Rail Questions in Planning Scotland trip

Posted by jan3ro on 09/17/23 05:50 AM

Planning a 22 day trip in Scotland in 2024 and the more I read the more questions I have regarding traveling without a car. I have read about the Scotland Travel Pass, a Senior Pass and a ScotRail pass and I am very confused. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
1) What is the best rail pass for us (both over 65) to purchase for our itinerary?
17 April = arrive in Edinburgh.

18 April = HO-HO city tour of Edinburgh
19 April = Private Sterling tour from Edinburgh
20 April = Round trip Train to Dundee for day tour
21 April = Train to Glasgow and HO-HO city tour bus
22 April = West Highland Line to Oban, afternoon walking tour
23 April = Mull/Iona Day Tour
24 April = Flex day in Oban
25 April = West Highland Line to Mallaig, Ferry to Armadale, Buses to Portree
26 April = Isle of Skye Day Tour
27 April = Flex day in Portree

28 April = Bus to Inverness
29 April = Inverness Day Tour
30 April = Train and Ferry to Orkney
1 May = Orkney Island Day Tour
2 May = Night Ferry to Shetland
3 May = Shetland Island Day Tour
4 May = Flex day in Shetland
5 May = Flight to Aberdeen
6 May = Aberdeen area Day Tours
7 May = Train to Edinburgh and afternoon Tour
8 May = Flight home

2) Questions regarding the Scenic West Highland Line
Can you get off the West Highland Line in Oban for three days and then re-board on day 4 to

Take it into Mallaig? If so, how do I book the ticket?

Our plan is to leave Oban the morning of 25 April on the West Highland Line to Mallaig, then
Ferry over to Armadale to catch buses to Portree for three nights. Is this option realistic
I have read that the ferry operations and bus schedules are questionable at times.

3) Does the West Highland Line from Fort Williams to Mallaig follow the same route as the
Jacobite Steam Train?

I look forward to any suggestions or recommendations anyone can provide.
Thank you.

Posted by isn31c

Lake District, England

09/17/23 06:38 AM

7982 posts

Question 1- IF your train journeys are after 0930, buy a 2 Together Railcard for £30 to get 34% off point to point tickets-
https://www.twotogether-railcard.co.uk/

If before 0930 buy Senior Railcards each to get 34% off point to point tickets for £30 each (total of £60).- https://www.senior-railcard.co.uk/

You could buy a Spirit of Scotland Travel Pass (and your railcards give you 34% off that as well)- you need to do the maths to see if that pays.-
https://my.scotrail.co.uk/tickets/combined-tickets-travel-passes/spirit-of-scotland

Question 2a- The bus timetable on Skye keeps changing (it changed again a few weeks ago)- as of today you could leave Oban at 0811, arrive Mallaig 1338 (changing at Crianlarich), catch the 1420 ferry, arrive Armadale 1500, leave Armadale by bus at 1505, and arrive Portree at 1615. That is the last Portree bus of the day.
But that bus may or may not exist next April, and the connection depends on the ferry being reasonably on time.

You can't do Mallaig and back then Portree on the Citylink coach, but you could do Mallaig, then 1605 train back to Fort William, overnight stay, then the 1000 citylink bus next day to Portree arr 1305 then tour Skye on your flex day instead;
or ferry to Armadale, then overnight in Broadford (there is a later bus at 1705 only as far as Broadford), then the 0805 bus from Broadford HOSPITAL to Portree next day for your tour (see if your tour could pick you up in Broadford).

Question 2b- Book tickets from GLA-Oban for 22 April, then separate tickets for Oban to Mallaig for 25 April

Question 3- Yes the Jacobite and the Diesel trains take exactly the same tarcks