Knoydart Ferry

class387 · 13 Jan 2020

Next month I have two and a half hours in Mallaig (on a Wednesday, arriving at 1234 and leaving on the 1605). https://westernislescruises.co.uk/knoydart-ferry-timetable/ suggests that there is a ferry at 1430, taking an hour for the round trip to Inverie, which I could do in between trains.

Has anyone used this ferry before - is it worth doing? I assume I would not have any time to get off in Knoydart and am unsure if it would be a safe connection onto the train.

RailUK Forums

davetheguard · 13 Jan 2020

class387 said:
Next month I have two and a half hours in Mallaig (on a Wednesday, arriving at 1234 and leaving on the 1605). https://westernislescruises.co.uk/knoydart-ferry-timetable/ suggests that there is a ferry at 1430, taking an hour for the round trip to Inverie, which I could do in between trains.

Has anyone used this ferry before - is it worth doing? I assume I would not have any time to get off in Knoydart and am unsure if it would be a safe connection onto the train.

I've not been on the Inverie (population 60) ferry, but I visited the village last year as part of an organised trip, and we tied up there overnight. It's home to Britain's remotest pub, which even has real ale. The scenery makes the trip worth it.

morrisobrien · 13 Jan 2020

class387 said:
Next month I have two and a half hours in Mallaig (on a Wednesday, arriving at 1234 and leaving on the 1605). https://westernislescruises.co.uk/knoydart-ferry-timetable/ suggests that there is a ferry at 1430, taking an hour for the round trip to Inverie, which I could do in between trains.

Has anyone used this ferry before - is it worth doing? I assume I would not have any time to get off in Knoydart and am unsure if it would be a safe connection onto the train.

It is worth doing,no question,but I personally would not chance it.
Go across and back{non landing}to Skye on the Cal Mac ferry?

class387 · 13 Jan 2020

morrisobrien said:
It is worth doing,no question,but I personally would not chance it.
Go across and back{non landing}to Skye on the Cal Mac ferry?

There doesn't seem to be anything to Skye until 1600, so would be too late for the train. I guess if I took the 1815 train from Mallaig instead I would have the option of both the Knoydart and Skye ferries, though that only gives me 20 minutes at Fort William to connect onto the sleeper.

Which would be more interesting non landing - Knoydart or Skye?

30907 · 13 Jan 2020

class387 said:
There doesn't seem to be anything to Skye until 1600, so would be too late for the train. I guess if I took the 1815 train from Mallaig instead I would have the option of both the Knoydart and Skye ferries, though that only gives me 20 minutes at Fort William to connect onto the sleeper.

Which would be more interesting non landing - Knoydart or Skye?

Not been up Loch Knoydart, but Armadale is much more open sea.
Are you booked on the sleeper back to England? If so, I imagine it would wait for connecting passengers.

class387 · 13 Jan 2020

30907 said:
Not been up Loch Knoydart, but Armadale is much more open sea.
Are you booked on the sleeper back to England? If so, I imagine it would wait for connecting passengers.

I am booked on the sleeper to London, though not on a through ticket from Mallaig.

My ticket on the 1605 is also an Advance, so I'm not sure how accomodating they would be if I got a later train because of a delayed ferry (though I'd happily pay again if needed).

morrisobrien · 13 Jan 2020

class387 said:
There doesn't seem to be anything to Skye until 1600, so would be too late for the train. I guess if I took the 1815 train from Mallaig instead I would have the option of both the Knoydart and Skye ferries, though that only gives me 20 minutes at Fort William to connect onto the sleeper.

Which would be more interesting non landing - Knoydart or Skye?

You should get a good view of the Knoydart peninsular from the Skye ferry.
The sleeper will normally wait for the 1815hrs....very rarely late though.

arbeia · 13 Jan 2020

If you choose not to chance the Ferries, there is another possibility. If you are a reasonable walker just follow the road round the Harbour, and carry on walking on the road as far as you can go before the road runs out. A beautiful walk, with fantastic views of Knoydart and Skye. Small binoculars would enhance the walk. You can see Inverie without binoculars. Off the top of my head, 3-4 mile round trip.

Struner · 14 Jan 2020

The trip to Inverie and back is certainly worthwile - even more so if it would include the stop at Tarbet. Have done it myself in winter back in the seventies. We had “walked“ in from the East. Why don’t you phone them & ask what the chances are?

d9009alycidon · 14 Jan 2020

If you are ever up that way again, try the great round tour, train from Glasgow to Mallaig, Ferry to Armadale, service 51 bus from Armadale to Kyle of Lochalsh, train to Inverness then back to Glasgow! Did it once on a Freedom of Scotland Ticket and got home via Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Carlisle (additional fare was payable Berwick to Carlisle vis Newcastle)

Journeyman · 14 Jan 2020

d9009alycidon said:
If you are ever up that way again, try the great round tour, train from Glasgow to Mallaig, Ferry to Armadale, service 51 bus from Armadale to Kyle of Lochalsh, train to Inverness then back to Glasgow! Did it once on a Freedom of Scotland Ticket and got home via Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Carlisle (additional fare was payable Berwick to Carlisle vis Newcastle)

How long does that take? It sounds tempting, and it's a good 25 years since I did the Kyle line.

d9009alycidon · 14 Jan 2020

It used to be possible to get the 06:00 off Queen Street and get to Inverness by Early Evening, then get the overnight sleeper back to Queen Street. You would now need to catch the Caledonian sleeper at 05:48 from Queen Street LL, connections are fine all the way to Inverness, but you would need a B&B in Inverness before a morning train home as there is no longer a sleeper to Glasgow.

Edit - strike that - there is no connection off the sleeper to Mallaig so you would need to stay in Fort William - such is progress

Knoydart Ferry

class387

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