed Rannoch Moor before arching through Spean Bridge down to Fort William. I remember the 80’s high street as of a bleak place where pubs sold only Tennants, McEwan’s export and Guinness. Today, this self proclaimed “outdoor capital of the U.K.” has vegan restaurants, stylish coffee bars and pubs selling local beers along a pedestrianised high street. We chose to eat towards the southern end of the high street and had a good meal after which the waitress asked about our plans. We described our journey to Cape Wrath but then she asked where it was - the name of the restaurant was the Geographer!