A day trip in Scotland?

[DarloRich]

On the 28th August i am looking to have a day out in Scotland. I will be traveling with my step dad who holds a disabled persons railcard. I think he has been tempted into a day out on the back of my recent rover.

He doesn't really have any interest in trains but is looking for a decent day out exploring. I am looking for some suggestions and advice on tickets.

I wondered if it was possible to get up the West Highland Line and back in the day. I know the sleeper stops at various stations on the way round Glasgow around 0600-0630 but is it open to normal passengers.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Where will you be starting from on the day?

It is possible to do a day trip to Mallaig from here (Glasgow).

If you were coming up un the sleeper you would have time to catch the 0821 to Fort William and Mallaig but there's only Anytime tickets left for the outward leg. There are some Advances left for the return leg (1405 ex Mallaig). If it's not raining, two and a half hours in Mallaig is tolerable.

There may well be other ticket options, but I don't know what the sleeper availability would be at such short notice.

 

[DarloRich]

Where will you be stating from on the day?

It is possible to do a day trip to Mallaig from here (Glasgow).

Sorry iforgot that!

We will set off from Lochwinnoch or Paisley but could easily drive to the other side of the river to cut off the corner

 

[PaxVobiscum]

The 0821 calls at Dumbarton Central at 0850. There are ramps but not sure how busy the car park at Strathleven place would be then.

 

[DarloRich]

The 0821 calls at Dumbarton Central at 0850. There are ramps but not sure how busy the car park at Strathleven place would be then.

Access isn't a problem

Is it a case of run all the way up there and then run straight back?

 

[Be3G]

I know the sleeper stops at various stations on the way round Glasgow around 0600-0630 but is it open to normal passengers.

It most certainly is, although the timetable does say reservations are compulsory.

One option for your day trip, by the way, could be to use the unpublished easement (assuming it's still valid) which allows a Glasgow to Kyle of Lochalsh ticket holder to use the Mallaig line too, provided they pay for their transport between Mallaig and Kyle of course. I don't know if that can even be done in a day, but it'd probably be good fun if it could.

 

[30907]

For a less strenuous day out, Oban and Fort William, using bus between the two? No idea about tickets.

 

[yorkie]

I wondered if it was possible to get up the West Highland Line and back in the day. I know the sleeper stops at various stations on the way round Glasgow around 0600-0630 but is it open to normal passengers.

The sleeper is indeed open to normals!

Oh, you meant those without a berth?

Yep, there's a seated coach. The entire coach is treated as a Quiet Coach. It's listed as seat reservations "compulsory" but if no seats are available, you won't be denied entry.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I...One option for your day trip, by the way, could be to use the unpublished easement (assuming it's still valid) which allows a Glasgow to Kyle of Lochalsh ticket holder to use the Mallaig line too, provided they pay for their transport between Mallaig and Kyle of course. I don't know if that can even be done in a day, but it'd probably be good fun if it could.

Indeed, there is an easement, it's documented in our Fares Guide.

I would also recommend it.

Yes, it can be done in a day, but it might only be possible with the Summer timetables. 28th August should be fine.

We've always done it 'anti-clockwise' but it may be possible 'clockwise' though you might have to use the steam train from Fort William to Mallaig, as otherwise I'm not sure if you'd get to Mallaig on time. The biggest potential problem is not so much the ferry, but the bus - as there are not too many of those! You'd need to check the timetables though. If this interests you and you're struggling to find them, I'll have a dig and see what I can find.

 

[37038]

Isn't the sleeper a standard service after Westerton heading north? There's a connecting train off GLQ:

1Y31 0520 Glasgow Queen Street - Westerton 0532 (SCR 156)
1Y11 0557 Westerton - Fort William 0955 (DBS 67)

Can do the Jacobite return then home...
2Y61 1015 Fort William - Mallaig 1226 (Jacobite)
2Y62 1411 Mallaig - Fort William 1603 (Jacobite)
1Y48 1737 Fort William - Glasgow Queen Street 2117 (SCR 156)

Or the standard service train...
1Y41 1212 Fort William - Mallaig 1334 (SCR 156)
1Y48 1605 Mallaig - Glasgow Queen Street 2117 (SCR 156)

It's certainly doable just depends how early you want to be up and whether you want to do the WHL Extension as well!

Thanks

 

[DarloRich]

@Yorkie - yes I would be intrested in your suggestion. Thanks for the advice
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

@Yorkie - yes I would be intrested in your suggestion. Thanks for the advice

EDIT - are we saying train to Oban and a combination of bus and ferry to Fort William then train back to Glasgow? Or do you mean Mallaig?

Sorry I have really confused myself here!

 

[sprinterguy]

EDIT - are we saying train to Oban and a combination of bus and ferry to Fort William then train back to Glasgow? Or do you mean Mallaig?

Sorry I have really confused myself here!

I presume that the suggestion was taking the train to Oban, then a bus to Fort William, and then back to Glasgow on the train, as you say.

Not sure why you'd think to use a ferry: West Coast Motors run the 918 service direct between Oban and Fort William under the Scottish Citylink brand a few times a day. Timetable here:
http://www.westcoastmotors.co.uk/media/7622/WEB_Summer2014_ObanFortWilliamInverness.pdf

 

[DarloRich]

i toldyou i was confused. Shame about the ferry, I fancied a trip on one!

 

[yorkie]

EDIT - are we saying train to Oban and a combination of bus and ferry to Fort William then train back to Glasgow? Or do you mean Mallaig?

That's 30907's suggestion to do Oban & Fort William, "using bus between the two".

Do whatever itinerary you want to do - there's plenty of options.

 

[sprinterguy]

i toldyou i was confused. Shame about the ferry, I fancied a trip on one!

Well, if time was no object (and getting away from the topic of train connections, admittedly) on the way from Oban to Fort William, you could always nip onto the Corran ferry for a short trip across Loch Linnhe to Ardgour, have a swift pint at the Inn by the ferry landing and then come back across. More frequent bus service (Stagecoach local and multiple Citylink routes) from Corran into Fort William, too.

Unfortunately the time constraints of doing this whole trip in a day would probably put paid to such an idea, though it could probably be done more easily as an out and back trip on the bus from Fort William.

 

[DarloRich]

it looks like Oban OR Mallaig as it doesn’t look feasible to cover both in the day. it that a fair supposition?

My geography has failed me today!

 

[Be3G]

are we saying train to Oban and a combination of bus and ferry to Fort William then train back to Glasgow? Or do you mean Mallaig?

Sorry I have really confused myself here!

The idea yorkie and I were discussing was to use the train from Glasgow to Kyle of Lochalsh (via Inverness, so not using the West Highland Line at that point), use a bus and ferry via Skye to get to Mallaig station, then return to Glasgow on the West Highland Line. Thanks to a ticketing easement, the train elements of that whole journey can be made using a simple return ticket, despite the fact it's actually a circular journey.

 

[DarloRich]

The idea yorkie and I were discussing was to use the train from Glasgow to Kyle of Lochalsh (via Inverness, so not using the West Highland Line at that point), use a bus and ferry via Skye to get to Mallaig station, then return to Glasgow on the West Highland Line. Thanks to a ticketing easement, the train elements of that whole journey can be made using a simple return ticket, despite the fact it's actually a circular journey.

Got you - i had got into a right pickle! I will have a look at options again now

EDIT - just looking at the train/ferry/bus timetbales it looks as if the round trip doesn't work in any direction unless you go at stupid o'clock and return v late at night. Frustratingly it seems each mode of transport is timetabled to leave just before the other arrives!!!!!!!! frustrating or what?

 

[Be3G]

Granted, I don't know exactly how early/late are acceptable to you, but taking times to/from Glasgow Queen Street for simplicity, the following clockwise itinerary is possible:

0821 Queen Street – Mallaig 1334 (train)
1355 Mallaig – Armadale 1425 (ferry)
1430 Armadale – Kyle of Lochalsh 1514 (bus)
1714 Kyle of Lochalsh – Queen Street 2343 (trains)

Or anticlockwise:

0710 Queen Street – Kyle of Lochalsh 1328 (trains)
1335 Kyle of Lochalsh – Armadale 1418 (bus)
1440 Armadale – Mallaig 1510 (ferry)
1605 Mallaig – Queen Street 2118 (train)

I calculated that all using Transport Direct by the way; it has times for everything (trains, buses, ferries) so is brilliant for this sort of thing.

 

[DarloRich]

Granted, I don't know exactly how early/late are acceptable to you, but taking times to/from Glasgow Queen Street for simplicity, the following clockwise itinerary is possible:

0821 Queen Street – Mallaig 1334 (train)
1355 Mallaig – Armadale 1425 (ferry)
1430 Armadale – Kyle of Lochalsh 1514 (bus)
1714 Kyle of Lochalsh – Queen Street 2343 (trains)

Or anticlockwise:

0710 Queen Street – Kyle of Lochalsh 1328 (trains)
1335 Kyle of Lochalsh – Armadale 1418 (bus)
1440 Armadale – Mallaig 1510 (ferry)
1605 Mallaig – Queen Street 2118 (train)

I calculated that all using Transport Direct by the way; it has times for everything (trains, buses, ferries) so is brilliant for this sort of thing.

This sounds good! What sort of tickets do we need and how do we make use of the easement?

Do i buy a Glasgow - Kyle return?

 

[Be3G]

Yep, precisely. You'll then need to get ferry and bus tickets separately.

 

[DarloRich]

thanks - follow on question - is a single ticket in each direction allowable under the easement? Must it be a return ticket?

 

[Be3G]

Well, I suppose the answer is technically ‘yes’, but I'm not sure why you'd want to use the easement with a single ticket? Let us know what your intentions are and I'm sure I or somebody else can help you choose the right tickets.

 

[DarloRich]

Well, I suppose the answer is technically ‘yes’, but I'm not sure why you'd want to use the easement with a single ticket? Let us know what your intentions are and I'm sure I or somebody else can help you choose the right tickets.

A return seems to be £192.00 and is marked as route via Aviemore! I can get two singles on the same trains for £15 (ish) each!

 

[Hadders]

I've not checked but the £15 tickets are probably Advance tickets which are booked train only. Advances are suitable for this trip as you won't have the opportunity to deviate frm the plan anyway.

I've done the Skye Circular a few times - it is my favourite rail trip! Looking at the times above I'd do it clockwise - there is a 5 minute connection from the ferry onto the bus at Armadale but the bus will wait for the arrival of the ferry.

Anti-clockwise you've only got 7 minutes between the train and bus and this connection isn't guaranteed. If the train is a couple of minutes late you'd be in difficulty and while it's not far you've got to go up the ramp to the main road, along the main road for a couple of hundred yards then take a left down towards the Lochalsh Hotel to where the bus stop is. Frustratingly it's really close as the crow flies but you have to go up to the road and round as there's no other way to cross the rail line.

I think there's a later bus you can get from Kyle to Armadale (but do check as the the bus times are centered around the schools), which would give you a couple of hours in Kyle (or provide some insurance if the 7 minute connection was missed). This connects into the 1715 ferry which in turn connects to the 1815 train from Mallaig which gets you into Fort William in time to get the seated portion of the sleeper train. There is then a connection at Westerton which will get you into Glasgow Queen Street for 0020.

 

[Be3G]

A return seems to be £192.00 and is marked as route via Aviemore! I can get two singles on the same trains for £15 (ish) each!

Well, if you can get some cheap Advance singles, then there's no need for the easement at all, hence my confusion – you just buy a Glasgow to Kyle single and a Mallaig to Glasgow single.

 

[DarloRich]

We are going for it anti clockwise!

We have a good price on the outbound leg but am struggling on the return from Mallaig. I cant beat the open price so have asked on the fares section for help! I will have to write up a report when i get back!

 

[Be3G]

Brilliant, I hope you have fun. Would love to do the trip myself one day but health puts a bit of a dampener on things so I'm sure I'll enjoy reading your report.

 

[DarloRich]

Brilliant, I hope you have fun. Would love to do the trip myself one day but health puts a bit of a dampener on things so I'm sure I'll enjoy reading your report.

Should be a good (if long!) day out covering some areas i dont really know. Really looking forward to it, even the tight connection at Kyle! What is the worst that can happen

thanks for all the help!

 

[Be3G]

No problem. Just a thought by the way: seeing as you're using standard walk-up tickets for the return leg of your journey, I'd probably recommend not purchasing them in advance in case something goes wrong at Kyle and your only way back is the way you came. Mallaig ticket office is open 'til 4pm so you'll have time to get the tickets after leaving the ferry, or if the office is closed for some reason you can always buy from the guard instead.

 

[DarloRich]

Sadly things went a little wrong yesterday. We reached inverness without trouble but found the 1058 to Kyle being tended to by an army of fitters. Sensing a potential issue we booked a cab from Kyle

After a delay of a few minutes we were away but the 158 was struggling at times on the gradients and lost time.

We arrived in Kykle at 1335 to find the bus gone. It was a shame they didnt wait as they lost out on 10 passengers fares. But that was ok as we had a cab although he was a little late.

We rang the cab firm to find.............................. he wasnt coming!

We were forced to buy new tickets for the 1437 to Inverness and retrace our steps to Glasgow. It was still a really nice day out ( if expensive!) but it was such a shame we didnt get onto Skye.