Fort William – Mallaig ScotRail service on south side of Loch Eilt. Next station Loch Ailort.
This section highlights some ways you could save money on your West Highland Line rail ticket. Ticket advice is available from ScotRail (travel passes & discounts) and the Caledonian Sleeper. Detailed fares information may be found at www.brfares.com
PlusBus
For £2.20 in addition to your ScotRail ticket you can use the Shiel Buses around the Fort William area with PlusBus.
‘Split’ Tickets
For many journeys on the West Highland Lines it is possible to save money by purchasing a combination of tickets which together cover the entire journey. If you purchase your ticked from ScotRail this will automatically be applied where it is a cheaper option
Alternatively you can make use of a website that specialises on tracking up to date information on ticket savings such as: SplitMyFare.
If travelling with a combination of tickets, National Rail Conditions of Travel require you to ensure that the train stops at the station where one ticket ends and the next ticket begins, although you are not required to leave the train.
Interim ticket pricing (September 2025)
For a period of time, Off-Peak tickets are still available to buy on the website, however Off-Peak Single and Return tickets will eventually be withdrawn and all tickets will show as Anytime tickets.
Advance Tickets
Advance tickets restrict you to one specific train but are often cheaper than more flexible tickets.
NOTE: Advance tickets do not allow a break of journey (other than to change trains) or journeys to be ‘cut short’. In other words, you are not allowed to purchase an Advance ticket from Glasgow to Fort William but leave the train at Spean Bridge.
Highland Rover
Travel between Glasgow and Oban, Fort William, Mallaig, Isle of Mull, Isle of Skye, Aberdeen, Inverness and as far as Wick and Thurso: four days of unlimited travel over eight consecutive days across the Highlands for £99 (September 2025 price).
Travel between Glasgow, the Isle of Skye, Inverness and Edinburgh on some truly dramatic rail lines: the West Highland Line, Kyle Line and Highland Main Line. Hop on and off at any station on your route and explore Scotland your way. Includes coach travel on Skye between Armadale and Kyle of Lochalsh (check Stagecoach timetables – a very limited service). Four days’ travel over eight consecutive days for £92 (September 2025 price).
Spirit of Scotland
It includes train travel in Scotland – and journeys to and from Carlisle and Berwick-upon-Tweed (on some lines you won’t be able to travel at peak times), coach travel (on selected routes including Argyll, Skye, the Borders and Northern Highlands, with Scottish Citylink, Stagecoach and West Coast Motors), Subway and tram travel in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Four days unlimited travel over eight consecutive days for just £155, or eight days unlimited travel over fifteen consecutive days for £196 (September 2025 prices).