Exploring The Kyle Line from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh with Scotrail.
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.ค. 2024
- Hello once more!
Many thanks for clicking on this content which is the last of my 'trilogy' of videos that took me from Shrewsbury up to Inverness, along the Kyle of Lochalsh line and back down with Loganair via Manchester Airport (there’s links to the other videos at the end of the film).
In this episode I am exploring The Kyle Line from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh with Scotrail, calling at Duncraig and Duirinish Request Stops.
A trip to Kyle of Lochalsh was something I had wanted to do for a long time. But I didn't want to just 'go there'. I wanted to sample some of the lesser known places along the way. Sure most people have heard of Plockton, but Duncraig? To put it into context, only 484 passengers were estimated to have boarded or alighted there between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019. That's less than two a day!
Similarly, Duirinish (856 passengers in the same period) was another remote but fascinating request stop which took me on a walk to some beautiful, hidden places that I would definitely recommend.
By the time I'd got to Kyle of Lochalsh, I'd had a really full day of getting on and off trains and, well just wandering about really! The Scottish scenery is beautiful, even if the weather can sometimes be a little unpredictable.
I really hope you enjoy this video and maybe it will inspire you to do the same and boost those station usage numbers! But not too much, these hidden places are special for exactly this reason.
Please consider subscribing if you enjoy my content, I would really appreciate that. Thanks for watching and look out for some more videos coming your way really soon.
Cheers for now!
Mark
If you'd like to buy me a coffee I have a Ko-fi page and shop here: ko-fi.com/letsmakeatrip
I post regular photos of my trips on Instagram: / markswaintransport
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Hi Mark. Having watched your latest videos i'm starting at the beginning and working my way through in chronological order (ish). I love the way your presentation style has remained pretty much the same right through to the vlogs you do today. It's good to watch a film-maker (and i will call you that because that is what you are) who produces content that isn't about them, isn't trying to be cool, isn't trying to make a point other than travel is fab. Just a bloke, his camera and his travels, well produced and edited. Great stuff.
I’ve been to Scotland on the train but I only went to Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley. Scotland does have such amazing beauty and amazing scenery when travelling by train. Beautiful mountains and lakes. Breathtaking 😍
Hey thanks mate.
Yes I agree and beyond the two main cities there is so much more to explore. Check out Perth on my Shrewsbury to Inverness video - a really interesting station. Also, the sleeper is good but (in my opinion) used to be better and cheaper when they did the ‘bargain berths’. It’s expensive now, I went on it last year and they didn’t have any food!!! I put a load of photos on Instagram of those trips.
I would say if you can get to Inverness you’ve got the Kyle line and/or the north to Thurso and Wick. Good luck with your travels 👍
A very interesting video. Some lovely scenery along the way.
Yeh, thanks AFUK. What I should have done though is wiped the outside of the window before getting on. I’ll take my own rag with me next time! 😂
Well-constructed video - good to see the halts on the line and in real weather conditions. 30 years since i went on the line - once out of the current situation, time to make a return, your video giving me inspiration.
Hi John, many thanks for your comment. I’m still trying to get the hang of the video thing tbh so it’s good to know something’s working! I was trying to combine the train with some short walking and it is a lovely part of the world to be able to do this. Another good route for request stops/walks would be the Heart of Wales line (Shrewsbury - Swansea) which is much closer to home for me. I will be doing that soon though I was intending to go to Sugar Loaf there are some major issues with the line atm and that part’s still closed. Got lots of other stuff I need to post on here though so expect a few more videos coming soon! All the best, Mark.
Came across your channel a few days ago. liked what i saw. So i subscribed went back to beginning and started watching about 20 videos in now. Don't worry as a sub i leave a like for every vid watched.
Cheers mate, appreciate the support. The early stuff’s a bit ropey tbh but thanks for watching anyway 😊👍
Mm re Plockton, it appears in 2 film items: (1) the Scottish police series Hamish Macbeth, with Robert Carlisle (Transpotting etc) and (2) the opening scenes, with the Teal Amphibian seaplane and Sgt Neil Howie (the late Edward Woodward of Callan/The Equaliser fame) in the cult film The Wicker Man. [The rest of that cult movie was done down in South West Scotland (Dumfries and Galloway). ]
Cheers David. The Wicker Man yes I thought it was somewhere like this. Great film!
Duirinish is one of the prettiest villages you will ever see!
I agree. Had quite a moment walking around there - such peace and calm. Would move there tomorrow if I could!
The 🐱
Sorry to hear that you were disappointed that Plockton Station is now a holiday let. We’ve stayed there twice and if you love the Highlands AND railways it’s a dream destination. I can never get over eating your breakfast with commuters waiting for their train outside the kitchen window!
TonyS
Hi Tony, yes disappointed only to not be able to see inside the building really (I think passengers are relegated to the side gate these days). I guess it’s just a sign of the times and I must admit, I wouldn’t mind staying there for a week either. I bet it’s full of history! Cheers for the comment 😊👍
Hello, tanks for this 1/2h
I went to inverness from marseilles south of France 40 years ago in order to live thé experience when i was 20 old. Trains have bien replaced. No longer ans ferry in kyle, synchronisés with thé train arrival !!
Hi Serge, yep, there’s a bridge across to Skye now and the trains aren’t quite the same! Michael Palin did a trip on it once - well worth watching for those kind of memories 👍
I live in Dunblane and have noticed the grime on the windows on trains I've used this year (2021) since and before lockdown. I noticed last month (September) the carriage exteriors were cleaner. But with Abellio having lost the franchise and the Operator of Last Result taking over from March 2022, I doubt Abellio will be spending money on train-washers.
Interiors of trains, I should say, are very good.
Hi Mike, yes totally agree the interiors are great, it’s just a shame the exteriors aren’t cleaner as the lines up there are so scenic but I guess that’s of secondary importance to the operator. It won’t put me off doing more though. Lots more trips planned to Scotland in the future 👍
I started watching your channel a couple of weeks back and I have really enjoyed all of the videos i have viewed so far, though i must say this is my favorite one yet. Keep up the great work. Love the content 😀👍
Cheers Gary, thanks very much for the kind words and I hope you enjoy the rest of my stuff. All the best, Mark 😊
rrrrrrrrrrrrrr🎃
bellissimo video grazie.
prego, grazie per l'attenzione
Wow that’s cool I am from around here in the Scottish highlands and I’ve never been to Kyle of Lochalsh it sounds like a nice town come to think of it but I’m glad you had enjoyed yourself been there.👍
Hi Logan and thanks for the comment, glad you enjoyed the video. Yes, I had a fantastic time making this as I didn’t want it to be just the train journey but a bit about the landscape and villages along the way. I hope I captured some of the remoteness of places like Duncraig and Duirinish, I’d love to move up there one day, it must be great living amongst such amazing scenery.
@@LetsMakeaTrip yeh you can say that.
Nonstop Eurotrip sent me!👍
Hey thanks man, really appreciate the support. Nonstop really helped me out yesterday with recommending the channel and it’s great to have his endorsement. We’re all like-minded people at the end of the day and love to travel. I’ve got lots planned so hope you enjoy it 😊👍
Belated post. Love this line. Would definitely go again and then onto Skye. I did the walk from Plockton to Duncraig with my wife. Sunny day, wearing flip flops. Didn't turn out to be a good idea as it decided to pour down. Not forecast. Do try the wick line. I haven't been to Thurso but they say that's better than Wick. We went to Wick and there wasn't much there to say the least. The train journey made up for it though. There's a castle on that line that I'd like to visit too. Keep it up
Good to hear someone else has done that walk. What did you think of Duncraig? A very picturesque stop imo. Yes the weather’s unpredictable but that’s the west coast for you! Ireland’s the same! Thurso I believe you can get a bus from there to the ferry and on to the Orkneys. I’ll get round to it one day then probably fly back from Kirkwall, though Loganair are in my bad books atm due to their really poor customer service and using covid as an excuse for everything!
I thought Duncraig was indeed very picturesque. The walk was great too. That's a shame about Loganair. Haven't tried them yet. I had read something about links from Thurso. Didn't know where though. Useful tip
@@johncarr712 the X99 is the bus according to google! 👍
Lovely video mate! But you might reconsider living there when you find out the internet speeds 😂
Haha, thanks. Tell you what though, in an amazing coincidence, one of the cottages next to Duirinish station has just come up for sale. I’ve no idea what the internet speed is but if I had the money......
Ordinarily there would be catering on the Kyle Line, but ScotRail suspended catering on all routes from March 2020 due to Covid-19, and at the moment there’s no date for its return 😔
Hi Callum, thanks for the info. Yes I would imagine that, in normal times, this route is busier - certainly in the summer and the catering trolley would do pretty well out of it! Who knows when anything’s going to return to normal at this rate! I’d love to get back to Scotland but not sure travel up there will be possible for a while unfortunately.
I have heard you mention Shrewsbury in your video's, I live there, do you ?
Yes I do Steve. Quite a few of my videos start from there 👍
Did you find the path from Duncraig to Plockton quite easy to find from the station?
Yes it’s signposted from the station pretty-much 👍
It is very good run Kyle
Yeh, great scenery. Have you been up to Thurso? That’s the last of the Scottish ones I need to do now. It looks pretty remote!
nice video and views 158s are the best units
Yeh, obviously plenty of those around Shrewsbury especially Cambrian Coast, Birmingham Int. the Scotrail 158’s were clean inside with good power options. Just wish they’d cleaned the windows!
@@LetsMakeaTrip yeah 158s are everywhere in Shrewsbury and Chester with phone chargers. The windows are dirty probably because its time of year. I do get the odd 158 here
Sadly, your narration was drowned out by the music and engine/train running sounds a lot of the time. Otherwise a nice trip.