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Fort William -> Kyleakin -> Elgol -> Broadford -> Ferry

Posted by on

Hi! I would love some feedback on my current solo travel plan for late July. I will not have a car (can barely drive in my own country) and I am interested in relatively quieter and more peaceful scenery even if I miss some highlights. I'd rather not be too isolated though as I'm on my own

I'm taking the train to Fort William, arriving around noon and would love to do a bit of hiking before I check into the hostel. I am not very experienced but am in decent shape. I'd rather go somewhere that there's others around in case I have any trouble. Would like suggestions for hikes that I can access without a car and that last no more than a few hours so I get back to hostel easily.

Then I'm taking the bus and getting to Kyleakin around noon, spending one night at the hostel there, then hoping to take a local bus there and back to Elgol because I've heard it's beautiful. I was going to use the bus, even though schedules are limited because of summer holiday, but if there are taxi options it would be great to know, in case I get stranded.

On Elgol, I might just take in the place and the views right there, but if there is something that I can do on foot that gets me back to the bus station in 3 hours I could try. Or if taxis are not super expensive.

I'm bussing from Elgol to Broadford where I have a hostel for one night, and then the following morning taking a local bus to Armadale for my ferry to Mallaigh and then the train.

Any suggestions for short walks on Elgol/Kyleakin/Broadford, tips with busses and taxis, etc.? Thank you!

Posted by
1708 posts

I assume you’ve checked the Stagecoach website here to check that the journeys you want to make are actually possible?
The best thing to do in Elgol would be a boat trip with either Bella Jane or Misty Isle. They do a run into Loch Coruisk, you might not have time to do the version where you get off of the boat and spend some time at Loch Coruisk, but even the ‘out and back’ journey is spectacular and has wildlife spotting opportunities.

For hikes check out Walk Highland

Posted by
4 posts

Thank you for the suggestion! I did look at the #55 bus, and I think I'm interpreting it correctly to mean that in July, which is during school holidays, the first bus from Kyleakin to Elgol is at 11:55 arriving just before 1pm, and the last bus leaving Elgol for Broadford is at 16:30. That means I might have time for the Bella Jane "mini return trip" at 2pm, which sounds really nice!

It would be great to know more about taxis in the area and about the possibility of walking part of the way along the bus route, since some of the bus departures go part of the way but not all the way between the towns.

Posted by
12059 posts

Yes those bus times are correct.

Next day it's the 0950 from Broadford to Armadale arrive 1020, then any ferry over, as the next train is at 1605.

If you get the next ferry over then, Monday to Friday, there is a bus from Mallaig at 1210 to Fort William, then pick up the train at Fort William. That bus would allow you time to break your journey in Glenfinnan, then either a later bus to FW, or pick up the train at Glenfinnan.

Posted by
4 posts

Thank you! I already booked a ferry from Armadale to Mallaigh just before noon and a train from Mallaigh to Edinburgh, which leaves at 4pm. I am just hoping that the local busses are reliable so that I'm certain to catch the ferry, because I heard somewhere that the local busses can sometimes be unreliable.

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