Highlands trip questions

[MidnightFlyer]

Just a few questions I have to help my prep for a few days bashing the lines around Inverness. Any help greatly appreciated

1. Are there any services in particular that tend to be quite busy? It's a Monday-Thursday job once the schools have returned. I know the EC southbound is meant to fill up well but are there any Wick, Aberdeen or Kyle trains best avoided?
2. I'm looking at heading over to Skye from Kyle for a few hours, is there much to see aside from the Bridge? Alas, I won't have time to explore greatly, I get about 2-3 hours in Portree (or more the closer I stay to Kyle), so the explorer bus is out of the question. Also, am I correct in assuming you can pay on the day for CityLink services, or is it Apex only?
3. Is there anything of note to keep an eye out for on any of the lines up there (Keith & Dufftown and Strathspey included)? There's obviously the likes of Culloden and Slochd but I do like to keep an eye of for odd bits and pieces.
4. Is Glasgow-Inverness valid via Aberdeen on an Any Permitted ticket? I get the impression it is but can't find any maps to justify such.

Cheers

 

[bb21]

Glasgow - Inverness certainly used to be permitted via Aberdeen, and indeed that was the rationale behind the creation of Via Aviemore fares. This was pruned however by recent revisions. It may be useful to launch a Disputed Routeing Procedure.

CityLink indeed take cash fares on the day, provided that the coach is not full.

Stagecoach also run local buses to the Skye from Kyle.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Glasgow - Inverness certainly used to be permitted via Aberdeen, and indeed that was the rationale behind the creation of Via Aviemore fares. This was pruned however by recent revisions. It may be useful to launch a Disputed Routeing Procedure.

CityLink indeed take cash fares on the day, provided that the coach is not full.

Stagecoach also run local buses to the Skye from Kyle.

Cheers, question's irrelevant now though as I've discovered Freedom of Scotland tickets can be Priv discounted (Anyone who is able to confirm that would be appreciated), bringing the grand total for all NR tickets I require for a six day outing to £48.95, exlcluding preserved railway tickets (10% off each however). It also gives me another week once I get back to have another two days out on it from home. Insane value!

It also apparently covers 'Kyle of Lochalsh-Uig' CityLink buses, which I'll assume also allows intermediate trips just to Portree or Broadford from Kyle.

 

[30907]

Just a few questions I have to help my prep for a few days bashing the lines around Inverness. Any help greatly appreciated

1. Are there any services in particular that tend to be quite busy? It's a Monday-Thursday job once the schools have returned. I know the EC southbound is meant to fill up well but are there any Wick, Aberdeen or Kyle trains best avoided?
2. I'm looking at heading over to Skye from Kyle for a few hours, is there much to see aside from the Bridge? Alas, I won't have time to explore greatly, I get about 2-3 hours in Portree (or more the closer I stay to Kyle), so the explorer bus is out of the question.

Coach tour groups tend to do kyle outwards which can make a train busy (the one I saw was 11th off Inverness, previous one was much quieter.

Portree is your best bet though it's years since I was there.

 

[bb21]

Freedom of Scotland Travelpass indeed offers the full 75% discount for PRIV holders.

Full details on additional validity as attached. Kyle - Uig on Citylink is included as you said.

 

[Searle]

Nearly all Kyle/Wick trains are very lightly loaded iirc, so you'll be alright on them.

 

[davetheguard]

I did a day trip from Plockton to Portree last year. First train of the day (just after 1100 if I remember correctly) to Kyle and then on the City Link coach to Portree. They board ticket holders on the bus first, and then sell tickets to the remainder. There were no problems with everyone boarding on the day I travelled.

The trip is worth doing for the scenery en route, and Portree is an attractively-sited town, where you can get lunch and wander around for an hour or so.

If you're interested in general sightseeing as well as travelling the railway lines, then Plockton is a nice place to visit on a day trip from Inverness; although be prepared for an half hour walk from the station to the village along the road. There's two pubs/hotels serving food and local real ale, the place is extremely scenic and there are seal-watching boat trips around the bay. If you can't afford the time to get off, look out for Plockton across the bay when you stop or run through the request stop at Duncraig.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Coach tour groups tend to do kyle outwards which can make a train busy (the one I saw was 11th off Inverness, previous one was much quieter.

Portree is your best bet though it's years since I was there.

Ah right, cheers. I do seem to recall last time I was up there (summer 2008) there was a small party heading back from Kyle (seem to recall they weren't onboard all the way to Inverness however). That was the mid-afternoon departure however, I wouldn't have thought there'd be one on the 1745 I hope to catch (Welsh's Bridge PSUL ).

Freedom of Scotland Travelpass indeed offers the full 75% discount for PRIV holders.

Full details on additional validity as attached. Kyle - Uig on Citylink is included as you said.

Cheers. Did a bit of searching on the valid via Aberdeen / Inverness question. All intermediate stations are members of both groups so I'm not sure where that would leave matters, however Keith is the furthest west you can go with a shortest route still via Aberdeen. There's also an easement allowing travel from stations Insch-Keith inclusive via Inverness if heading via Aviemore.

Nearly all Kyle/Wick trains are very lightly loaded iirc, so you'll be alright on them.

Cheers, I remember the Far North line train being somewhat empty.

I did a day trip from Plockton to Portree last year. First train of the day (just after 1100 if I remember correctly) to Kyle and then on the City Link coach to Portree. They board ticket holders on the bus first, and then sell tickets to the remainder. There were no problems with everyone boarding on the day I travelled.

The trip is worth doing for the scenery en route, and Portree is an attractively-sited town, where you can get lunch and wander around for an hour or so.

If you're interested in general sightseeing as well as travelling the railway lines, then Plockton is a nice place to visit on a day trip from Inverness; although be prepared for an half hour walk from the station to the village along the road. There's two pubs/hotels serving food and local real ale, the place is extremely scenic and there are seal-watching boat trips around the bay. If you can't afford the time to get off, look out for Plockton across the bay when you stop or run through the request stop at Duncraig.

Cheers, really useful (and nice pics!). Sadly it will be either Skye or Plockton and I'm tempted by the former. Have about 45 mins either way in Kyle for the bus connection, and about 2 1/2 hours in Portree, where I'll grab some lunch and maybe go for a bit of a wander if there's any decent pathways. This is probably the day I'm most looking forward to since IMO Kyle is joint most beautiful line in Britain (along with the West Highland).

 

[RochdalePioneers]

I'm doing the Skye circular this coming Saturday. 10:58 off Inverness to Kyle, then local bus to Portree, then another to Armadale for the ferry to catch the 18:15 off Mallaig to Fort William. One thing that stood out of planning this was that the long distance coaches seem to (deliberately?) miss the connections off trains at Kyle.....

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[davetheguard]

"Sadly it will either be Skye or Plockton"

If you've only got the time to do one or the other, you should probably make it Skye - not least because you'll otherwise miss out on the Plockton - Kyle section of the railway, which is superb.

Although the timetable will probably allow Inverness - Kyle (quick explore & coffee);
back on same train to Plockton for lunch;
late afternoon train back to Inverness.......

There is a footpath from the far end of Plockton village up to a viewpoint with a bench and a view of Plockton Bay and across to Skye in the background (pictured). There is another path which leaves the road about half way between the village and Plockton station which you can follow to Duncraig station; you get views of the railway line a couple of times en route. Nothing at Duncraig, apart from the "castle", a Victorian manor house closed for restoration and good views from the station platform - no refreshments to be had.

 

[cf111]

"Sadly it will either be Skye or Plockton"

If you've only got the time to do one or the other, you should probably make it Skye - not least because you'll otherwise miss out on the Plockton - Kyle section of the railway, which is superb.

Although the timetable will probably allow Inverness - Kyle (quick explore & coffee);
back on same train to Plockton for lunch;
late afternoon train back to Inverness.......

There is a footpath from the far end of Plockton village up to a viewpoint with a bench and a view of Plockton Bay and across to Skye in the background (pictured). There is another path which leaves the road about half way between the village and Plockton station which you can follow to Duncraig station; you get views of the railway line a couple of times en route. Nothing at Duncraig, apart from the "castle", a Victorian manor house closed for restoration and good views from the station platform - no refreshments to be had.

Cracking picture! You could have told me that was a bay somewhere in the Med and I'd have believed you.

Always meant to go out to Kyle but just never had the time.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

One thing that stood out of planning this was that the long distance coaches seem to (deliberately?) miss the connections off trains at Kyle.....

Yep, two Stagecoach buses up to Portree and some wayside places on Skye leave a couple of minutes before the 0845 ex-Inverness arrives; which is poor when the next ones are in a good three or four hours' time.

"Sadly it will either be Skye or Plockton"

If you've only got the time to do one or the other, you should probably make it Skye - not least because you'll otherwise miss out on the Plockton - Kyle section of the railway, which is superb.

Although the timetable will probably allow Inverness - Kyle (quick explore & coffee);
back on same train to Plockton for lunch;
late afternoon train back to Inverness.......

Aye, my plan come what may would have been all the way to Kyle thence to Skye or Plockton, no chance whatsoever I'm missing out on doing any of the line.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Just going back to RochdalePioneer's point, the train arrives 1128, whilst the next buses for Skye leave at 1130 (to Portree) and 1138 (to Broadford). If it wasn't for the CityLink any would be daytrippers would, well, not have any daytrips. I wonder if it would be worthwhile for Stagecoach to hold the 1130 to ~1140 and take any potential Skye custom off CityLink.

 

[Johnuk123]

Cracking picture! You could have told me that was a bay somewhere in the Med and I'd have believed you.

Always meant to go out to Kyle but just never had the time.

I've taken a few pictures from roughly the same spot and when it's nice it's very nice.

The trouble is as everybody knows you never can rely on the weather and you can get 4 seasons in one day.

I've been to Skye and roundabout many times for fortnight breaks and twice we hardly saw a drop of rain but other times we never had a day without it.

It's simply pot luck but it's a fact that May/June and September are usually drier than July and August.

 

[bb21]

I wonder if it would be worthwhile for Stagecoach to hold the 1130 to ~1140 and take any potential Skye custom off CityLink.

Given they own 35% of CityLink, I somehow doubt it. There is also no fares integration so a Stagecoach day ticket is not valid on CityLink in the relevant area. That makes the Rover even better value, considering a single from Kyle to Portree is about £7 and a single Kyle - Armadale is £4.65 (actually reasonable value for the distance).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I just checked. It is in fact the CityLink 917 that departs at 1130 (Portree arr 1232). The Stagecoach 51 bus leaves at 1138, and connects to a 52 bus at Broadford, arriving Portree at 1249.

Timetable

 

[scotsman]

Given they own 35% of CityLink, I somehow doubt it. There is also no fares integration so a Stagecoach day ticket is not valid on CityLink in the relevant area. That makes the Rover even better value, considering a single from Kyle to Portree is about £7 and a single Kyle - Armadale is £4.65 (actually reasonable value for the distance).

It'll be a Stagecoach on Skye/the Highlands operation for both buses, I imagine.

 

[bb21]

Which ones? The 917 is a CityLink operation. I asked specifically last time if I could use a Stagecoach ticket on it and was told no. I won't be surprised if Stagecoach vehicles turn up on this route from time to time for operational convenience.

The 51 and 52 are Stagecoach operations.