From London to Loch Ness, Wake up to Nessie

Serco Caledonian Sleeper and Visit Inverness Loch Ness have announced a new partnership to encourage visitors to wake up in the capital of the Highlands.

The Highlander Route, Caledonian Sleeper’s famous 558-mile journey between London and Inverness, allows guests to take in some of the country's most beautiful scenery while they travel in comfort towards Inverness.

Promoting sustainable travel is one of the key areas the two groups are working together on, with the Sleeper taking more than 20,000 guests per year to the Highlands, as many environmentally conscious travellers are choosing the greener way to get between Scotland and London.

However, the announcement comes at a time where the overnight rail service has no operator confirmed from June onwards, after the Scottish Government announced in the autumn that it was terminating with Serco, seven years early.

Kathryn Darbandi, Serco’s managing director for Caledonian Sleeper, said: “We are delighted to partner with Visit Inverness Loch Ness, The Highlander route has always been popular - there’s nothing quite like falling asleep just outside of London and awaking in the gateway to the Scottish Highlands.”

To celebrate the launch of the partnership, Serco Caledonian Sleeper and Visit Inverness Loch Ness are launching a competition aimed at staycationers across the UK.

The prize includes a return journey on the Caledonian Sleeper for up to two adults and two children, a two-night B&B stay in the Best Western Palace Hotel Inverness, Loch Ness and a 'Nessie' hunting Cruise with Loch Ness by Jacobite, along with a family kayaking session with Kayak Loch Ness.

Michael Golding, chief executive of Visit Inverness Loch Ness, said: “Collaboration is so important, working together to support post pandemic recovery of the tourism industry and to celebrate this iconic route. The competition celebrates just a selection of the amazing businesses in our destination.”

To be in with a chance of winning, entrants should visit here, and answer the following question:

When was it recorded that St Columba first saw the Loch Ness Monster?

A. 2021

B. 565AD

C. 1972

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