Train travel recommendations from Edinburgh to Inverness, and Inverness to Glasgow

LNER only run one train a day from EDI to INV (in late afternoon) and none INV- GLA so given your parameters it is Scotrail.

This is the timetable which will then be running- https://www.scotrail.co.uk/media/27859/download?inline

So on Friday EDI-INV your choices are 0838 and 1032. Given that the 0838 is an Inter7City train that would be my choice- that is the better quality train, not that the 1032 is a bad train, just a BETTER train.

On the Sunday the first through train to Glasgow is at 1237, with the only other one being at 1626.

Tickets will or should be available from 12 weeks before travel, so in about a month's time.

My only caveat would be that engineering work often happens on a Sunday- in Scotland that is often announced 8 weeks out. IF that happens you may be put on a bus for part of the journey, likely INV to Perth. Until mid July no-one knows if that will happen or not. But that often happens on that line in the fall to prepare for the harsh winter ahead.
If by mid June Scotrail have been told of plans for engineering they will delay ticket release until it is known what is happening, so you won't book a train then find out later that you are on a bus.

We are so very grateful for your information. This is our first trip to Scotland and traveling without being on a tour. There is so much to learn and you are making it so much easier with your tips. Thanks again.

We've adjusted our travel plans so we won't be traveling on Sunday. We added and extra day in Inverness so we will travel to Glasgow on a Monday. We thought it was worth changing hotels times. We've read on other posts that track work was often on the weekends. Any recommendations for train travel nonstop on Monday, September 23rd to Central Station Glasgow?
Thank you for your suggestions.

Trains from Inverness all serve Queen Street Station in Glasgow, rather than Central.

All services have a number of stops on route- departures are at 0536, 0841, 0942, 1450, 1544, 1726 and 2022.

Of the morning departures (at a sensible hour) my choice would be the 0841 arriving at 1214- because that is an Inter7City loco hauled train (technically a HST- High Speed Train) which is more comfortable and a better all round ambience than the other diesel multiple units (Class 158 and 170) which work the route.

By chance that also looks to be the cheapest of the morning trains.

If you need to get to Central Station (a 5 minute walk) but don't want to walk take the inter station bus #398- free with any train ticket to Glasgow.

This is the timetable- https://www.scotrail.co.uk/media/27859/download?inline

Great! The 8:41 it is. We'll book as soon as tickets become available. So excited to get another piece of the travel puzzle figured out. On our way.! Thanks again for your help.

The Advance (cheap, train specific) fares have now been issued for Edinburgh to Inverness on 20 September. Those for Inverness to Glasgow should become available on Tuesday next week.

By mistake my husband booked anytime day single tickets from Inverness to Glasgow. I'm so excited he made this mistake. We are now stopping in Sterling to see the castle and for lunch before going into Glasgow. We heard this was a great town to visit. Do we need to make reservations for a tour or just get an audio?

What a lucky mistake to make.

Regarding luggage storage at Stirling this is taken and updated from a previous thread-

This is the link for Stasher- https://stasher.com/luggage-storage/stirling (which is at the Premier Inn)

If you look at Visit Stirling it suggests the Willy Wallace Hostel at 77 Murray Place-https://www.yourstirling.com/plan-your-visit/getting-here/
https://www.visitscotland.com/info/accommodation/willy-wallace-hostel-p1678961

At least that is just across the road from the railway station, so handy for you- see google maps-
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Willy+Wallace+Hostel/@56.1194287,-3.9396796,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m9!3m8!1s0x48886295480be9ed:0x327021830ca34e58!5m2!4m1!1i2!8m2!3d56.1194287!4d-3.9374909!16s%2Fg%2F1tyktzcq

I don't see a need to book ahead on a September weekday, BUT if you do so you get a 10% discount PLUS this extra discount-

25% off the standard Adult, Child, or Concession admission price when you book online and arrive car-free by train, bus or bike. Book with code GOOD25 and show your bus/train ticket or bike on arrival.

So there is every incentive to book ahead!! You can also choose to use your own device to get the audio tour, if you have data.

There are also extra trains to Glasgow which start at Stirling, as well as the long distance trains.

Unfortunately the HoHo tour bus around Stirling ends it's season on 1 September.