The journey through Glencoe was as beautiful and majestic as it always is. It doesn't matter what the weather is like when you go through there, it is always amazing to look at.
The older boys spent the first evening, and every other evening, chatting into the wee small hours with their second cousins, who are roughly ages with our oldest three boys. Meanwhile their dads were chatting just as much downstairs in the kitchen!
Tuesday was the highlight of our trip for the boys, especially Calum and Fraser the two big train fans. We had bought tickets to take the return journey from Fort William to Mallaig on the Jacobite Steam Train.
Dad and James didn't come with us, in order to keep the costs down! They were the two who were least likely to mind missing out on the trip and they spent the day at the climbing centre instead.
Since I had Fraser sitting on my knee, the only photos I managed to take were hastily snapped through the window, but Calum took some amazing ones with his camera and I'll share them further down the post.
The scenery on the route is amazing and I can see now why it is one of the most famous railway journeys in the world!
When we reached Mallaig the boys were able to jump in with the driver before the engine was uncoupled and taken down to the opposite side of the train.
We had an hour and a half to wait in Mallaig until the return journey. There isn't an awful lot to do there, especially when it is raining! We found the Lifeboat Shop, which delighted Ally, and spent a little while in there, before joining the long queue in the Chippie and finally getting some absolutely delicious chips for lunch.
Now, onto Calum's photos of the day, which are far better than mine are.
The Glenfinnan viaduct is now the most famous part of the journey thanks to the Harry Potter movies. Calum knew that he wanted to get some good photos of it. These are on the outward journey.
And these were from the return journey.
I especially love this one. I think it's my favourite photo from the journey.
Fort William sits in the shadow of Ben Nevis and Calum took this photo of the mountain as the sun rose and the mist lifted.
My husband's cousin and family live near the line the steam train runs on and so a couple of mornings Calum headed out with his camera to get a shot of the Jacobite as it chuffed past.
Ally went along with him on the second morning.
We were only in Fort William for three nights. On our second full day the boys spent the afternoon at the climbing centre.
By Thursday it was time to say farewell to our lovely, generous hosts and head off back through Glencoe
