Kyle - Skye - Armadale

[bennorthyork]

On 11th April as part of a trip round Scotland I'm planning to travel Inverness - Kyle - Skye - Mallaig. I've done this journey in reverse a number of times with no problems with plenty of time for ferry connections etc.

First stage is train
Depart Inverness 1101
Arrive Kyle 1326

Then I need to get the bus from Kyle - Armadale (on Skye) to get the ferry.

I see bus times as follows for Monday to Friday in School Holidays on Stagecoach.com:
Depart Kyle 1530
Arrive Broadford 1552
Depart Broadford 1600 and 1610
Arrive Armadale (pier) 1627 and 1637

The ferry leaves at 16.45.

I thought it odd that there were two buses from Broadford to Armadale 10 minutes apart so I rang Stagecoach to check. They said there is probably an error in the timetable but can't be sure which is the right time!

The problem is that if the bus is the 1600 then I should make the ferry. The website says I need to be there 10 minutes before. It the bus is 1610 then I think I will miss it! Can anybody advise please?

 

[junglejames]

Traveline Scotland has it down as a 1611 from Broadford, arriving at 1637. No sign of a 1600, so i guess that the early one is the mistake.

 

[bennorthyork]

Thanks junglejames, it does look like the earlier bus is a mistake. Difficult decision now - do I chance that the bus arrives in time to catch the ferry or do I get an expensive taxi...

Ignore my request... since I last checked the ferry times have been updated! It's now a 17.15 ferry leaving plenty of time! Thanks

 

[Greenback]

One of the main reasons for the bus is to connect with the ferry, it would be madness to miss it!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

:roll: See the problem!

Attached timetable link shows a Number 52 leaving Broadford Post Office at 1600, arriving at Armadale Pier at 1627, and also one departing at 1610, arriving 1637.

http://www.stagecoachbus.com/PdfUploads/Timetable_8807_Skye & Lochalsh - Guide 4.pdf

But as you say, it's now the summer ferry timetable in operation, which means a 1715 departure from Armadale, arriving Mallaig 1745.

This should be in time for the 1815 onward Scotrail train departure from Mallaig to Fort William (arrive 1937), change there for the Southbound sleeper (depart Fort William 1950).

 

[yorkie]

When we did this back in 2006, there were indeed 2 buses from Kyle, that went to Skye but I think only one of them connected with the ferry (not sure though). I recall that during our journey we saw some tourists who had been at the bus stop waiting for a bus with us, at a bus stop later on during the journey, having got off a different bus! Our bus did seem to zig-zag a lot. The school stop is before the station, so when we boarded there were no seats together that were available, so when we hesitated, the pupils encouraged us to sit down in any spare seats. The ticket machine broke, so the driver let us on for free. At one of the stops a school pupil spilt something when getting off and the driver fetched a broom and the boy then swept whatever it was off the bus. It was not like any other bus journey I've ever made! The bus driver told us not to worry about making the ferry, and we arrived at the terminal at about the time the ferry was scheduled to leave, however the ferry was late (as is/was* always the case at busy times of the year apparently!), we then got ridiculously cheap tickets as they do (or did) a group discount. Quite a bizarre journey, and a long way from anything I'd experienced before.

Also tickets valid from Glasgow/Edinburgh to Kyle are (or at least were - I can find no record of it now) valid for a round-trip via Mallaig.

(* Can't remember what time it was due to leave, but it's quite possible it has been re-timed to reflect the fact it was often late)

 

[General Zod]

Yorkie,
You may recall I travelled to KYL last autumn. I emailed Scotrail, enquired about an easement and asked if I could use the return portion of my ticket to return back south via Mallaig. They replied by saying that it was a point-to-point ticket ( or something similar) and so couldn't be used on the Mallaig - Glasgow stretch. I would have to return via Inverness. Shame really However, if anyone knows any different then please do let on.

By the way, would anyone know the walking distance between Kyle and Armadale ? I assume it is trekkable in one day ?

Z

 

[yorkie]

By the way, would anyone know the walking distance between Kyle and Armadale ? I assume it is trekkable in one day ?

Over 22 miles along the main road.

 

[scotsman]

CalMac say you have to be there 10 mins before - but as long as you are there 5 mins before you should be fine, might be an idea to buy tickets from Inverness TourShop (adjacent to the tourist info)

 

[reb0118]

Also tickets valid from Glasgow/Edinburgh to Kyle are (or at least were - I can find no record of it now) valid for a round-trip via Mallaig.

Yes you are quite right.