Potential Scottish rail trip - advice, comments, thoughts very welcome.

[WolvertonWorks]

Just started trying to plan a trip we'd like to do next May/June and advice, comments, thoughts very welcome. The idea is to ride the Scottish lines we've not already done and to visit some other places we'd like to see. We will be starting from Milton Keynes (MKC).

It's a journey for pleasure, because I like going on trains, not to get from A-B in the fastest possible time.

We've been on the WCML to Glasgow a number of times, likewise the ECML to Edinburgh and the Edinburgh-Glasgow line. Also we've done Edinburgh to Inverness, via Perth, visited both Dundee and Stirling and done Inverness to Thurso. We've also done Aberdeen to Edinburgh.

So we want to plan a route that takes in the Scottish lines we've not riden. Kyle to Inverness, Inverness to Aberdeen, Glasgow to Oban (although we have stayed in Oban on a road trip so this one isn't essential) and Glasgow to Mallaig.

I want to do a trip from Glasgow to Wemyss Bay to see the station and we'd also like to stay a couple of nights at Corrour so we can go walking.

We've never riden the Newcastle to Carlisle line so if we could incorporate that, as well as doing the Settle to Carlisle route, it would be a bonus.

Finally, we fancy doing the XC Aberdeen to Penzance train ride just for the sheer hell of it!

Happy to add two night stays at some of these places if worth doing that.

What I've come up with so far is:

Day 1 MKC to Settle (via Lancaster?), Settle to Carlisle, Carlisle to Glasgow.

Day 2 Glasgow to Wemyss Bay and back.

Day 3 Glasgow to Oban

Day 4 Oban to Glasgow or can we find somewhere to stay at Crianlarich?

Day 5 Glasgow/Crianlarich to Corrour

Day 6 walking

Day 7 Corrour to Mallaig, ferry to Armadale, stay somewhere on Skye overnight

Day 8 bus from Skye to Kyle of Lochalsh

Day 9 Kyle of Lochalsh to Abderdeen via Inverness

Day 10 either Aberdeen to Penzance or Aberdeen to Newcastle, then Newcastle to Carlisle, Carlisle to MK.

The whole trip is going to take a bit longer than the 10 days shown above as we may chose to spend two nights in some places.

And I know I will need to get accommodation at Corrour and on Skye booked asap. Probably will be a taxi from the ferry at Armadale to our accommodation on Skye as I know the ferries and buses aren't very well integrated.

Does the plan above make sense or maybe do I try and work it the other way round?

Advice, comments, thoughts - especially from those who have done something similar - very welcome.

Thanks

 

[30907]

Some suggestions (though it is a long time since I did most of it!).

Day 1. Do Carlisle-Glasgow via the GSWR.

Day 2. Do Stranraer as well as Wemyss Bay, it's well worth it even if the terminus is depressing. You could come back to Girvan/Ayr by bus for variety, but I've not done that bit.

Day 4/5. Unless you really want to do the southern West Highland 3x, go direct Oban-Crianlarich-Corrour (or walk between the Tyndrums!) and save a day.

Day 7/8. Kyle isn't that exciting, so I would consider an extra night on Skye and then through to Aberdeen. Plockton looks nice from the train, though, as another suggestion.

 

[D6130]

Day 1 MKC to Settle (via Lancaster?), Settle to Carlisle, Carlisle to Glasgow.

Better to change at Hellifield.... and enjoy the station cafe if you have time between trains.

Day 4 Oban to Glasgow or can we find somewhere to stay at Crianlarich?

There's a comfortable - but quite expensive - hotel in Crianlarich....five minutes walk from the station. There are also a couple of B & Bs.

 

[D6130]

Deleted.

 

[Grinner]

One suggestion for Day 2: Take the ferry across from Wemyss Bay to Bute, and spend some time over there. There's several things to do (Castle, Mount Stewart House, nice walks etc), and the ferry journey is enjoyable in of iteslf.

As for staying at Crianlarich, there's also a hostel there. Or several options in Tyndrum, plus Bridge of Orchy too.

 

[tram21]

can we find somewhere to stay at Crianlarich?

We found an amazing place about 5 minutes walk away from the station in January this year, Ben More Lodge, its got lovely owners and cosy cabins. Recommend it!

If you happen to have a meal in Tyndrum, the Real Food Cafe was some of the best food I've ever eaten!

 

[D6130]

Also, you'll have to book your room(s) at Corrour well in advance....there are only two of them....and they are very popular. Likewise for dinner in the Station House bar/restaurant.

 

[Morayshire]

And I know I will need to get accommodation at Corrour and on Skye booked asap.

For Skye, I have heard that if you plan on eating in anywhere then you have to book your meals well in advance as well due to the numbers of tourists.

 

[ChrisC]

Kyle of Lochalsh isn’t that exciting but Plockton in beautiful. I visited it one day from Inverness. I got the train from Inverness to Plockton and spent at least 4 hours there before getting an afternoon train into Kyle and then back on the same train to Inverness. Lots of lovely walks around Plockton and fantastic views if you climb the short hill to the viewpoint.

 

[Falcon1200]

For Day 2, an alternative if you wish to cover more Scottish mileage, is to take the frequent McGills bus from Wemyss Bay to Largs, or Gourock, and train back to Glasgow from there.

 

[WolvertonWorks]

Thanks everyone, will investigate further and get booking.

 

[philjo]

Also, you'll have to book your room(s) at Corrour well in advance....there are only two of them....and they are very popular. Likewise for dinner in the Station House bar/restaurant.

I used the sleeper from Euston to get to Corrour and had breakfast at the station house on arrival. Though need to make sure they know you will be doing this to reserve a table for you.
I then had a short walk in the area and think I caught the next train to Mallaig and back to Corrour to stay the night.
Next morning I went for a walk then caught a northbound train and changed at one of the stations before Fort William to switch to the southbound service about 15 minutes later through to Glasgow. I would have done a longer walk but the weather was due to get much worse around lunchtime.


There were several people dining there in the evening before getting the southbound sleeper after dinner.

 

[Bald Rick]

Day 4/5. Unless you really want to do the southern West Highland 3x, go direct Oban-Crianlarich-Corrour (or walk between the Tyndrums!) and save a day.

Agreed. Oban - Corrour is easily done in a day, 3 hours even with an hour connection at Crianlarich.

If you happen to have a meal in Tyndrum, the Real Food Cafe was some of the best food I've ever eaten!

It is good, but be prepared to wait for a table to be free, especially weekend evenings.

For Skye, I have heard that if you plan on eating in anywhere then you have to book your meals well in advance as well due to the numbers of tourists.

Not so. For example, the famous Sligachan Inn is pretty much turn up and go; it can get busy at some times but I‘ve never had trouble getting a table on spec (except when it was closed!) Booking a day or two ahead anywhere will usually be sufficent, even weekends.