There’s something undeniably magical about a sleeper train, isn’t there? Nodding off at one end of the country and waking up at the other, having been whizzed there through the night via a fancy hotel on wheels. Sounds pretty darn dreamy, right? And look, I’m well aware that there are much faster and cheaper ways of getting between London and Scotland than on a (fairly lengthy) sleeper train. But with air travel becoming increasingly guilt-inducing, and public transport becoming increasingly… well – unreliable; a cosy and oh-so comfortable night spent on board the Caledonian Sleeper has certainly got to be the most memorable way to make the journey.
Having been running for over 150 years (since 1873 in one form or another); the Caledonian Sleeper train is a well-oiled machine. Shuttling its guests between London and various cities in the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands, the late-night locomotive is the UK’s longest sleeper train and offers some of the most breathtaking views in the entire country.
Credit: @caledoniansleeper via IG
The Caledonian Sleeper routes
Transporting passengers between London Euston and various Scottish spots; the Caledonian Sleeper has a couple of routes and plenty of destinations to choose from. The Lowlander route heads to Edinburgh and Glasgow, whilst the Highlander route – the longest sleeper train in the UK – whisks guests to either Aberdeen, Fort William or Inverness – via some pretty jaw-dropping landscapes.
The journey takes 8-10 hours, depending on the destination you opt for – with Inverness being the furthest north. Passing through the rather gasp-inducing likes of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, passengers get to feast their eyes on luscious forests, rolling hills, moors, mountains, and a whole lot of other jaw-dropping backdrops.
Credit: @caledoniansleeper via IG
Caledonian Sleeper are the first overnight trains to offer ensuite double rooms, so it’s a rather fancy affair, if that’s the option you go for. There’s double rooms, twin bunk rooms, or classic rooms with bunks but no ensuite bathroom. There’s also the most wallet-friendly option of a reclining seat in the seated coach. But the fact that you’re essentially saving money on a night in a hotel by travelling through the night means that you have our full permission to treat yourself.
Find out more and plan your journey on board a Caledonian Sleeper train here.