The Heathers at Invergloy Halt sits on the site of one of 5 railway stations that serviced the Highland Railway Company's Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway. This line originally carried day trippers the 24 miles and 6 chains from Spean Bridge to Fort Augustus from where they could board a steamer to cruise the mystical waters of Loch Ness. Opened in July 1903, it never realised a profitable return and was destined to fail despite being subsidised. Closed in 1933 to all but a weekly coal train, the line was permanently decommissioned on 31 December 1946. Its track bed and one of its bridges are still, however, in evidence at The Heathers the grounds of which are also skirted by the line of General Wade's Military Road.

An Ideal Central Base The location of The Heathers provides an ideal central base for exploring The Highlands to best advantage. Round journeys to all the destinations shown- with plenty of time to spend when you get there – are easily achievable in a day. Alternatively, you can simply chill out and enjoy the local area, famed for its wide variety of outdoor pursuits, wildlife and numerous attractions and places of interest to see.

From its position in the Great Glen The Heathers overlooks Loch Lochy towards Achnacarry, home of the Clan Cameron Museum and the World War II Royal Marine Commando Training Centre. The area is steeped in history with one of the most famous links to the past represented by the 'The Dark Mile' between Loch Lochy and Loch Arkaig where Bonnie Prince Charlie is alleged to have taken refuge with Cameron of Clunes after fleeing the Culloden battlefield in 1746.

Commando Memorial, Spean Bridge. Courtesy of Brian Hunt Photography

The scenery surrounding The Heathers is widely acknowledged to be amongst the most beautiful and breathtaking in the Scottish Highlands and serves as an ideal central base for Munro 'bagging' -81 in the area so plenty of choice- walking, cycling, sailing, fishing, golfing, canoeing and many other outdoor activities, as well as visiting numerous attractions and places of historical, geological and general interest.

Other local attractions include the following:

West Highland Railway - Running North from Fort William to Mallaig and South to Glasgow, this line is one of the most scenic in the world. In the summer, the Jacobite Steam train runs along the Fort William to Mallaig Stretch - well worth a visit

En-route to Mallaig	The Jacobite

Nevis Range Skiing Area - Scotland's only cable car will effortlessly whisk you thousands of feet up Aonach Mor to enjoy the skiing in the winter or the spectacular views and walks in the summer

Caledonian Canal - An engineering masterpiece of its time, this canal system forms a navigable link between Fort William on the West coast and Inverness on the East coast by joining the various Lochs of the Great Glen. Just outside Fort William you can watch the boats passing through the cascading locks at Neptunes Staircase, now beautifully illuminated at night.

Loch Ness - A short drive away you can visit this famous loch for some Nessie spotting or to see the picturesque Urquhart Castle.

Road To the Isles - The Road from Fort William to Mallaig (which is the starting point for journey to many of the Western Isles) is yet another spectacular Highland Route passing the dazzling white Sands of Morar and the impressive memorial to Bonnie Prince Charlie - The Glenfinnan Monument - which overlooks Loch Sheil where the Prince is said to have landed.

Glenfinnan Monument © RWD

A little further afield, but all within easy reach of a day trip, you can reach the famous Eilean Donan Castle, travel to the "Misty Isle" of Skye, visit the Highland capital of Inverness, see the magnificent grandeur of Glencoe, explore the remote Ardnamurchan Peninsula or sample a dram or two from some of the famous Distilleries along the Whisky Trail.

So, whatever your interest, whatever your want there will always be somewhere, some place or some attraction to help make your visit to the Great Glen and the Scottish Highlands a unique and enjoyable experience.

For more information on the area, please visit the Highland Glens Website