There is no direct train from Edinburgh to Fort William, so the route runs through Glasgow. ScotRail takes you from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street in 51 minutes, and from Queen Street the Mallaig train covers the rest in a little under four hours. Allow just under five hours for the whole journey, or about 4h35 on the best connection.
On the weekday timetable we checked, the quickest connection ran three times from Waverley: 07:15, 11:15 and 17:30. The limit is set at the Glasgow end, where the Fort William trains these connect into left Queen Street at 08:22, 12:22 and 18:24.
The 07:15 and the 11:15 reach Queen Street with about a quarter of an hour to spare before the onward train. The 17:30 is a far closer fit: after its 51-minute run it arrives only a few minutes before the 18:24 pulls out, and that is the last direct train from Queen Street to Fort William that day. A modest delay between Edinburgh and Glasgow could cost you that connection, so the 07:15 and 11:15 are the safer choices.
Journeys changing at Dalmuir, Dumbarton Central, Larbert or Stirling also appear, along with one that switches to a bus at Tyndrum Lower. On the weekday we checked, every one of them took about five and a half hours or more, at least half an hour longer than the straightforward change at Queen Street, so they are worth a look only if none of the three Waverley departures suits. By road it is 146 miles via the A9, about 3h20, which is around an hour and a half quicker than the train.
Once off the train at Fort William, the High Street is about ten minutes’ walk away, a little over 700 metres.
Journey times and changes below come from the rail and bus timetables for Tuesday 1 December 2026. Weekend and holiday timetables differ, so check the day you travel.
From Edinburgh Waverley on the weekday we checked: 07:15, 11:15 and 17:30.
By road it is about 146 miles from Edinburgh to Fort William, mostly via the A9 — roughly 3h 18m with clear roads. Car parks in Fort William are listed on the Getting Here page.