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Glasgow to Inverness via West Highland Train and Skye?

Posted by (Point Richmond, CA) on

Has anyone ever travelled from central Glasgow via the West Highland Train to Mailaig to Skye (via ferry) to Inverness?According to the ScotRail website, it’s apparently possible to travel from Glasgow to Malaig and then

“…. From Mallaig, it’s a short hop on the ferry to the small isles, and Armadale on the Isle of Skye
After enjoying Skye, cross the Skye Bridge to Kyle of Lochalsh and take the Kyle Line to Inverness.”

Is it feasible to do in one day? I can’t figure out how to navigate the ScotRail website for details on departure times and how to get from one waypoint to the next.

I’ll spend a few days in Glasgow before traveling on Friday, July 4th to meet friends in Inverness for a Caledonian Canal cruise July 5-11. On July 12 I’ll join the RS tour in Inverness that heads back east to Edinburgh. I would love the opportunity to take the much vaunted scenic West HIghland train ride. I know that at best I’ll probably only get a wee taste of Skye and the surrounding waters, but I ensure experiencing as many “boats, planes, and trains” on an adventure as possible.

I would appreciate any insight on how feasible this might be.

Posted by
2050 posts

Welcome to the forum. It sounds like you have a great holiday planned.

So your hoping to travel from Glasgow to Inverness via Skye in 1 day on July 4? BTW, July 4 is a Saturday.

Skye is really not a day trip. It's a large island that really needs 2 or 3 days to see with a car. It is difficult to explore using the limited public transportation, especially if you only have a couple hours.

Here's an idea of what's involved:

  • The train from Glasgow to Mallaig is about 5 hours

  • The ferry from Mallaig to Armadale is about 45 minutes

  • You'll need to find a way to get from Armadale to Kyle of Lochalsh, probably a taxi due to limited public transportation.

  • The train from Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness is almost 3 hours

What you might want to consider instead is taking the same scenic West Highland Line departing Glasgow at 8:22 to Fort William arriving shortly after noon. Maybe have lunch with a loch view. From Fort William there is direct bus service traveling along Loch Ness to Inverness in about 2 hours.

Posted by
11410 posts

That spiel from Scotrail hasn't changed in a long time. Unfortunately it hasn't been true for at least 15 years, maybe more. The one time direct bus from Armadale to the Kyle of Lochalsh and beyond was stopped (at one time it went as far as Strathcarron via Plockton on the mainland).
Now you have to change at Broadford. Even in the summer, when there are more buses between Armadale and Broadford, and between Broadford and Kyle the timetables don't really meld to get you to the Kyle in time for the last train.
The first train from Glasgow at 0822 gets you to Mallaig at 1340 and the last train from Kyle at 1713 gets you to Inverness at 1959.

The ferry leaves at between 1350 and 1445 (depending on the day of the week)- https://assets.calmac.co.uk/media/tsldrcfn/stt-18-mallaig-armadale-2.pdf for the 45 minute crossing.

There is a bus at 1532 from Broadford, arrives Uig at 1551.

The other option is to get the 1710 bus from Armadale, arrives Broadford 1737, then the Citylink bus from Broadford at 1825, arrives Inverness at 2058. After the Kyle of Lochalsh it doesn't follow the railway line, but tracks south eventually picking up Loch Ness- so a taster of what you will see by water eventually.

So you would need to have a pre-booked taxi between Armadale and Kyle.

You could alternatively take that train to Mallaig, time in Mallaig then the 1530 Shiels Bus back to Mallaig, arrive 1710, then either Citylink or Ember Bus from Fort William to Inverness.

Next day, before the cruise embarks you could take the 0900 train to Kyle of Lochalsh (35 minutes there) then back to Inverness, arrive 1442.

Chances are your cruise will have time in Fort William (normally berth at either the top of Neptune's Staircase, for Banavie station) or Corpach (for Corpach station) probably giving you the time to do the Mallaig Extension Railway that day.

If so there is another way from Fort William to Inverness on 4 July through wonderful scenery (Glencoe then Lochearnhead)- the #913 bus at 1610 from Fort William to Perth (for train or bus to Inverness).

On 6 July the cruise ship 'Lord of the Glens' sails the other way than you are from Kyle to Inverness with shore excursions to Eilean Donan, Armadale Castle, Inverie, Tobermory, Iona (from Craignure) and Glenfinnan. Those Caledonian Canal cruises on the small cruise ships are magnificent. Enjoy.

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