Hi, sierranevada,
The Kyle line runs through some stunning countryside. You may want to consider getting off at Plockton, the "Jewel of the Highlands." It's on the way to Kyle of Lochalsh. The train runs four times a day, so you'd have time to get off in Plockton, do some exploring, have a meal, and get back on another train for Kyle. www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKxSCM8l7SQ www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZKaC5WNHyc
To follow up on the recommendation that you received from epitd, Kyle Taxis, out of Kyle of Lochalsh, do half and one day tours with a driver. Their website is www.lochalsh.net/taxi The Dornie Hotel, which epitd recommended, is about seven miles from Kyle, so if you're taking the train, you'd need to get a bus or a taxi from Kyle. There are five buses daily from Kyle to Dornie. There are a few hotels in Kyle, and several B&Bs. Before the Skye Bridge opened, there were traffic backups for ages waiting for the Skye ferry. It was a small ferry! We stayed at the Tingle Creek Hotel years ago. It was good then; probably still is. It's about a mile north of Kyle, so you'd need a taxi.
There is no train service from Inverness or Kyle of Lochalsh to Fort William. You have three options.
From Kyle of Lochalsh, take the train back to Inverness. Go to the bus station, and take the Citylink bus to Fort William. The bus operates about five times per day. Check the schedule carefully, as some buses run daily, while others don't run on the weekend.
Your second option, and certainly a more scenic one, would be to make your way from Kyle of Lochalsh to Armadale on the number 51 Stagecoach bus, then take the CalMac ferry over to Mallaig. From Mallaig, it's a less than five minute walk from the ferry terminal to the train station, where you can catch the train for Fort William.
Your third option would be to take a CityLink bus directly from Kyle of Lochalsh to Fort William. It's about a two hour journey, and there are at least three buses per day.
Kyle of Lochalsh is a very pleasant small town, and as previously mentioned, was the mainland terminus for the old Skye ferry. It's not a large town, but it's attractive, with many whitewashed buildings. One thing that you might want to consider while you're there is a visit to Eilean Ban, the island made famous for its association with Gavin Maxwell ("Ring of Bright Water"). Maxwell bought the island in 1963, and lived on it from 1968 until his death in 1969. www.eileanban.org/gavin-maxwell.html
Slainte!
Mike (Auchterless)
