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Jacobite Steam Train Tours › WeatherUpdated 2026-09-25

Jacobite Steam Train Weather: Month by Month

Hours, prices and access verified by the Jacobite Steam Train Tours team — last checked 2026-09-25.

The Jacobite runs from June to October, and the West Highlands are wet in every one of those months. What the weather changes is not whether you go, but what you see. Before a Jacobite Steam Train booking, check the month.

What the weather does to a Jacobite day

Rain does not stop the train. What it takes away is the view. West Coast Railways promises the Small Isles and the tip of Skye only on a clear day, and low cloud can hide Ben Nevis at the start.

Heat matters more than you might expect. In extreme heat, the railway may suspend the service. At high fire risk, a heritage diesel may haul the train instead of steam, with no refund. High fire risk comes with dry spells, so a fine week is not all good news.

If you watch from Glenfinnan, rain changes your visit more. The viewpoint is a walk up a hillside path, and you may wait there for the train. A waterproof matters more to you than to anyone on board.

No Met Office climate station sits at Fort William or Mallaig. The figures below are its 1991-2020 averages for Tulloch Bridge, in a glen 25 km inland, and Skye: Lusa, on the coast opposite Mallaig. Neither publishes sunshine hours, so we print none.

The Jacobite Steam Train month by month

Jacobite Steam Train weather in January

Inland at Tulloch Bridge, expect highs of 5.7 °C and lows of -0.1 °C. About 250 mm of rain falls, on 20 days. On the coast at Lusa, highs reach 7.4 °C, with 241 mm of rain. The Jacobite does not run. The Glasgow private day still visits the viaduct.

Jacobite Steam Train weather in February

Inland at Tulloch Bridge, expect highs of 6.0 °C and lows of -0.2 °C. About 187 mm of rain falls, on 18 days. On the coast at Lusa, highs reach 7.8 °C, with 185 mm of rain. No Jacobite. Frost comes on about 12 nights inland.

Jacobite Steam Train weather in March

Inland at Tulloch Bridge, expect highs of 7.6 °C and lows of 0.9 °C. About 154 mm of rain falls, on 18 days. On the coast at Lusa, highs reach 9.2 °C, with 173 mm of rain. No Jacobite yet. Frost still comes on about 11 nights inland.

Jacobite Steam Train weather in April

Inland at Tulloch Bridge, expect highs of 10.6 °C and lows of 2.4 °C. About 103 mm of rain falls, on 15 days. On the coast at Lusa, highs reach 11.6 °C, with 114 mm of rain. Still no Jacobite in 2026. The rain halves from its winter peak.

Jacobite Steam Train weather in May

Inland at Tulloch Bridge, expect highs of 14.0 °C and lows of 4.6 °C. About 95 mm of rain falls, on 15 days. On the coast at Lusa, highs reach 14.1 °C, with 111 mm of rain. No Jacobite in 2026, though the 2025 season opened on 5 May.

Jacobite Steam Train weather in June

Inland at Tulloch Bridge, expect highs of 16.0 °C and lows of 7.7 °C. About 88 mm of rain falls, on 15 days. On the coast at Lusa, highs reach 15.9 °C, with 96 mm of rain. The morning train starts on 1 June, the afternoon on 10 June. The driest month.

Jacobite Steam Train weather in July

Inland at Tulloch Bridge, expect highs of 17.4 °C and lows of 9.5 °C. About 94 mm of rain falls, on 16 days. On the coast at Lusa, highs reach 17.3 °C, with 114 mm of rain. Both trains run daily, and it is the warmest month.

Jacobite Steam Train weather in August

Inland at Tulloch Bridge, expect highs of 17.0 °C and lows of 9.2 °C. About 108 mm of rain falls, on 16 days. On the coast at Lusa, highs reach 17.3 °C, with 137 mm of rain. Both trains run daily. Rain starts to climb on the coast.

Jacobite Steam Train weather in September

Inland at Tulloch Bridge, expect highs of 14.9 °C and lows of 7.5 °C. About 130 mm of rain falls, on 16 days. On the coast at Lusa, highs reach 15.6 °C, with 180 mm of rain. The afternoon train ends on 25 September. Wetter on the coast than inland.

Jacobite Steam Train weather in October

Inland at Tulloch Bridge, expect highs of 11.2 °C and lows of 4.8 °C. About 191 mm of rain falls, on 20 days. On the coast at Lusa, highs reach 12.6 °C, with 218 mm of rain. Morning train only, until 23 October. Rain rises fast.

Jacobite Steam Train weather in November

Inland at Tulloch Bridge, expect highs of 8.0 °C and lows of 2.1 °C. About 203 mm of rain falls, on 20 days. On the coast at Lusa, highs reach 9.7 °C, with 210 mm of rain. No Jacobite. One of the wettest months of the year.

Jacobite Steam Train weather in December

Inland at Tulloch Bridge, expect highs of 5.9 °C and lows of -0.5 °C. About 223 mm of rain falls, on 19 days. On the coast at Lusa, highs reach 7.5 °C, with 241 mm of rain. No Jacobite. Rain on most days and the shortest light.

The seasons, and which one you want

WhenThe JacobiteHigh, inlandRain a month, inlandRain a month, coastWhat it means for you
JuneMorning from 1 June, afternoon from 10 June16.0 °C88 mm96 mmThe driest month at both stations
July–AugustBoth trains daily17.2 °C101 mm126 mmThe warmest weeks; book early
SeptemberBoth trains to 25 September, then morning only14.9 °C130 mm180 mmRain climbs, the coast first
OctoberMorning only, to 23 October11.2 °C191 mm218 mmWet and cooler; the last trains
November–MayNo Jacobite8.3 °C174 mm182 mmViaduct visits only; ScotRail still crosses

June is the driest month at both stations, and both trains are running from 10 June. If you can choose, it is the safest bet for a clear view.

July and August are the warmest, with inland highs above 17 °C. They are also the busiest trains, and rain climbs on the coast through August. Book early and pack a layer anyway.

September keeps both trains until the 25th, then only the morning train. The coast gets wetter, and inland Tulloch Bridge stays drier than Lusa. October is wet everywhere, and the last train runs on the 23rd.

From November to May, the Jacobite does not run. You can still see the viaduct on a private day, or cross it on a ScotRail train.

Morning or afternoon train: the best time of day

In most of the season, you choose between the 10:15 and the 12:50. The morning train gives you the longest season, from 1 June to 23 October. It is the one tours use, and it has you back by 16:03.

The afternoon train runs only from 10 June to 25 September. It returns at 18:52 and gives you 1 hour 54 minutes in Mallaig, nine minutes more than the morning.

If a heatwave is forecast, check with the railway before you travel. Extreme heat is the one weather that can cancel the train outright.

What to pack for the weather

Frequently asked questions

What is the best month for the Jacobite Steam Train?
June, on the rain figures. It is the driest month at both nearby Met Office stations, and both trains are running from 10 June. July and August are warmer but wetter on the coast.
Does the Jacobite run in the rain?
Yes. Rain does not stop the train, but low cloud hides the views to the Small Isles and Skye. Extreme heat and high fire risk are what change the service.
Why would the Jacobite be pulled by a diesel?
At times of high fire risk, West Coast Railways may use a heritage diesel instead of steam. It gives no refund when that happens.
How cold is it on the Jacobite in October?
Inland highs average about 11 °C in October, and 12.6 °C on the coast. It is also one of the wettest months, so bring a waterproof for Mallaig and the viaduct walk.
Does the Jacobite run in winter?
No. The 2026 season ends on 23 October, and nothing runs until the next season. ScotRail's ordinary trains still cross the Glenfinnan Viaduct all year.

Where these facts come from

Temperatures, rain and rain days come from the Met Office's 1991-2020 averages for Tulloch Bridge and Skye: Lusa. Season dates, heat suspensions and diesel rules come from West Coast Railways.

Days to plan around the forecast

Next: see the dates on the 2026 season, plan the viewpoint on the Glenfinnan Viaduct, or compare every tour on Jacobite Steam Train Tours.