Isle of Skye | Jacobite Steam Train

 

Does a "Jacobite Steam Train" not sound completely dorky? The answer is to the above question is: Obviously. 

It sounds like train carrying freight in librarians, bearded men wearing cargo shorts and socks with sandals & young snotty-children clutching to obscure toys like rock collections.

I guess if you notice all the grey-hairs sitting around you on the train, you'll realize your aging social life will sooner find you on an Alaskan cruise than any bikini-clad summer pool parties reminiscent of MTV Spring Break in Panama City. Then again, if I'm honest with the person I really am, I probably feel much more comfortable over there anyway...

So it was no surprise that I was more than giddy to spend a morning on this train working my way up through the hills of Scotland a few weeks ago. Because while it may sound lamer than girl scouts without any cookies,a trip on this old steam train is, actually, totally awesome.

While this train isn't actually on the Isle of Skye, it does run from Fort William to the tiny port town of Maillaig. From Maillaig, you can take the ferry to Skye and start your trip there in fabulous style.

Recognize this view?

It's the bridge that the Hogwarts Express goes over in Harry Potter.

All aboard!

PS. Scotland is really pretty.

*all images original to Aspiring Kennedy