Mallaig/Kyle return ticket interchangeability

[EllieAquitrain]

Kyle of Lochalsh and Mallaig actually have ticket interchangability, ie if you travel from Edinburgh to Mallaig, your return half is valid via Kyle/Inverness.

Is this true? Is it only valid on certain ticket types? Or if ferry/bus times allowed could I just buy an Edinburgh–Mallaig return and travel Edinburgh–Glasgow–Mallaig–Armadale–Kyle–Inverness–Edinburgh (obviously paying separately for Mallaig–Armadale and Armadale–Kyle)?

 

[yorkie]

It's Edinburgh to Kyle you need to get; it's a long standing arrangement that it's valid via Mallaig.

Edit: it's an easement in the routing guide

700784
Holders of tickets from Kyle of Lochalsh to either Glasgow or Edinburgh, may join
Scotrail only operated trains at Mallaig. They will need to make their own arrangements
to travel between Kyle of Lochalsh and Mallaig, as railway tickets are not valid on bus
and ferry connections between the two locations. This manual easement will not
operate in online journey planning systems.

 

[Hadders]

Note that this is only valid on Scotrail services and cannot be used on the seated portion of the sleeper between Fort William and Glasgow/Edinburgh. I had protracted 'discussions' with Caledonian Sleeper a few years ago who tried to claim the easement never existed.

Hoopefully when teh standalone Sleeper franchise is absorbed back into Scotrail it'll be valid again on the seated portion of the sleeper, which does allow a useful later departure from Mallaig.

 

[hkstudent]

It's Edinburgh to Kyle you need to get; it's a long standing arrangement that it's valid via Mallaig.

Edit: it's an easement in the routing guide

Is there still a Edinburgh/Glasgow to Skye ticket available to buy at ticket offices?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Is there still a Edinburgh/Glasgow to Skye ticket available to buy at ticket offices?

There's ticketing available to "Skye (Armadale)" from most Scottish locations including Edinburgh and Glasgow QS/Central which presumably drops you off at Armadale pier after travelling via Mallaig station with Scotrail and across to Skye on Calmac.

 

[EllieAquitrain]

It's Edinburgh to Kyle you need to get; it's a long standing arrangement that it's valid via Mallaig.

Edit: it's an easement in the routing guide

And only in the Kyle –> Mallaig direction?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

As well as tickets to/from "Skye (Armadale)" mentioned upthread, is the "Scottish Grand Tour" ticket product still available?

(Might have been temporarily withdrawn during the height of COVID-19).

Four days’ travel over eight consecutive days on the West Highland Line, Kyle Line, and Highland Main Line for £89.

The ferry connection between Mallaig and Armadale, and the coach connection to Kyle of Lochalsh are meant to be included in the price of the ticket. The pass also included travel on Edinburgh Trams and Glasgow Subway.

 

[yorkie]

And only in the Kyle –> Mallaig direction?

I wouldn't have thought you would have an issue doing it in the other direction, but I've only ever done it in an anticlockwise direction, and the times traditionally worked out better doing it that way.

 

[kkong]

As well as tickets to/from "Skye (Armadale)" mentioned upthread, is the "Scottish Grand Tour" ticket product still available?

Yes it is: https://www.scotrail.co.uk/tickets/combined-tickets-travel-passes/scottish-grand-tour

And yes, a number of the Scottish rover tickets were removed from sale during Covid.

 

[philthetube]

worth mentioning the spirit of Scotland rover as well 4/8 £149