My 10-day road trip from London to Scotland came to its conclusion when we took the ferry from Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis into Ullapool harbour on the Scottish mainland. Once back on the mainland we drove just over an hour to Inverness where we would catch the Caledonian Sleeper Train home to London.
Our main reason for choosing the sleeper train to get home is because Nelson isn’t allowed to fly and after driving over 2,000 miles already, I didn’t fancy another 2 days in the car. Also, over the last year, Nelson and I have pretty much exhausted the travel options here in the UK but the sleeper was a mode of transport we were yet to try. Plus, we thought, as dutiful travel bloggers we should show you guys a mode of transport that you too may not have taken or considered – don’t say we don’t look after you!
So, first things first, Inverness station is tiny so you can’t lost, so no need to be running around like a crazy person to find your platform, plus, they also have luggage storage facilities which is handy. The Royal Highland Hotel, just outside the station, is super dog-friendly and serves great food while you wait for your train. All great points to start your journey home and even better for exhausted travellers like myself and Nelson.
Our train arrived at 20:45 and we were guided by the friendly staff to our cabin, they helped us with our bags, showed us all of the buttons and compartments and assured us that if we needed any assistance throughout the night they were on hand to help. After taking our breakfast order (they have really impressive options including cooked breakfast) we closed our door and hit the hay.
Our little compartment may look small, particularly with Nelson and our ginormous suitcase inside, but it couldn’t have been better for what we needed to get back from the highlands to our home in London. The cabins come complete with sinks, charger sockets, and a wash bag full of goodies from Arran Aromatics (a favourite of mine) – a whole lot more than you’d get from any airline nowadays.
The journey, at first, was a little stop-start (it is a train after all) but after what seems like no time at all, Nelson and I were fast asleep, snoring, in complete comfort. It seems strange to write a blog about something whereby the highlight is the fact I slept throughout, but this couldn’t have been a better result. We were both exhausted and so grateful, after 10 days of solid driving, for someone else to do the work, while we rested our weary heads.
Completely fast asleep we were roused by a knock at the door. Feeling like we’d been asleep for mere moments, the friendly attendant told us that it was 7 am, we were 45mins from London and breakfast was served, in bed. Perfect! Nelson, as you can see, skipped breakfast for a lie in.
Arriving into London we were helped off of the train to complete the all-round service that Caledonian Sleeper provide. I cannot fault them for the service, facilities, and breakfast – they were all top-notch. My only suggestion may be is the introduction of WiFi onboard but if you’re sleeping the whole time, the internet can wait.
If you’re looking for alternative options of travel from Scotland to London, particularly with your dog, I can highly recommend the Caledonian Sleeper for an overnight snooze.