[Carjack]

My Wife not having travelled on the overnight sleeper from London to Scotland before was very pleased when I decided to travel up & to return this way.
So the necessary booking was made. I decided on 1st class as these were single berth with intercomminicating doors. Whereas 2nd class were double berths in the same space. Nuff said!
Compared with some years ago, this was a very comfortable trip, the mattress & duvet were excellent & the journey very smooth. The carriage was very stable & quite running well suited for the 12 hour trip.
The train was 16 carriages long. The first class sleepers the first two.
There was a restaurant car where 1st class passengers had priority (or course!)
The menu was rather good with haggis & Scottish smoked salmon amongst the selection together with a comprehensive list of malt scotch miniatures.
A full English was available at breakfast.
What more could one ask?
It was an excellent few days in the Fort William/Mallaig area. Beautiful countryside with friendly people and good food.
Rather different to a past experience I had in Edinburgh a few years ago in the Royal Mile with a tourist bus guide who was very anti English.
When in the area you must try Cullen Skink! It's a fish stew; delicious!
A journey to be repeated!
Yes! It was better than driving!
PS I hired a car but it wasn't really necessary.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Used the sleeper a few times (used it loads back in the '80's lol).

I despatched my wife up to Scotland last month, rather than drive she went both ways by train.

Don't ever ever even contemplate 2nd class, it's just shocking.

[Skello]

This is something I have always wanted to do, it never have got round to doing as we either just drive or get a normal train.

I love Edinburgh but, have come to love Glasgow more, helps being married to a Glaswegian

[InquisitiveA]

Originally Posted by Skello

I love Edinburgh but, have come to love Glasgow more, helps being married to a Glaswegian

I suppose there has to be some upside...

[Rbrown]

Originally Posted by Skello

This is something I have always wanted to do, it never have got round to doing as we either just drive or get a normal train.

I love Edinburgh but, have come to love Glasgow more, helps being married to a Glaswegian

Of course, Glaswegian's far more friendly than friends in Edinburgh!

[XWV]

Only sleepers I've ever used were long-distance trains in China in the late '90s. They were very similar to your description in many respects; or at least the trains were also quite long and the people also friendly. And in both cases it was probably preferable to second class on a British sleeper.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by XWV

Only sleepers I've ever used were long-distance trains in China in the late '90s. They were very similar to your description in many respects; or at least the trains were also quite long and the people also friendly. And in both cases it was probably preferable to second class on a British sleeper.

Lol used sleepers a few times in China, heading WEST from Guangzhou, usually to Zhangjiajie.

The trains must have really went downhill since the 90's then, have travelled in a couple Class levels, at a bonus you get a posh 4 berth with a mattress.

There is simiply no comparison between a Chinese train and British one, Chinese ones can be a nightmare lol, apart from absolutely nothing being in English anywhere in the station lol.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Carjack

What more could one ask?
It was an excellent few days in the Fort William/Mallaig area. Beautiful countryside with friendly people and good food.

When in the area you must try Cullen Skink! It's a fish stew; delicious!
A journey to be repeated!

I'm in Lochaber, great autumn colours this year. In fact you went past my home on the sleeper. (9:30am if it was on time ).

Yes, Cullen Skink is definitely worth a try. I was up in the north west last week and had one of the best dishes I've ever enjoyed at the Kylesku Hotel.

Where did you sample Cullen Skink? At the Crannog?