Road to the Isles, maybe a Scottish road made famous by a song, but this scenic route is all about the journey and the incredible sights along the way.
This driving route from Fort William to Mallaig, will take you through some incredible landscapes. From the legendary peak of Ben Nevis, and magnificent Glenfinnan Viaduct, to beautiful lochs and pristine beaches.
The Fort William Mallaig route will delight both Harry Potter fans, and road trippers in search of beautiful drives. In this guide we cover our favourite stops along the Road to the Isles, plus the best things to do in Fort William and Mallaig.
- WHAT IS THE ROAD TO THE ISLES?
- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- BEST STOPS ALONG THE ROAD TO THE ISLES
- BEN NEVIS – STOP 1
- NEPTUNE'S STAIRCASE – STOP 2
- GLENFINNAN – STOP 3
- LOCH EILT – STOP 4
- DUMBLEDORE'S GRAVE – STOP 5
- LOCH AILORT – STOP 6
- ARISAIG & ALTERNATE COASTAL ROUTE – STOP 7
- THINGS TO DO IN FORT WILLIAM
- THINGS TO DO IN MALLAIG
WHAT IS THE ROAD TO THE ISLES?
The A830, commonly known as the Road to the Isles, stretches 43 miles, from Fort William to the harbour village of Mallaig, on the West Coast of Scotland.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. When is the best time to drive the Road to the Isles? Spring and Summer to avoid the crowds.
2. How far is Fort William to Mallaig? 43miles/69km
3. What can you see along the way? The best of the west highlands of Scotland.
4. What is the route? The starting point for the ‘Road to the Isles’ is Fort William, at the head of Loch Linnhe, on the A82. From Fort William turn left onto the A830 marked ‘Road to the Isles’ to Glenfinnan, Arisaig and Mallaig for a journey of outstanding scenery.
5. What is the song of the Isles and who wrote it? The song was written by Pipe Major John McLellan DCM as a march for the British Army. It is said to have been played during the first day of the Normandy Landings during WWII. The lyrics mention several Scottish locations including, the Isle of Skye, Cuillin Hills, Loch Rannoch and Lochaber.
6. How long does the drive from Fort William to Mallaig take? Driving time including the alternative coastal route is 1.5 hours, but allow half a day to stop and explore.
BEST STOPS ALONG THE ROAD TO THE ISLES
Your Road to the Isles trip kicks off in Fort William. The West Highland town is located in Lochaber and is often described as the Outdoor Capital of the UK. It also makes a popular base for exploring the Scottish Highlands.
BEN NEVIS – STOP 1
The first stop after leaving Fort William, is to hopefully give you a view of stunning Ben Nevis.
Part of the Grampian Mountain range, Scotland’s highest mountain, at 1,345m (4,411 ft), was once an active volcano. Some of the best views of the mountain are from afar.
One of the easiest places to get the best view of Ben Nevis, is from the banks of Loch Linnhe across from the town. Park at Caol Shopping Centre, and walk along the foreshore to the decaying hulk of a fishing boat wreck.
The wreck provides a great foreground interest, with Ben Nevis in the background (weather permitting). Another great place for a view, is from stop number 2.
NEPTUNE’S STAIRCASE – STOP 2
The first major stop along the Fort to Mallaig route, is about a mile into your journey, where you will park in the carpark for Neptune’s Staircase.
Situated along the Caledonian Canal, is the impressive flight of eight canal locks known as Neptune’s Staircase. Designed in the early 1800s by Thomas Telford, one of Scotland’s greatest engineers, they remain an impressive sight today.
It is the longest staircase lock in Scotland, raising the canal by 19m (62ft), over a quarter of a mile of continuous masonry. If you are lucky you can watch a boat traveling up or down the locks, which takes around 90 minutes.
There are plenty of inviting coffee shops to grab a coffee, and a lovely place to wander.
There are good views of Ben Nevis through the trees, from the towpath alongside the canal.
Back on the A830, the road travels alongside the shores of Loch Eil, although the views are quite obstructed.
GLENFINNAN – STOP 3
Glenfinnan is the most popular stop along the Road to the Isles, and is a 30-minute drive without stops, from Fort William. Glenfinnan Viaduct is an absolute must-see attraction for lovers of Harry Potter films.
But first, after you have parked in the well-organised car park near the visitor centre, you have some other sights to see.
GLENFINNAN MONUMENT
Erected in 1815, the imposing 18m-high monument with a lone, kilted highlander standing atop, overlooks stunning Loch Shiel. The monument honours the Jacobite clansmen who fought and died for the cause of Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie).
You can climb to the top and stand beside the lone Highlander for a unique Highland panorama. Cost £5.00 adult (concessions)
LOCH SHIEL
This spectacular freshwater loch is best appreciated from the short walk at the visitors centre to the Glenfinnan Monument. It’s the fourth longest loch in Scotland, at 28 km/17.5miles long, and is surrounded by majestic mountains.
GLENFINNAN VISITOR CENTRE
The visitor centre has an interesting exhibition, detailing the 1745 Jacobite Rising, presented through audio guides and artefacts. History buffs will enjoy the intricate model of the Glenfinnan Gathering which took place to regain the throne for the Stuarts.
A lovely café serves takeaway treats, hot and cold drinks, and there is a well-equipped gift shop.
Entry: FREE | Hours: See Opening Hours
GLENFINNAN VIADUCT
Be prepared for rain and mist, this is the Scottish Highlands after all! When we visited this time, it was raining so heavily at the viaduct viewpoint, that taking any sort of photo was impossible.
The Jacobite Express passes over the Glenfinnan Viaduct at approximately 10.45am and 3.10pm. Check the official site before your visit.
Viewpoint For The Monument and Viaduct – Follow the steep and uneven path leading from the left hand side of the visitor centre. It is well marked, and very popular. For the morning train, be at the viewpoint by 10.30am. Then simply wait for the train to pass across the viaduct.
Viewpoint As Seen In The Harry Potter Film – A small trail leads from Glenfinnan Station Museum towards the viaduct, and takes about an hour return. Here, you can get the iconic view seen in tourist brochures, but arrive by 10am/2.45pm as you won’t be alone!
LOCH EILT – STOP 4
Leaving Glenfinnan the route is very picturesque as the views spread out, with several lay-bys for you to pull into and enjoy the scenery.
Loch Eilt Is a freshwater loch between the villages of Glenfinnan and Lochailort. The A830 road runs along the north shore, while the West Highland Line railway follows the south shore.
DUMBLEDORE’S GRAVE – STOP 5
You only have a few minutes drive, to reach a small lay-by from where you can view the next stop. The scenery here, especially on a sunny day, is very pretty.
The small tidal islands throughout Loch Eilt, were frequently used in four of the Harry Potter films. For non-Potter fans, Albus Dumbledore was the Headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and almost becomes Harry’s unofficial mentor and protector.
When the character died, he was buried on a small island. The location used, was Eilean Na Moine which sits in a corner of Loch Eilt.
LOCH AILORT – STOP 6
The hamlet of Lochailort lies at the head of Loch Ailort, which is a sea loch. Lochailort’s rugged mountainous landscape makes it ideal for hillwalkers.
There are a number of islands in the loch, and you could pull over to enjoy the wonderful views.
ARISAIG & ALTERNATE COASTAL ROUTE – STOP 7
The road passes under the Arnabol Viaduct which carries the West Highland Line over the Arnabol Burn. The viaduct has six concrete arches, has a slight curve to the south, and is 52ft high.
You will get good views along the route now of Loch nan Uamh. As you pass the sign for Arisaig, I suggest you detour off the A830, and take the alternate coast road B8008 to Mallaig.
Signposted “Alternative Coastal Route”, the 5-mile stretch between Arisaig and Mallaig is incredibly scenic. The coast here consists of inlets, rocky islets, and gorgeous sand beaches.
If you are lucky to have a sunny day, look across the sea for views of the peaks of Rum and Eigg.
There are several spectacular beaches along this stretch, some more accessible than others. The main draw is Camusdarach Beach, south of Morar, famous for the movie “Local Hero”. This involves a quarter-mile walk from a car park, north of the campsite.
The Silver Sands of Morar as they are commonly known, are very popular and accessible.
The B8008 rejoins the Road to the Isles, where you turn left for the final stretch of your journey.
Mallaig serves as a gateway to the Isle of Skye, and the small isles of Rum, Canna, Eigg and Muck. Your trip along the Road to the Isles ends at Mallaig, where you have two choices.
If this is a round trip, enjoy lunch before travelling from Mallaig to Fort William along the same route. Or, do as we did, and discover roads anew by taking the car ferry to Skye from Mallaig.
THINGS TO DO IN FORT WILLIAM
Fort William makes a great base for exploring the west coast, or simply spending an overnight stay. The town is compact, with car parks near the main street. Check out the following activities.
NEVIS RANGE MOUNTAIN GONDOLA – The journey to the Gondola Top Station takes around 15 minutes, and transports you to 650m on the mountain of Aonach Mor. A great way to view surrounding glens and lochs. Plus, on a clear day, you can see as far as the Inner Hebrides.
WEST HIGHLAND MUSEUM -A good selection of exhibits on regional life, including Jacobite and archaeological collections.
THE JACOBITE STEAM TRAIN
The Fort William to Mallaig train, also known as “The Jacobite” and “Harry Potter train” is one of the world’s most scenic railway journeys.
Run by West Coast Railways, the 84-mile round trip train journey is a great way to see the impressive landscapes of the west highlands. The train follows the Road to the Isles, crossing over Glenfinnan Viaduct, and spending some time in Mallaig before returning to Fort William.
West Coast Railway provided the steam engine and carriages for the ‘Hogwarts Express’ seen in the Harry Potter films including ‘The Philosopher’s Stone’.
You could be sitting in one of the carriages used in the films!
Trains run from April to October, and train tickets can be booked online. Trains depart from Fort William railway station.
WHERE TO EAT – Try The Old Deli, The Geographer, Silly Goose Restaurant and The Wildcat.
WHERE TO STAY – Westwind Pod, Buccleuch Guest House, and Almarie.
THINGS TO DO IN MALLAIG
If you fancy staying around Mallaig for a couple of days, or an overnight stay, we recommend the following activities.
MALLAIG HERITAGE CENTRE – This visitor centre tells the story of West Lochaber, its people and landscape.
MALLAIG CIRCUIT – A 3km circuit with good views over Mallaig harbour and across Loch Nevis to Knoydart.
VISIT ANOTHER ISLAND – CalMac Ferries offer the following timetables:
- Small Isles: Mallaig – Eigg – Muck – Rum – Canna
- Skye: Mallaig – Armadale
WHERE TO EAT – Try The Cabin Restaurant & Take Away, The Bakehouse & Crannog, Groom & Graze and The Chlachain Inn.
WHERE TO STAY – The Moorings, Loch Morar Private Suite and West Highland Hotel.
Are you planning on taking a journey on The Road to the Isles from Fort William to Mallaig? If you have any questions or want to share your own experience, please leave a comment below.
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