Rail services Inverness to Skye Bridge

Hi, Penguin73,

On a Sunday in April, you probably do not need to purchase advance tickets. However, you would save money by purchasing the tickets ahead of time.

We did this last July. I purchased the tickets about three months ahead of time, then picked up the tickets from the automated ticket kiosk in the Inverness train station, using the same credit card which I had used to make the purchase. We only went as far as Plockton, for a day out. It was really nice to not have to drive for the day.

It was a two car train, and neither car was even remotely full. That is a beautiful journey, especially along the shores of Loch Carron.

Are you coming back on the return train, or are your adventures taking you farther? If you go out and back on the same day, the current advance fare is 29 pounds 40 pence.

Best wishes for your travels!

Mike (Auchterless)

p.s.: If you do purchase your tickets ahead of time, be sure to retain any associated paperwork.

You absolutely never NEED to make reservations for any Scotrail service, that is a matter of choice and to save money. Yes you pay when you purchase the tickets.
This is the weekend after Easter, so not even vaguely going to be a busy day, out of season.
If it was a weekday in high season I would have seen a need to book ahead, merely to be sure of a seat.
For a return journey the fare of £29.40 is an 'anytime day return'- the same as you would pay at the station on the day, so there is no saving. It is not the advance fare as stated above.
If you are only travelling one way then an advance single of £15.20 is a saving compared to the £27 paid on the day.

If you are coming back on a later date (within 1 month) either buy 2x £15.20 advance tickets or an off peak return at £39.50.

A day return advance fare (which ties you to specific trains) is more expensive than the 'anytime day return' which you can buy on the day, use on any return, or break your journey at anywhere you like the look of (such as Plockton).

Oh, and it's a bit of a walk out of the town to reach the Skye Bridge, If you want to walk over that you can and end up in the village of Kyleakin on the other side where there is a cafe and restrooms. Check the bus timetables carefully but the Citylink coaches from Portree to Inverness and Glasgow will save you the walk back across.

Hi again, Penguin73,

I had forgotten about April 16th. being the Sunday after Easter. Silly me! That's probably why there is only one scheduled train that day. According to the ScotRail website, there are currently only four tickets available at that 15 pound 20 pence rate. I don't know if that means that the train is almost full, or if only more expensive tickets will be available after those four are gone. Perhaps isn31c can help us out in that regard.

Anyway, as isn31c kindly pointed out, it's a bit of a hike from the train station just to the foot of the bridge, and it's 1.5 miles from one end of the bridge to the other. So you're looking at about three miles each way on foot. www.YouTube.com/watch?v=YctW-i4Vt8I

The Stagecoach buses which serve the Isle of Skye may be operating on a reduced schedule on Sunday, so you may want to check those schedules carefully if you are planning to return by bus, or even take the bus across to Kyleakin. However, as there is only one train out and back between Inverness and Kyle that day, that will necessitate having to stay over in Kyle or Kyleakin if you plan to traverse the bridge. There are several nice places to stay in both Kyle and Kyleakin, but as it is a Sunday, you need to confirm reservations as soon as possible if you are spending the night. There is taxi service in Kyle if you need it. Please note that you have only one hour and 22 minutes to spend in Kyle. You could conceivably have a taxi meet you at the station, drive you across the bridge and back, with time for photographs once you arrive in Kyleakin. However, that seems like a bit of a rush.

If your group is familiar with the work of Scottish author Gavin Maxwell (Ring of Bright Water), the island of Eilean Ban could be of interest. It is below the mainland end of the Skye Bridge. Maxwell spent the last year of his life there, and there is small museum operated by the Eilean Ban Trust. Check their website for hours and access.

The best views of the Skye Bridge are from the car park just east of the Kyleakin end of the bridge, but from personal experience, especially from the top of the war memorial just a bit east of the car park.

If you're staying over in Kyle, there is a well stocked Co-op supermarket near the train station. They are open until 10 p.m. on Sunday.

Once again, very best wishes. You will truly enjoy the train ride!

Mike (Auchterless)

Thank you for the input and questions. Very helpful.

Spending 2 days in Edinburgh, then train to Inverness.
Train to Kyle of Lochalsh on Sunday. It looks like there is only one train that day, but I could be missing something as I searched.

We have arrangements with Kyle Car Hire and taxi to pick up a rental car in Kyle of Lochalsh early after. Most of our journey is by rail, except for our days on Skye, staying in Portree. Thank you for checking about our plans.
We leave the car at Armadale and catch the ferry to Mallaig and get the train there on Wednesday.

Based on your kind input, sounds like we will make rail arrangements when we arrive Edinburgh. We have made accommodation arrangements for our trip - thanks to reading great information here on RS Forum.

Hi once again, Penguin 73,

Happy to see that you have everything sorted. Yes, there is just one train on April 16th.

One last thing - I had mentioned that there is a Co-op supermarket in Kyle, just before the bridge. That's a good place to pick up some treats for your drive. However, there is also a Co-op in Broadford, which is also very well stocked. Both Co-ops have free toilets (!!), which are an essential while travelling.

Have a wonderful time!

Mike (Auchterless)

Thank you for the great trip hints and information. Good to know about the Co-op supermarkets, thank you, (auchterless) Mike. I have learned about finding toilets n British Isles! The town library is a good stop at times - at least it was when last we visited the British Isles.

The reassurance about the rail service is helpful. Thanks to isn31c.

Any tips about Skye, I read and note.

We finish in Oban for a couple of nights then rail service back to Edinburgh.