Glenfinnan by train (and solo)

As well as normal service trains there is a Shiel bus service from Fort William to Glenfinnan on its route to Mailaig.
You won't be alone I can vouch for that ,I was camping just above the cafe and the first tourists of the day rolled up at 7.15 am.
By the time the steam train comes through there was 500/ 600 folk scattered over the overlooks and in the glen bottom.

https://www.shielbuses.co.uk/route-500-new

Theres a nice enough and blissfully quieter walk up the glen to Corryhully, a return on the forrestry road is possible

Would think the excellent Walkhighland would have a route description.
Or Iain Frew has a youtube showing the glen walk

Oh wow, that's a lot of people! I'll definitely check out the trails you suggested.

Thanks for the advice!

Theres also Citylink buses from Glasgow- Fort William too.

If you have arrived at Glenfinnan by train, then the return one cannot be cancelled because it is the same 4 car train making the return journey..

If it broke down at Mallaiig then Scotrail have a legal requirement to provide alternative transport on two counts - a. The delay would be over one hour, b. It is the last Scotrail train of the day beyond Fort William. In extremis, if unable to source taxis or buses, then they might put passengers on the sleeper train (the only one in Scotland to take local seated passengers) or else they would have to find hotel rooms.
If you just went and found other transport you would be unable to recover your costs. Use the help points in the miniscule possibility that happens.

Honestly the chance of your being stranded by the train is so remote that it can be discounted.

If this week's Jacobite replacement charters become regular the hordes of people may be back as they have been hauled by a pair of Class 37 diesel engines- a treat to many rail fans.

PS- The fact that it is currently a 4 car train also provides redundancy. If one half failed at Mallaig they would dump the failed unit and run the other half back. But one unit can haul a dead unit anyway, at reduced speed.

It's so beautiful at Glenfinnan- standing at the monument and looking out at Loch Shiel is one of my favorite places in the world. Also climbing up the hills to look at the viaduct from above is great fun.

As someone noted above, it's absolutely PACKED with tourists (at least when the steam train comes through - and even if it's not, there will still be people there for the visitors center etc).

Plan ahead and reserve ahead (they have limited seating) for lunch at the Glenfinnan Station Dining Car. It's owned and operated by the folks who used to run the Glenfinnan House Hotel and the husband is an excellent chef.

Thanks everyone!!

As said, it's super safe and that's even if, on the off chance, there's nobody about!

If you are starting the hike from the station itself then there's a fair amount of up hill and down dale to the best viewpoint over the viaduct.It's a stunning area too of course. You can then follow the track all the way down to the main car park and out to the Monument, with an uphill walk back to the station after that.Don't miss lovely St Fillan's church too which offers gorgeous views from the grounds.

@wanderingclaire- you may find this video interesting.- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Huu8iaTvVI

Steve Marsh is a favourite of many on this forum

@scotlandmac and @isn31c Thank you for the suggestions!

The Steve Marsh video is very informative and I'll make sure to check out St Fillan's church!

Scotlandmac is quite right the path from the station to the western overlook feels like about a 300 ft climb , you end up high above the viaduct.
The viewing area behind the cafe brings you out about eye level with the viaduct and its only a few minutes walk up.
From memory theres at lesst one maybe two info boards

It's so beautiful at Glenfinnan- standing at the monument and looking
out at Loch Shiel is one of my favorite places in the world.

@Kim, I couldn’t have said it better! Seeing the viaduct and watching the Jacobite steam train pass through was really cool, but standing on the shore of Loch Shiel was on another level. Transcendently beautiful.