The Transport Game

[Xenophon PCDGS]

We spend some time looking around Kinlochleven and note with regret that the geological formations of coastal West Scotland made the number of through northerly roads to be somewhat at a premium, so we return back to the bus stop and board the 1140 Stagecoach Highlands service 44 to Corran Ferry (Shelter) that arrives there at 1217 on Tuesday afternoon.

 

[dzug2]

There's half an hour to wait contemplating the loch and bemoaning the lack of any onward transport the other side of the ferry before continuing at 1240 on Citylink coach 915 to Uig, Pier, arriving at 1750, Tuesday afternoon

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

My postings sometimes appear to be a travelogue of past personal experiances....which they usually are....

What a wonderful opportunity to recreate a scene from our past as the day still has much daylight, so firstly, we book an overnight stay and a full breakfast with an early morning alarm call, then we walk to see again the amazing double waterfall (taking care that our footing does not betray us) then to see part of Fairy Glen, returning late to our hostelry where we are asked if we would take an evening meal, which we do before retiring for the night, then feeling much refreshed after our hearty breakfast, we make our way back to the bus stop at the pier and board the 0700 Stagecoach Highlands service 57A to Portree (Somerled Square) that arrives there at 0728 on Wednesday morning.

 

[gnolife]

We spend some time looking around Kinlochleven and note with regret that the geological formations of coastal West Scotland made the number of through northerly roads to be somewhat at a premium, so we return back to the bus stop and board the Stagecoach Highlands service 44 to Corran Ferry (Shelter) that arrives there at 1217 on Tuesday afternoon.

And what time did we leave from Kinlochleven?

 

[dzug2]

We decide to prolong our stay on the isle and catch the Stagecoach 57A at 0910 to Staffin Community Centre, arriving at 0943 Wednesday morning

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

And what time did we leave from Kinlochleven?

1140 which not the same bus that we arrived upon, but the following service (in accordance with the quiz rules)...Posting now amended to show this. I am still somewhat unwell and not as attentive as I should have been.

My thanks to you for your diligence.
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We decide to prolong our stay on the isle and catch the Stagecoach 57A at 0910 to Staffin Community Centre, arriving at 0943 Wednesday morning

We spend the three hours afforded by this welcome break to take a mid-day meall and to explore the area, before we board the 1243 Stagecoach Highlands service 57A to its terminus at Portree (Somerled Square) which arrives at 1400 on Wednesday afternoon

 

[gnolife]

We take a long walk around Portree before takeing the 15:42 Stagecoach Highlands route 52 to Broadford Hospital, Road End arrving at 16:21 Wednesday

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Time to spend looking round the area before boarding the 1754 Scottish Citylink service 917 to Urquhart Castle car park that arrives there at 1951 on Wednesday evening.

 

[dzug2]

We have about an hour to wait before catching the Stagecoach Highlands service 19 at 2046 to Spean Bridge, Spean Crescent, arriving at 2150 Wednesday evening

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Time to find an overnight hostelry and after an early breakfast, we return to the bus stops to board the 0745 Stagecoach Highlands service 19 to Port Claire camp site that arrives there at 0827 on Thursday morning.

 

[dzug2]

Not too long to wait for the 919 Citylink departure at 0912 to Inverness Bus station, arriving 1011 Thursday morning

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Inverness is a good base for onward travel destinations and we only have a short time to wait for our next connection which is is the 1045 Stagecoach Highlands service 61 to Ullapool Ferry Terminal that arrives there at 1215 on Thursday afternoon.

 

[dzug2]

mmm I may come to regret this but it seems to be within the rules and there aren't that many options

We catch Westerbus service 707 at 1310 and travel to Gairloch (Old Inn) arriving at 1455 Thursday afternoon

 

[Zoe]

Not much option now but to wait it out here until Saturday when we can board the 0745 Westerbus service to Inverness bus station arriving at 1025 on Saturday.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Time to seek out some sustainance as we decide to head northwards on our next bus journey and then suitably sustained, we return to the bus station to board the 1240 Stagecoach Highlands service X99 to Halkirk that arrives there at 1526 on Saturday afternoon.

 

[dzug2]

We have a little under an hour to explore the settlement before catching Stagecoach service 82 at 1525 to Wick St Fergus Road, arriving at 1552 Saturday afternoon

Lybster here we come??

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

You would not imagine for one moment that guiding us northwards from Inverness was not a reason to see the settlement that gave its name to Lybster Omnibus Syndrome on this very quiz many months ago.....

Crossing over the road to the bus stop outside Somerfield in the opposite direction, we have only a short time to wait to board the 1610 Stagecoach Highlands service X97 to Lybster (Village Road) that arrives there at 1636 on Saturday afternoon.

 

[dzug2]

We continue on the next X97 at 1812 and travel to Dunbeath War Memorial, arriving at 1825, Saturday evening

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Time to stroll down to the harbour and breathe in the sea air and then to have a snack and a hot drink, before making our way back to the War Memorial to board the 1952 Stagecoach Highlands service X99 to Tain (Lamington Street) that arrives there at 2116 on Saturday evening.

 

[dzug2]

We make our way to the station for Scotrail's 2220 departure to Inverness, arriving 2324 Saturday evening

 

[musicking1306]

After a good nights sleep. We go back down south on 09:40 east coast service to Kings cross. Arrive 17:57 Sunday afternoon.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

We find overnight accommodation and after a hearty breakfast (you will note that I often refer to these,) we return to the bus station to make a very long bus ride through to much of rural North West Scotland to see one of "natures wonders" and having in mind that a few days ago, we had to stay in a settlement for two days until onward transportation afforded itself, we find that a precedent has been created and we board the 0850 D & E Coaches service 804 to Lerinmore (Smoo Cave) that arrives there over five hours later at 1408 on Sunday afternoon.

NOTE......Lerinmore is not too far away from Durness


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IMPORTANT NOTE

I have just been "gazumped" by the previous posting, so the above posting will have to be ignored

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UPDATED INFORMATION ON JOURNEY RETRIEVAL

Finding that events outside our control have ruined our Sunday day out in North-West Scotland, we have to incur the cost of overnight accommodation at London hotel prices and after an evening meal at the hotel, we retire for the night and the following morning (Monday), we return to Kings Cross station to retrace our steps northwards in a single unbroken direct journey and board the 1200 EC service to Inverness that arrives back from where we were previously disrupted at 2011 on Monday evening.

 

[Welshman]

[Careful - someone will complain we always end up in Inverness!!]

After another night in the Royal Highland Hotel [they'll be giving us preferential rates soon], and a hearty breakfast, we board the 0850 D&E Coaches service 804 from Stance 1 of the bus station, to Lerinmore [Smoo Cave], arriving over 5 hour later at 1408, Tuesday afternoon.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

We spend much time watching how Smoo Cave changes its appearance from the external sea cave to the internal cave with its waterfall via the specially constructed link passage and join with a party of intrepid elderly explorers to enjoy all that the cave system has to offer then we take the other exit to the footpath to Durness, where an early evening meal will await the party, to which insistence is pressed upon us to join as two of their party were unable to make this journey and a room at the hostelry is booked and paid for, so we thank them for their offer and accept and spend a pleasant evening recovering from our exertions and after a refreshing sleep and a full Scottish breakfast, we bid adieu to our new friends and make our way to the bus stop outside the visitor centre where we board the 0804 Nicholas Hird service 806 to Lairg at the bus stop near to the railway station that arrives there at 1028 on Wednesday morning.

 

[gnolife]

Which connects nicely with the 10:38 ScotRail service to Inverness, arrving at 12:13 Wednesday

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Just enough time to cross to the bus station and board the 1230 Stagecoach Highlands service X99 to Thurso (Sir George Street) that arrives there at 1526 on Wednesday afternoon.

 

[Welshman]

Having come thus far, it seems a pity not to go all the way, so we board the 1642 Stagecoach Highlands service 280 from St Georges St to John O'Groats, arriving at the Car Park on the A99 at 1721, Thursday afternoon.

[Where we are immediately welcomed by the locals - "You'll have had your tea?" they greet in unision"]

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Indeed we do partake of a light meal, before ignoring the X97 service and using a different one to the same destination and we board the 1855 Stagecoach Highlands service 77 to Wick (High Street) that arrives there at 1923 on Thursday evening.

 

[dzug2]

You go away for the day and miss all the fun and excitement - meanwhile it looks as though Lybster might strike again

And musicking306 - please don't be offended at the way your move was handled. It looks as though it was too good an opportunity to miss

And looks like it was all my fault - post 2233

I'll be returning later - please continue without me.

 

[musicking1306]

I am not bothered with how the move was handled, however as I don't know north west Scotland very well I have been quite and letting the tread roll on until it returns further south where I will be able to post again.

After a nice overnight rest in Wick we walk to the station for a nice early start to get us back to Inverness on the 06:20 scotrail service, Arrive at 10:35 Friday morning.

(contact me with any routes that people want to take to points of interest)