Train Journey to Kyle of Lochalsh

I spent the best £13.90 today, by purchasing my return ticket from Kyle of Lochalsh on the train. It just rounded off the day and made the journey all the more memorable.

First things first...

Our plan for the group today was to take the train to Kyle of Lochalsh and then go on to Eilean Donan Castle, then come home by coach. But,as I think I mentioned in the last post, I chose to return by train and I'm so glad I did.  It was just lovely and peaceful and I didn't miss that long journey on the coach one bit.

The train journey itself took about 2 hours 40 mins and of course, we couldn't stop and take pics, so I took some through the window and they didn't come out too badly.

This is a photo of the handout we were given, which includes a map.

Map of today's journey

Once again the sun was shining brightly - I can't believe this Scottish weather!

That handout describes the journey as a symphony in three parts - pastoral, mountains and marine. And that  describes it perfectly. For much of the way we followed Lochs and then we went through some glorious mountains, then in the last part of the journey we followed the sea coast of Loch Carron.

Will include some pics of the stations to start with...

Dingwall

Garve

Garve also

Achnasheen

Achnasheen was the turn around point for the Restaurant Car from and to Inverness. You got Breakfast on the way out and Lunch on the way back into town!

Some of the views from the train... Remember they were taken through the train window...

View from train

View from train

View from train

View from train

View from train

View of town Lochcarron across Loch Carron!

One of the pretty areas was Plockton, where Hamish MacBeth was filmed

Plockton

So, we eventually arrived in Kyle of Lochalsh,  and as you may recognize I spent 2 nights there only a week or so ago.
The tour group hopped straight on the bus and drove over the Bridge to Skye - just to say they had been there. Then they were heading for Eilean Donan Castle- which again you may recognize the name, as I had some pics of that castle last week also.

But having bought a return ticket on the train I was more than happy just to mosey off on my own. Went and had a drink of soda water. I had gone up to the pub where I stayed last time and was going to go into the bar there, but it didn't open until 3pm. I was on the 1.46pm train, so that didn't help!!!

Then I went and took a few more pics of Kyle of Lochalsh... very similar to the last lot, except this time the sun was out!  Last time it was bucketing down rain!

Over the sea to Skye

Over the sea to Skye

Right in the centre is our bus stopped at Kyleakin for pics!

Just pottered around and looked in a few shops and was sitting down having a bite to eat when a lady came and asked if she could sit next to me on the bench, which if course she could. She was from the the Isle of Barra and she just started talking about  life in Scotland and life on the West Coast. It's the people you meet on the journey who are so interesting!

Then back to the station and on to the train. I have to admit I really enjoyed the return trip more...
It was certainly less crowded and way more peaceful and I could just read my maps and all the information as we went along.

I think I've decided I'm happier as a solo traveller. There certainly are benefits from being on a tour. I was trying to list them in my head and compare them with solo travel!

Benefits of a tour

• Everything is organised for you
• Accommodation and meals are taken care of
• You are safe and people look out for you
• You meet lots of interesting people on the journey
• Usually everything is already pre-paid (except for those optional extras!!), so you don't have to worry about costs so much.
• No booking worries
• Usually the accommodation is very good (shan't mention the Palace Hotel!)

Benefits of solo travel

• You are your own boss
• You can go where you want, when you want
• You can change your mind and go somewhere different.
• I'm usually pretty careful about what accommodation I book, so you can make choices yourself.
• I just like being a free spirit. Sometimes I don't know what I'm doing the next day until the night before... or even during the day. For example, I hadn't planned to go to Culloden until I saw the turn off! 
• You still meet interesting people on the journey. Sat across the aisle from a Scottish couple on the return journey today and they were lovely.
• You can drive yourself! Much prefer that to being driven!

 I'm sure there are more things I could add to each list and I might revise it later if I think of other things....

So, not too much info today... just some pics from the journey and a few random thoughts.... perhaps you have different ones.... Feel free to share. I love receiving messages and emails and comments. Thanks so much to all those who do send stuff and thoughts through.

Perhaps that is why I can be a happy solo traveler because I know I have so many people supporting me on the journey.

What are you all going to do over breakfast in 3 weeks, when there are no more episodes to  Wattle's Wanderings????????

😃😃😃

PS Meant to say I eventually got my banking sorted out again last night, after holding on for over 20 mins. Lucky I was using my Skype account. They could offer no explanation as to why my card keeps getting blocked. It's just such a pain to have to ring Sydney every time I want to access my own money. I still hate banks. Might have to change banks if I ever manage to go overseas again....