We got on the road early in rainy conditions after being stopped yesterday due to the road closure. The scenery was dramatic going through the glens surrounded by high mountains.

We stopped at a lay by and found it was the site of the Battle of Glenn Shiel in the Jacobite uprising of 1719. 200 Spanish soldiers from Eilean Donan were with 1200 Scots but were overcome by the British forces due to their use of new mortars – not previously experienced by the Scots. It was a very driech setting.

We then continued to Glenfinnan where all the carparks were full and we were waved on. This happens every time the Jacobite steam train goes over the Glenfinnan viaduct made famous by the Harry Potter movie. There were people stopped everywhere alongside the road. Driving along we saw the steam from a steam train ahead so we drove along to catch it. We chased it down and got this video.

Warning: it will use a lot of data so make sure you are on wifi!!

We waited for a while for the carparks to empty after people had got their photos and moved on. We then went back – Glenn and I got into a carpark – but Sean and Lisa didn’t. They parked about 1.5 miles up the road and walked back.

We first visited the Glenfinnan monument marking where Bonnie Prince Charlie had arrived on a boat from his first landing at Eriskay. Initially no one was here to meet him which would have been a bit disappointing. Eventually 600 men came over the hill and he raised the standard calling on Scots to join him to regain the crown for the Stuarts.

It’s a nice setting.

There was a stag very close by in the bushes – obviously used to people.

We checked out the visitor centre with a model of the raising of the standard and various artifacts.

A steam train was due over the viaduct soon so we walked the short distance there. Glenn and Lisa went up a hill to a viewpoint with their big cameras. We waited for half an hour and nothing happened. Sean and I gave up as did most other people – many having to catch their tour bus.

Glenn and Lisa were about to leave 10 minutes later – but the train eventually arrived – 40 minutes late!

More of Glenn’s views from the top.

After all this excitement we got going to our next stop – a van lunch on the side of the road – and then Neptune’s Staircase – 12 consecutive locks on the Caledonian canal.

Suddenly there was the sound of a steam train so we all rushed down to the rail bridge at the bottom of the hill. Soon we got an up close and personal view of the Jacobite steam train.

Our last destination was up Glen Nevis – under Ben Nevis – to find highland cows and see the filming location of Braveheart village. We found them all.

We then drove to our overnight spot of Invercoe campsite next to Glen Coe. It was lovely right on the edge of the sea loch.

We enjoyed having all the services including good showers!