Inverness to Fort William via Kyle,Armadale and Mallaig on a Saturday ?

[General Zod]

Has anyone attempted this trip on a Saturday ? I'm unsure if it is possible to bus it from Kyle to Armadale on the weekend. Pretty certain there is no service on the Sunday. Eventually I plan to catch the 1900 bus from Fort William to Oban. I'm not confident that the trip can be done

 

[Iskra]

Has anyone attempted this trip on a Saturday ? I'm unsure if it is possible to bus it from Kyle to Armadale on the weekend. Pretty certain there is no service on the Sunday. Eventually I plan to catch the 1900 bus from Fort William to Oban. I'm not confident that the trip can be done

I've not done this trip myself, it does seem ambitious.

Personally, I think that if you aren't confident with it, don't do it. It's not a part of world where you can easily recover yourself to civilisation if things go wrong...

 

[General Zod]

Plan is as follows :

Saturday 28th May :
dep 0855 Inverness arr 1130 Kyle (Scotrail)
Bus(es) Kyle of Lochalsh - Armadale
dep 1510 Armadale arr 1550 Mallaig (CalMac Ferry)
dep 1605 Mallaig arr Fort William 1728 (Scotrail)
dep Fort William 1900 arr 2027 Oban (Coach 918 Westcoast Motors)

As you can see the only suspect section may be the Kyle-Armadale bus journey. Even though I have over 3.5 hours to reach Armadale the buses or lack of (on a Saturday) could be problematic.

 

[Romilly]

What date are you looking at? On the deep winter timetable, there are only two Armadale-Mallaig sailings on a Saturday: early morning and 1645. The 1645 arrives 1715 and connects with the 1815 train which arrives in Fort William at 1937.

To get to Skye, there's a 917 bus departing Inverness at 0915 and arriving/departing Kyle at 1116/1120 and arriving Broadford at 1145. You would then have to make your own way from Broadford to Armadale but at a quick glance that's 16 miles or so: local pre-booked taxi?

 

[General Zod]

I'm looking at doing the trip on the last Saturday in May.

 

[James Wake]

The Summer timetable started in May last year, direct Stagecoach 51A, 1341 from Kyle arrives Armadale 1420, for a 1430 ferry then 1605 to Fort William, or go down to Crianlarich or Ardlui for the last train back.

 

[Requeststop]

The Summer timetable started in May last year, direct Stagecoach 51A, 1341 from Kyle arrives Armadale 1420, for a 1430 ferry then 1605 to Fort William, or go down to Crianlarich or Ardlui for the last train back.

This is what I really like about this site. There may be sceptics, wingers and moaners sometimes but there are always those who help out with useful suggestions and who are eager to pass on their knowledge and experiences. Well done James Wake!

 

[James Wake]

I speak with experience having done It on Monday 14th September. I did it on a Monday when the bus was 3 mins earlier, and caught the train down to Glasgow instead of Fort William.

 

[RochdalePioneers]

Can't remember which day if the week it was but I did Inverness - Fort Bill via Portree in 2014. Had about an hour in Portree before the bus down to Armadale went - having always though the A87 across Skye was a brilliant driving road was happy to see both bus drivers absolutely spanking ut along as well.

Only nervous but was the late running of the ferry as a storm had set in. Most of the foot passengers seemed to be wanting to catch the last train east from Mallaig, but on speaking to the CalMac crew we were told that Scotrail had already been informed we were late, and the train would hold for us. Which it did!

 

[General Zod]

Thanks a lot guys !
I bought the 'bargain bucket' tickets to Nairn and Kyle covering for the Friday evening arrival into Inverness and the Saturday morning trip to Kyle. The opportunity to do the Inverness-Fort William trip via Skye trip was too difficult to resist. Unfortunately, I have to be in Oban on the Saturday. Thankfully, the summer bus timetable may allow for me to reach Armadale in time for the ferry across to Mallaig and I have enough time to grab a beer in Fort William before the coach to Oban.
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The Summer timetable started in May last year, direct Stagecoach 51A, 1341 from Kyle arrives Armadale 1420, for a 1430 ferry then 1605 to Fort William, or go down to Crianlarich or Ardlui for the last train back.

The 1605 Mallaig to Glasgow Queen St is due to arrive at Ardlui at 1948 with the 1951 Ardlui to Oban (ex 1821 Glasgow-Oban) departing very soon after. Due to the nature of the track and the 'token system" which is in place will the train to Oban not leave until the train from Mallaig has arrived ? Obviously, I would prefer to catch the train from Fort William instead of the bus.

 

[NottsPhil]

I did this in October while on a Highland Rover just before the summer timetables finished.

The train into Kyle was late (which the guard said isn't uncommon) so I missed the 51 bus which leaves shortly after it gets in and got the Citylink coach up to Portree instead (12.15 I think). It is a beautiful run up there, some stunning views.

The fly in the ointment was that it was windy and for the first part of the day the ferries from Armadale to Mallaig weren't running. Having seen the forecast I knew the wind was due to die down and they did start again in the early afternoon but on 'amber alert', meaning they were liable to short notice cancellation. A couple of calls to CalMac and they were very non-committal, but in the end I risked it - the only alternative was to shell out £30-odd for the Citylink from Portree all the way round to Fort William (I had a hotel booked in Mallaig so would have then had to wait for the late ScotRail train). This shows how Skye relies on that one road connection at Kyle!

I got the 15.40 bus from Portree (which only runs in school holidays IIRC) which was actually a coach with disappointly filthy windows and 3+2 seating, but was fine, we kept time comfortably and as we approached Armadale I could see the ferry on its way across. I even had time for an ice-cream from the little kiosk before I boarded (there is nothing else there at all). There was one car and about 4 or 5 of us foot passengers! The crossing was very pleasant, I've not been on many boats but I've definitely had worse crossings than that! The ferry comfortably connected with the train - I walked across to see it go before finding my hotel.

Oh, and kudos to the Citylink driver who was incredibly helpful (he drove the coach I took from Kyle to Portree and then went on to Uig and back, so it would have been him I would have been with if I'd gone to FW by bus) - he knew the timetables off the top of his head and reassured me that if I ended up at Armadale and the ferry wasn't there I would still be able to make it round somehow, although I'm sure it would have been very expensive!

As for the last question, you're right, the trains do cross at Ardlui and its an island platform so not even a footbridge to cross. If the Up train is late it might wait at Crianlarich instead I guess. You could get out and wait at Crianlarich but there really isn't much there and I doubt the station tea room will be open at 7.30 in the evening!

 

[cf111]

This thread has got my wanderlust going...

 

[30907]

As for the last question, you're right, the trains do cross at Ardlui and its an island platform so not even a footbridge to cross.

I've done that at Arrochar with time for a photo.

 

[James Wake]

On the Monday I did it, the train from Mallaig/Oban arrived at Ardlui first. Me and one other passenger had enough time to get out and stretch our legs, get some fresh air and watch the Oban/Mallaig train arrive before reboarding for Glasgow. The Oban portion of the train from Glasgow is the front unit.

 

[misterredmist]

Hello All, I and the missus are planning a visit to this lovely part of the world in July, commencing in Inverness, with a Highland Rover ticket, we plan to go to Kyle ( night stop) on to Skye (night stop) then the "Calmac" to Mallaig then on to Fort William ( night stop ) and then to Oban (night stop ) and finally to Loch Lomond (night stop ) before arriving in Glasgow.....

is the above itenary do-able ? and has anybody any advice for a novice of Rover tickets like me ?

 

[crehld]

Hello All, I and the missus are planning a visit to this lovely part of the world in July, commencing in Inverness, with a Highland Rover ticket, we plan to go to Kyle ( night stop) on to Skye (night stop) then the "Calmac" to Mallaig then on to Fort William ( night stop ) and then to Oban (night stop ) and finally to Loch Lomond (night stop ) before arriving in Glasgow.....

is the above itenary do-able ? and has anybody any advice for a novice of Rover tickets like me ?

With all the night stops you have planned, this itinerary will be easily doable I should think.

The Highland Rover is the most flexible option for you, but you might also look into booking each leg with separate tickets, particularly as some of the routes have relatively cheap advance fares available.

 

[misterredmist]

With all the night stops you have planned, this itinerary will be easily doable I should think.

The Highland Rover is the most flexible option for you, but you might also look into booking each leg with separate tickets, particularly as some of the routes have relatively cheap advance fares available.

Appreciate your input ! Many Thanks

 

[Track Basher]

If you get stuck getting from Armadale to Kyle, Kyle taxis do a fixed price between the two. If there are two of you this is only slightly more expensive than the bus. I did this last year when the bus times did not work. There office is about 100 yards from kyle station. Book in advance they aee only a very small operation.

 

[thejuggler]

Hello All, I and the missus are planning a visit to this lovely part of the world in July, commencing in Inverness, with a Highland Rover ticket, we plan to go to Kyle ( night stop) on to Skye (night stop) then the "Calmac" to Mallaig then on to Fort William ( night stop ) and then to Oban (night stop ) and finally to Loch Lomond (night stop ) before arriving in Glasgow.....

is the above itenary do-able ? and has anybody any advice for a novice of Rover tickets like me ?

Fort William doesn't offer much. May be worth continuing to Oban as its a much more pleasant town.

Treat yourself to a stay at Cameron House on Loch Lomond. I'm sure the friendly concierge will pick you up from Balloch station.

 

[misterredmist]

If you get stuck getting from Armadale to Kyle, Kyle taxis do a fixed price between the two. If there are two of you this is only slightly more expensive than the bus. I did this last year when the bus times did not work. There office is about 100 yards from kyle station. Book in advance they aee only a very small operation.

great advice, sounds like a plan - much obliged TB !!!
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Fort William doesn't offer much. May be worth continuing to Oban as its a much more pleasant town.

Treat yourself to a stay at Cameron House on Loch Lomond. I'm sure the friendly concierge will pick you up from Balloch station.

Lovely recommendation, the advice I am getting from this thread is priceless - all we need to do now is avoid the midges !!! Thanks