All Line Rover mid November

[Jan Mayen]

I'm planning on doing a ALR in November, and was hoping I could get some help with a few questions.
1. Are there any heritage railways running? I won't be starting any earlier than the 5th so I'm guessing a few will be closed.

2. Kyle to Mallaig via Skye. Essentially I would like to travel from Kyle, across to Skye, down to Armadale for the ferry to Mallaig, connecting to the Sleeper at Fort William. If I've understood the relevant bus timetables, this is only possible in the morning so giving a long wait in Fort Bill. Or am I missing something?

3. I plan to travel Liverpool to York, and would like to follow the same route as that of Flying Scotsman in Confessions Of A Train Spotter. Does anyone know the route, please?

And finally, are there any stations you feel I absolutely must visit?

Many thanks

 

[StarCrossing]

Kyle to Mallaig via Skye...

Looking at the ferry timetable, there only appear to be two ferries per day after 2nd November: a morning sailing departing Armadale at either 09:00 or 09:25 (depends on the day of the week), and an afternoon sailing departing Armadale at 16:45, 16:55 or 17:00. These can be disrupted by bad weather.

Stagecoach operate the buses and their website is a nightmare, but I think there are two buses per day from Portree to Armadale, arriving at Armadale at 10:20 and 17:00. I don't think there are any direct buses from Kyle of Lochalsh to Armadale, so a change at Broadford would be needed.

So a bus and ferry combination isn't looking good. There are taxis on Skye. These tend to be expensive and can be hard to book in the summer (as they're running tours instead), but will probably be much easier to book in November.

Personally, I'd leave this out of your plan and do it between April and September instead.

 

[Iskra]

I appreciate it may not be possible, but I think you’d be better off not doing this ALR and waiting until next summer. You will then see a lot more with longer hours of daylight and you will have less risk of weather-related disruption, particularly on the ferry leg.

 

[John R]

Sunset in Inverness on Nov 5th is 1621 and 1600 by the middle of the month, so you are likely to be missing a lot of scenery on your travels. So I’m also in the “leave until next year if possible” camp.

 

[Tetchytyke]

ALRs can be fun in the winter. There’s less daylight but that’s not always an issue. I did my last Britrail in January, although that was in first class.

But it sounds very much like the things you want to do are summer things. Any travel in the Highlands and Islands at this time of year has a significant chance of disruption. The heritage railways which are running will likely only be running at weekends and on a reduced timetable.

 

[Jan Mayen]

Yes, I think I'll forget about the Kyle to Mallaig part of the trip for now.
However, I still plan to do an ALR, so will think of something else. Thanks for the replies.

 

[peterblue]

Glasgow to Inverness via Mallaig/Kyle is possible in a day, with a taxi in Skye, but it is a full day, departing 0830 arriving about 2000. Therefore in the winter, you will miss out a lot of the scenery on that route.

I think it is possible for you to go that way - the train from Glasgow departs 0830 arrives in Mallaig around 1330, then you have enough hours of daylight left to go to Skye and have a wander around on foot and by bus. Get a train to Inverness next morning from Kyle. If this is a Sunday, there's a much more favourable 1020 train, otherwise it's 1206.

So if you want to take a sleeper train (Caledonian) at some point.. maybe you could get a Friday night sleeper train, arrive Glasgow Saturday morning, connect on a train to Mallaig, ferry to Skye. Sunday morning go to Inverness on the 1020 from Kyle and either down to Perth or via Aberdeen.

I imagine most heritage railways will be closed in November, though a few may have Halloween/Bonfire Night/Christmas related events on some weekends depending on when you go. Special event nights usually do tend to cost more.

 

[3RDGEN]

Crainlarich to Fort William is shut 7/11 to 16/11 incl, so that may mess up your plans for a train on the WHL, Mallaig to FW is open.

"https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/west-highland-line-to-benefit-from-gbp-15m-upgrade".

 

[Jan Mayen]

Crainlarich to Fort William is shut 7/11 to 16/11 incl, so that may mess up your plans for a train on the WHL, Mallaig to FW is open.

"https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/west-highland-line-to-benefit-from-gbp-15m-upgrade".

I wonder if the Sleeper diverts to Oban.

 

[Jan Mayen]

I wonder if the Sleeper diverts to Oban.

No, is the answer to my own question.

 

[3RDGEN]

I wonder if the Sleeper diverts to Oban.

Coach to/from Kingussie on RTT so don't believe so.

 

[3RDGEN]

3. I plan to travel Liverpool to York, and would like to follow the same route as that of Flying Scotsman in Confessions Of A Train Spotter. Does anyone know the route, please?

The program is on YouTube and from that the Flying Scotland is seen leaving Manchester Victoria then on a tight right curve which I suspect is it heading to Staylbridge for the Huddersfield route and the final views are it arriving in York from the south. Partway though, when they interview the window hanger, it is passing Cross Gates heading towards Leeds so I suspect it was an out and back tour which they filmed on all day but which route it took I can't tell from the film. The program implies he travelled London Euston to Manchester Picc then Vic to York so if you catch the Liverpool to Newcastle service to York you will cover a similar route.

 

[Jan Mayen]

The program is on YouTube and from that the Flying Scotland is seen leaving Manchester Victoria then on a tight right curve which I suspect is it heading to Staylbridge for the Huddersfield route and the final views are it arriving in York from the south. Partway though, when they interview the window hanger, it is passing Cross Gates heading towards Leeds so I suspect it was an out and back tour which they filmed on all day but which route it took I can't tell from the film. The program implies he travelled London Euston to Manchester Picc then Vic to York so if you catch the Liverpool to Newcastle service to York you will cover a similar route.

Sounds like a plan. Many thanks.