Gateway: Bolzano or Bressanone — both on the main line south from Munich and Innsbruck, and north from Verona and Bologna.
Direct trains reach Bolzano from Munich, Innsbruck, Verona, Milan and Bologna. From Bolzano's bus depot — a two-minute walk from the station — regional bus 350 runs to Ortisei in Val Gardena in under an hour.
Ortisei, Santa Cristina or Selva, all a few kilometres apart in Val Gardena. All three connect to cable cars that put you straight onto the trail network without a second bus.
Gateway: Fort William, reached directly by the West Highland Line from Glasgow — voted the world's best rail journey by Wanderlust readers.
ScotRail runs direct trains from Glasgow Queen Street to Fort William, roughly 3h45 through Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moor and Glencoe. The route itself is a genuine highlight, not just transport.
Fort William station sits about 10 minutes' walk from the start of the Ben Nevis tourist track. It's also the northern end of the West Highland Way and the start of the Great Glen Way.
- West Highland Way96 miles, Milngavie to Fort William, both ends train-accessible — the classic multi-day route.
- Ben Nevis tourist track3.5–5 hours up, UK's highest peak, starts a short walk from Fort William station.
- Great Glen WayFollows the Caledonian Canal into Fort William — flatter, good for a lower-effort day.
Gateway: Lake Bled, reached by train via Lesce-Bled or Bled Jezero station, then local bus onward into the Julian Alps.
Trains from Ljubljana reach Lesce-Bled station, about 4km from the lake, or the smaller Bled Jezero station right by the water on the Bohinj line (fewer daily services). From Bled, an hourly local bus continues to Lake Bohinj.
Bled for easy access and more amenities, or push on to Bohinj for a quieter, more trail-focused base with direct access to Triglav National Park.