New calendar captures county from above
Scenic stretches of the Angus coast feature feature as the backdrop to photos of the iconic Caledonian Sleeper, which feature in a new calendar.
Glasgow-based photographer Stephen Sweeney went to extraordinary lengths to capture the train out in the wild.
Spending two years capturing incredible images of the sleeper from the skies of the country’s, Stephen set out in the dead of night, to take atmospheric drone images as it passed through dramatic locations.
The result is an epic collection of 12 strikingly beautiful images that each capture the changing seasons, and the jaw-dropping journey the unique overnight train service makes six nights a week, all contained in the Sleeper’s first ever calendar, as part of its Christmas 2026 range.
Lunan Bay features as April’s picture, while Boddin is the photo for August
Stephen described the project as a “genuine joy” as he worked the most remarkable twilight shifts, with some starting at 3am to get into position for the train’s arrival to cinematic settings.
From a first snap at sunrise in Rannoch, in the West Highlands, in 2024 to a hazy summer morning as the train passed along Angus’s North Sea coastal cliffs, Stephen meticulously planned every single shot along with the Caledonian Sleeper team.
He said: “Spending time out in different Scottish landscapes, looking for those moments where the train and the environment come together, has been a genuine joy.
“I feel very lucky to be able to call Scotland home, and this project has been a wonderful reminder of just how much there is to discover on our doorstep.
“When it came to carrying out the actual shots it was a case of parking up and waiting.
“There were some times I could hear the first sounds of the train arriving in the distance, from the noise of the tracks. It was quite incredible, I would be waiting and then it would all be over within 20 seconds.”
Stephen continued: “It was a surreal experience, being stood in these cinematic locations whilst everyone, including the passengers on the train, was sound asleep.
“It was just me and my camera, surrounded by the Scottish wildlife. It felt so calm and peaceful and then you’d suddenly see the train appear out of nowhere.”
Stephen had the assistance of Patrick Jordan, in-house graphic designer at Caledonian Sleeper, who acted as project manager and helped to capture the perfect moments. The duo tackled all the weather had to offer to make sure they were in the right place at the right time.
Stephen said: “All the shots were meticulously planned to minimise any serious challenges. There was a lot to consider, mainly the weather, and some of the shots being taken in the depths of winter. I had to make sure I timed it perfectly, then we used Google Earth to find out how the light would fall at the exact time of day the train was due to pass.”
Eagle-eyed fans will also spot the Sleeper’s ‘Outlander’ wrap in one of the photos, after the train celebrated the final season of the hit television show earlier year.
The calendar is now available as part of Caledonian Sleeper’s Christmas range.