I remember doing this with my wife in 2016 on holiday. Quite a trek on the train from Plymouth. We would definitely do it again! Simply stunning. We got off at Plockton and walked into the town for a cake and a drink. It's lovely there. We then walked back to Duncraig Castle. The station was built for the owner. It was also a warm day, and then it chucked it down for a spell (quite refreshing tbh). Thanks for the video.
Thank you those memories. I wanted to ride the line, but I was a little sad to not see a bit more. And Plockton looked to be one of those places worth a lot more time. Good to hear it was as nice as I guessed. As a Devon resident I am well aware too that it's quite a long way. But I completely agree it is worth it! Thank you for watching 👍
Amazing scenery 😍. You're very lucky to be able to go on so many adventures exploring different places. I'm embarrassed to admit Ive not been to Scotland 😳. Train didn't seem to have many passengers, wonder if that's norm or just time of day. I was actually looking at houses in Scotland online last night 😂 😂
Yes, I feel very lucky to be able to get out to explore these places. Mind you, I could have picked a better day to go to Kyle! Thanks so much for watching 👍
Just watched this video again, as we are going from Barnsley to Inverness then to Kyle of Lochalsh next week for my birthday. I have a painting done by Don Breckon of a black 5 on a Skye boat train. I'm hoping to see exactly where it is and to get a photo of the place. You certainly bring the best out of the scenic rail journeys.
The staff up there are great, i quite agree! The drama of fallen trees makes for a good video but i would love to return in the sunshine too 😉 Thanks for watching 👍
What amazing scenery. Even better, I'd say, than the famed line to Port Mallaig. And it reminded me of why, when people talk of the world being overcrowded, I laugh.
wrt Mallaig, I really do need to tick that one off on this channel though! and wrt to the overcrowded thing, that's what my sister always says too! Thanks for watching 👍
The bus trip to Ullapool from Inverness is definitely worth a go. We've driven the route many times on holiday and it is a lovely road. Ullapool is a nice little town too!
Loved the journey Johnny. Your cinematography, your commentary and your subject matter. It reflected the effort you must have put into the video project. Passion and preparation on your part resulted in a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I look forward to seeing many more of your offerings in future tune ins. Thank you so very much!
The preparation so often goes unnoticed. Can you imagine how long it took to cut down that tree and drag it across the rails... 😉 But seriously, thank you very much for noticing and for the kind comment. It is much appreciated. 👍
@@fishbert17 haha. Well yes. I think even the working units are a little underpowered when it gets really hot (maybe not such a common problem in Scotland!) Was on a 159 to Waterloo the other day and the guard apologised that the a/c was running, but it just couldn't handle the very warm day! Thanks too for watching 👍
I made the trip in the mid 1970s (never since). It is amazing how all those memories come flooding back, triggered by the lineside views. It was a torrential rain day, and my predominent memory is of streams cascading down the sides of the crags in vertical white splendor. As for Achnasheen . . . . at that time it appeared to have a VERY CONGENIAL hotel-restaurant, which was full of people apparently enjoying a slap-up luncheon. It looked most attractive, and I always wanted to return and have lunch there, but I think it burned to the ground at some point. Thanks for the video. ----Mike
A wonderful watch. Its said that the section of line from Stromeferry to Kyle was, per mile, the most expensive stretch of railway engineering ever to be undertaken at that time, costing £250,000. With the large amount of blasting required to hew out 31 rock cuttings and also because 29 bridges were constructed. The building of the ten-and-a-half-mile stretch took four years, almost as long as the 53 miles between Dingwall and Stromeferry.
Ah should have asked you about that before I recorded the voiceover 😉 cos that's wonderful information . It really is a most impressive piece of blasting work. Thanks again for your kind words and best wishes for your travels 👍
Really liked this. Superb run to the Kyle and whilst I know it was a welcome move, the opening of the Skye Bridge almost took away some of the magic. To get the old ferry to Kyleakin was just lovely!
Yes, I know what you mean. It just feels like there's something missing at the quayside. But the bridge does a better job than the ferry did. Thanks for watching 👍
Very interesting. I've never called at one like that. I suppose the comparison is Eastern Europe these days. Except there, they don't even bother with the pile of sleepers...
Smashing as always, thank you, we thoroughly enjoyed it. The Husband says that when Michael Palin did his "Confessions of a Trainspotter" programme here he was given the K. of L. station sign and put it in his back garden.
Yes, you can still watch the Palin show (from 1980!) as someone has put it on TH-cam. I had to go a rewatch it after making this journey! Thanks, as ever 👍 (btw today is a bonus video day!)
Yes to Ullapool! I travelled the route by bus from Inverness when I was a student of Eng. Lit. We had just read Beowulf and there were parts of the route where you expected to see Grendel roaming the wilds.
Now you mention it, I've not seen any recently either. Even more reason for taking the journey! It really is a very special line, and well worth the effort. Thanks for watching 👍
Very beautiful scenery and amazing views. ScotRail should keep the Class 43 Inter7City HSTs but I’ve heard that they don’t want them anymore and are looking into replacing them with the Class 221 Voyagers/Class 222 Meridians. Or to order new Class 8xx Bi-mode trains from Hitachi.
One of the good things about the west coast of Scotland is the chance of getting a sheltered loch even if it’s a howling gale you can get a bit of comfort from the weather
The first time I`d heard of The Kyle of Lochalsh was when Michael Palin did a programme called Great British Train Journeys , probably 40 years ago . The end shot I think was him carrying the station sign
Yes. I went back to look at that programme myself as a result of doing the trip. Just to see how different it now was! th-cam.com/video/mYi1qLUAJJI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=c9UCXw0bsHbHOABS
Just to let you know that I have thurly enjoyed this train journey, ... just a nice length of time to enjoy it, so thanks for sending this lovely video to U Tube
One of my favourite lines. A great trip is sleeper to Fort William, train to mallaig, stay over night then Ferry to Skye bus to kyle of Lochalsh with change in broadway , train to Inverness, overnight in inverness and then LNER to London. Highly recommended.
Yes take bus to ullapool and then ferry to Stornaway. I travelled that early one morning in 2006 and got a nice bus with tables and only about 5 people on it but probably busier today. Id say its a good scenic journey and can fly back from stornoway or travel south on Lewis to tarbert and get a ferry to skye then mallaig and train from mallaig, or go all way south on the outer hebrides to barra and ferry to Oban and train from there.
Lovely video as always Johnny. It's a gorgeous line. Do the bus. Fort William to Glasgow was gorgeous. And I reckon Inverness going North would be even better.
It’s a magical journey isn’t it? My late wife and I did it several times. We stayed at Plockton station which is now a holiday let. It’s beautifully converted but retains all of its original features. If you love the highlands and trains it’s a must do. It is quite weird eating your breakfast with local commuters to Inverness waiting on the platform for their train outside the window.
My pleasure! But don’t look wistfully, book it! It really is different and so relaxing. I’ve been three times now! If you travel by car as we did it makes a great base for touring the Highlands and Islands. Just one word of warning, avoid the midge season from June to September, those little devils can really spoil your day.@@JohnnyHooverTravels
Lovely video! The Kyle line does feature in literature: John Buchan's hero Richard Hannay, in the thriller "Mr Standfast", has investigated the World War I German spy plot in Skye, and gets back to London disguised as a book salesman, starting by the railway, with some nice descriptions of the scenery, and the slowness of the train. Look forward to your next video.
Great video I'd like to go on that line having driven twice from Inverness to Kyle. Last year I sent a package from Strathcarron Post Office at the Railway Station - I was lucky to call in when I did as it only opens for 2 hours on Wednesday and Friday !
Wow! Can i just say I absolutely admire your effort you put into your videos! You deserve an award! If you're still in Scotland, coukd you try the West Highland Line? I heard its one of the best Scottish train lines!
I’ve only travelled on this beautiful line twice Inverness to Kyle. Once in 1982 with a Class 26 & the second time in 2009 with Class 52 Western Champion. Am I not a lucky bugger!
Auchnasheen station building a community centre I think upstairs, and well known and well used warm public toilets downstairs, very popular stop with all the Tesco drivers making deliveries long distance over to the West Coast and Skye.. once went in to use the gents… there was a stag inside! I went to the female toilets that evening
If you ever visit Kyle again then I can highly recommend jumping on a local bus for the short hop over the Skye bridge to a little village on the other side called Kyleakin. Its a nice quiet place to spend a couple of hours or so before heading back to Kyle and jumping on the train back to Inverness 👍
I was hoping to use my rover ticket to pick up the bus onto Skye, but, with the storm it was just too risky as stuff was getting cancelled at short notice. But I would like to see more of Skye for sure.
i did the line to the kyle in the late 80's ... with a 37 .... very nice... then in the early 90s to skye... in a 156 ...awesome line.. we then stayed on skye ... and went down got the ferry in the south and went to mallaig .... which was closed.... why were they loads of folk running for the last train to fort william we asked ourselves ??
I would like to do that circuit. Actually I would be happy spending just more time up in the highlands! Sadly no 37s to enjoy up there any more... Thanks for watching another 👍
Another cracking video Johnny! Shame about the weather but still an impressive journey! One thing I've always wondered is how do you make those map animations at the start of the video? I've always wanted to but haven't been able to do it!
Yes. One of the problems with these flying visits is that there wasn't time to alight and look closer at places like Plockton. Another comment said much the same, so if I return I think I should spend a while there.
I actually thought at the beginning that you were going to depart from what's left of Platform 7 at Inverness - it looks about enough for a two-car unit, though goodness knows when this did last occur... Yes, it definitely is worth making the trip from Inverness to Ullapool - and onto Stornoway, for that matter... I'm not sure whether it's still possible to do the NC500 by public transport - it was for a few weeks in the peak summer season when it was first advertised - though I imagine there will be a gap between Kinlochbervie & Durness otherwise - unless you're prepared to travel via Lairg, that is... There may also be a gap between Ullapool and Aultbea - I can't remember which route Westerbus takes... Lewis and Harris have pretty good coverage - there's even a both-ways Stornoway - Borve - Carloway - Callanish - Stornoway circuit possible; and the bus connects at Leverburgh with the Berneray ferry, for further connections to North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist & Eriskay - of Whisky Galore! fame - and the Barra ferry - for yet more bus connections... You're probably right about the station house at Achnasheen - there used to be an hotel right next door, maybe it used to be used for community functions too.
ah yes, the NC500. That does sound like a challenge, but also a difficult one, for the reasons you helpfully describe here. but, as I have exhausted the train route out of Inverness, I really should go back and fill in the gaps using the local buses and some ferries too!
How do you get from the Kyle to Skye? Do the ferries still run or do you need to catch a bus over the Skye bridge? I have been there years ago on a British Rail Land Cruise all the way from London in first class comfort .
There are semi regular Stagecoach buses that run over the bridge to Skye. There are also a couple of direct services everyday from Inverness onto the island.
@@jasonlittlewood3874 Yep, that's it. Handy bus stop not far from the station. I had originally planned to continue by bus onto Skye as my rover ticket was valid on that bus. But the storm meant I really didn't fancy getting stranded...
The speeds on the map at the beginning are not totally accurate. between Dingwall and Stathcarron for MU`s it is 45 mph and then to Kyle is 30 mph for MU`s
Thanks for that clarification. I suppose with OpenRailwayMap it does depend upon what contributors have put. And therefore yes, it is not completely definitive. Thank you for reminding me of that fact. From now on, where I may have said something like "linespeed is 40mph" I should definitely say "according to OpenRailwayMap, linespeed is 40mph" - or I should use a more definitive source! Thanks again 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels Not meant as criticism, I think your speeds are the non MU speeds but as the traffic on the line is mainly MU`s I thought I ought to make the point. Out of interest there is now a section of the Far North line with 90 mph (MU) I wish this enterprising thinking would come down south !
@@nigelmorley5414 no worries. Wasn't taken in any way as a criticism. Clarifications, further information, pedantry? I don't care what people call it, they are all very welcome in my comments section. It really was a helpful reminder 👍👍
Oh yes. I would say Hi per bu lee... what an idiot that voiceover man is! Thanks for reminding me how to talk. Ffs, what a gaff! Oh well... Thank you for liking it anyway 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels 4 videos st Moritz Chur, Chur to andermatt, andermatt to Zermatt two. You might as well do the Bernina as well I've been on it 3 times summer and winter
@@JohnnyHooverTravels it's very difficult to video. Each part has much better views from a particular side of the train. But not the same side for the whole route and different for the other direction. I'm sure there's lots of recommendations on internet. I guess you will be watching lots of existing videos on each part of the route to get an idea what to film... and asking for advice from other people who've done it before.
@@melvynbuckton6881 the main advice I've had is to avoid the tourist train and use the local one which is much less crowded and has opening windows to improve the photography. I will be travelling on a 1st class interrail ticket (bought in the current sale) so there's an element of flexibility there.
Good video and i never fail to be impressed with the English man’s inability to pronounce the word ‘Loch’.😂 If the word describing a Scottish inland area of water was meant to be pronounced ‘lock’ the spelling would be ‘lock’.But as it’s pronunciation is very different from ‘lock’ hence the spelling is different.Loch.😊😂
Guilty as charged... mind you, the Scots have trouble pronouncing an awful lot of English words too 😉 Thanks so much for the kind words and thanks too for watching the video. If you are in the market for comedy pronunciation, then do check out me travelling around Ireland and parts of Europe too.... hmm, now I think about it, I've got some English place names wrong too! 🤦♂
I did the journey in 1985 behind a class 37 and then took a ferry to Skye. Great videos as usual. Can you imagine if the service had been canned and a rescue train had had to be sent out to rescue the passengers on a single track line ?
I think the name of the game is that anything that fails has to wait 2 hours for the next 158 to drag it home! Of course if the tree incident had left the train completely disabled I suppose that just shuts the line until the blocking train can be fixed and dragged away 🤷♂️ Thanks for watching another 👍
Ah Yes. Others have said the same. Mind you, the Scots are terrible at pronouncing English words! 😉 Best wishes to you and thanks so much for watching 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels sorry, didn't mean to mock. That's how Michael Palin says it in the Piranha Brothers sketch from Monty Python and as a result, so do i!. Another wonderful video by the way!
My local line. You did a fair job on the whole of the placenames, but Strome does not rhyme with broom, it rhymes with home. To be fair, the onboard recorded announcement mispronounces it too. And the Ach.... names are not aak...., but ach, just as they are written. Bit of an adventure with the tree! One snowy morning I was on the same morning service from Inverness, and somewhere between Achnasheen and Loch Sgamhan I heard a thud, and looked up to see a stag flying through the air! No apparent damage to the train though. The slow journey time can be a bit frustrating, but more of a frustration is that the timetable is well designed for tourist day trips from Inverness, but really, really badly designed for those of us whose day trip is in the other direction.
Stromeferry - yeah I went with the onboard which made sense as down here Frome is "Froom" As for the "ach"s... my mate texted me literally 20 min ago saying "I need to train you on the achs" 😄. So you ain't alone on that one 👍
Gonna show the stag comment to my wife as she was keen to know if i saw any! (i did but didn't get them with the GoPro). There's a lot of deer by the roads down here in Devon dicing with the road traffic- dunno if they stray onto railway tracks too.
Why do people say Key-Lommerturz when they mean KiloMetres. The last time I checked this country was the United Kingdom of Great Britain not the United States of America.
Haha, good bit of pedantry. I see what you mean. I wouldn't say Key-Logramz when discussing mass. And the europeans say kilo-metre.. hmm I'll have a word with the voiceover guy...
Oh pedantry back at you though. You need to double check again, because I think you'll find that it is The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 😉
In Australia, where we actually use metric, we say it like 'Kerlommerterz', yet if you want want say 3 'key-lows' as in "kilograms" of weight, it's a paragon. We thank the English for the confusion 😂 as our poor kids are taught the five different pronunciations of words ending in 'ough' 🙃🤐
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed these Scottish rail journeys! Thank you again!
Thanks. One more bonus vid to come on Monday when I go to Aviemore! 👍
Good video, thank you for sharing
@@christinehodge3608 thanks for watching another!
Beautiful. Thanks.
@@barryjgalbraith2635 you are very welcome. Thanks for watching 👍
I remember doing this with my wife in 2016 on holiday. Quite a trek on the train from Plymouth. We would definitely do it again! Simply stunning. We got off at Plockton and walked into the town for a cake and a drink. It's lovely there. We then walked back to Duncraig Castle. The station was built for the owner. It was also a warm day, and then it chucked it down for a spell (quite refreshing tbh). Thanks for the video.
Thank you those memories. I wanted to ride the line, but I was a little sad to not see a bit more. And Plockton looked to be one of those places worth a lot more time. Good to hear it was as nice as I guessed.
As a Devon resident I am well aware too that it's quite a long way. But I completely agree it is worth it!
Thank you for watching 👍
zero🥜 0:02
Amazing scenery 😍. You're very lucky to be able to go on so many adventures exploring different places. I'm embarrassed to admit Ive not been to Scotland 😳. Train didn't seem to have many passengers, wonder if that's norm or just time of day. I was actually looking at houses in Scotland online last night 😂 😂
Yes, I feel very lucky to be able to get out to explore these places. Mind you, I could have picked a better day to go to Kyle!
Thanks so much for watching 👍
Just watched this video again, as we are going from Barnsley to Inverness then to Kyle of Lochalsh next week for my birthday.
I have a painting done by Don Breckon of a black 5 on a Skye boat train. I'm hoping to see exactly where it is and to get a photo of the place.
You certainly bring the best out of the scenic rail journeys.
@@ernestbailey9194 have an absolutely marvellous time! I hope the trees stay alongside the track for you!
Thanks for watching it again 👍
I did this trip last week but in kinder weather. Scenery is awesome. Great train staff, really looked after you.
The staff up there are great, i quite agree! The drama of fallen trees makes for a good video but i would love to return in the sunshine too 😉
Thanks for watching 👍
Brilliantly captured, written/narrated and edited. 💯
Aw, thank you 👍
What amazing scenery. Even better, I'd say, than the famed line to Port Mallaig. And it reminded me of why, when people talk of the world being overcrowded, I laugh.
wrt Mallaig, I really do need to tick that one off on this channel though!
and wrt to the overcrowded thing, that's what my sister always says too!
Thanks for watching 👍
The bus trip to Ullapool from Inverness is definitely worth a go. We've driven the route many times on holiday and it is a lovely road. Ullapool is a nice little town too!
It's a deal then! It is on the list!
Thanks for watching 👍
Thanks that was. a fabulous video 👍
you are very welcome. Thanks so much for watching 👍
Loved the journey Johnny. Your cinematography, your commentary and your subject matter. It reflected the effort you must have put
into the video project. Passion and preparation on your part resulted in a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I look forward to seeing
many more of your offerings in future tune ins. Thank you so very much!
The preparation so often goes unnoticed. Can you imagine how long it took to cut down that tree and drag it across the rails... 😉
But seriously, thank you very much for noticing and for the kind comment. It is much appreciated. 👍
That line is just the best in the UK in my opinion. Fabulous video, thank you.
You are very welcome. It was such a pleasure to ride the line and record the video. And then live it all again when I edited it! 👍
A 158 with working Aircon? Wonders will never cease
@@fishbert17 haha. Well yes. I think even the working units are a little underpowered when it gets really hot (maybe not such a common problem in Scotland!)
Was on a 159 to Waterloo the other day and the guard apologised that the a/c was running, but it just couldn't handle the very warm day!
Thanks too for watching 👍
I made the trip in the mid 1970s (never since). It is amazing how all those memories come flooding back, triggered by the lineside views.
It was a torrential rain day, and my predominent memory is of streams cascading down the sides of the crags in vertical white splendor.
As for Achnasheen . . . . at that time it appeared to have a VERY CONGENIAL hotel-restaurant, which was full of people apparently enjoying a slap-up luncheon. It looked most attractive, and I always wanted to return and have lunch there, but I think it burned to the ground at some point.
Thanks for the video. ----Mike
Thanks for the kind words and for those lovely memories. It really is a gem of a line and it sounds like you got pretty similar weather to me!
A wonderful watch. Its said that the section of line from Stromeferry to Kyle was, per mile,
the most expensive stretch of railway engineering ever to be undertaken at that time, costing £250,000. With the large amount of blasting required to hew out 31 rock cuttings and also because 29 bridges were constructed. The building of the ten-and-a-half-mile stretch took four years, almost as long as the 53 miles between Dingwall and Stromeferry.
Ah should have asked you about that before I recorded the voiceover 😉 cos that's wonderful information . It really is a most impressive piece of blasting work.
Thanks again for your kind words and best wishes for your travels 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels keep your top content coming.
Such a beautiful journey. Excellent video again. Thank you 👍
You are very welcome. Thank you for watching again 👍
Really liked this. Superb run to the Kyle and whilst I know it was a welcome move, the opening of the Skye Bridge almost took away some of the magic. To get the old ferry to Kyleakin was just lovely!
Yes, I know what you mean. It just feels like there's something missing at the quayside. But the bridge does a better job than the ferry did.
Thanks for watching 👍
I can recall Halt stations serving just one train door and built of only sleepers on the old Dumfries - Stranraer Line in the late 1950s.
Very interesting. I've never called at one like that. I suppose the comparison is Eastern Europe these days. Except there, they don't even bother with the pile of sleepers...
Brilliant,thanks.😊
you are very welcome. Thank you for watching 👍
Fantastic! Cheers from Oz.
no worries Jim. Best wishes as always from Devon.
Some lovely views and some lovely engineering! Thank you for sharing.
You are welcome 😄 👍
Smashing as always, thank you, we thoroughly enjoyed it. The Husband says that when Michael Palin did his "Confessions of a Trainspotter" programme here he was given the K. of L. station sign and put it in his back garden.
Yes, you can still watch the Palin show (from 1980!) as someone has put it on TH-cam. I had to go a rewatch it after making this journey!
Thanks, as ever 👍
(btw today is a bonus video day!)
Lovely video - nice commentary over beautiful views!
@@simon11235 that is very kind of you to say. Thank you.
And too for watching 👍
Now that’s beautiful and stunning. So incredible looking out the window whilst on the train.
Yes it is a very special route
It sure is ☺️
Yes to Ullapool! I travelled the route by bus from Inverness when I was a student of Eng. Lit. We had just read Beowulf and there were parts of the route where you expected to see Grendel roaming the wilds.
Okey doke. But I'll wait until the weather improves and the nights are lighter!
Great video! Amazing views. I have watched a lot of videos of rail trips in Scotland and I’m amazed that I haven’t seen this route before.
Now you mention it, I've not seen any recently either. Even more reason for taking the journey! It really is a very special line, and well worth the effort.
Thanks for watching 👍
Very beautiful scenery and amazing views. ScotRail should keep the Class 43 Inter7City HSTs but I’ve heard that they don’t want them anymore and are looking into replacing them with the Class 221 Voyagers/Class 222 Meridians. Or to order new Class 8xx Bi-mode trains from Hitachi.
Yes i hear the HSTs are going. A shame maybe, but i understand that their crash worthiness is not now up to modern standards.
Merry Christmas to you 🎄
Of course you should do the run up to Ullapool
Okey doke 👍
Good video Jay looking forward tomorrow Video
Thanks! 👍
One of the good things about the west coast of Scotland is the chance of getting a sheltered loch even if it’s a howling gale you can get a bit of comfort from the weather
Ah that's good advice when I'm next walking up there!
thanks for watching 👍
Interesting Journey. Nice amount of information.
thank you, and thanks for watching 👍
Well done. Excellent documentary and footage 👏
@@milesbrown8016 thank you 👍
What a trip! Great video. You'll soon be at 10,000!
@@terranceparsons5185 thanks! Yes, not long until 10,000.
And thanks of course for watching too 👍
The first time I`d heard of The Kyle of Lochalsh was when Michael Palin did a programme called Great British Train Journeys , probably 40 years ago . The end shot I think was him carrying the station sign
Yes. I went back to look at that programme myself as a result of doing the trip. Just to see how different it now was!
th-cam.com/video/mYi1qLUAJJI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=c9UCXw0bsHbHOABS
Wonderful video and well done pronouncing some of those names. Real men created that line, must’ve been tough days.
Thank you. I'll accept "some of the names" as a win! 😉
It really is one helluva bit of civil engineering for sure.
Outstanding Johnny lad, most enjoyable video. Would love to see the Ullapool trip!
righto - I'll add it to the list 👍
It's great working my way through your video's ! Was a bit of a thud when the train hit the tree !
@@andywillis2650 Yes indeed. Everybody knew something was up after that thud!
Thanks for all the views. They are all very much appreciated. 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels no problem. Thanks for the list :)
Just to let you know that I have thurly enjoyed this train journey, ... just a nice length of time to enjoy it, so thanks for sending this lovely video to U Tube
Thank you. Very nice of you to say so 👍
Yet another great railway line. Such lucky that it dodged closure. Would love to try it out
Yes, it really is something special. Worth doing at any time of year. Although try to avoid the storms...
Thanks again Johnny......another gem. Mention of the summit height / elevation would have been useful.
Good point. The line climbs to just short of 200m elevation as far as I can tell from Google Maps
One of my favourite lines. A great trip is sleeper to Fort William, train to mallaig, stay over night then Ferry to Skye bus to kyle of Lochalsh with change in broadway , train to Inverness, overnight in inverness and then LNER to London. Highly recommended.
Now THAT sounds like it would be a great video! 🤔
👍
Yes take bus to ullapool and then ferry to Stornaway. I travelled that early one morning in 2006 and got a nice bus with tables and only about 5 people on it but probably busier today. Id say its a good scenic journey and can fly back from stornoway or travel south on Lewis to tarbert and get a ferry to skye then mallaig and train from mallaig, or go all way south on the outer hebrides to barra and ferry to Oban and train from there.
@@macflod Now all that sounds like an excellent plan! Thanks for the ideas. 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels look forward to seeing your trip 😁
Lovely video as always Johnny. It's a gorgeous line. Do the bus. Fort William to Glasgow was gorgeous. And I reckon Inverness going North would be even better.
Yes. I will definitely return to do more. and maybe some ferries too... although I fear I'm turning into Steve Marsh (which is no bad thing I suppose)
It’s a magical journey isn’t it? My late wife and I did it several times. We stayed at Plockton station which is now a holiday let. It’s beautifully converted but retains all of its original features. If you love the highlands and trains it’s a must do. It is quite weird eating your breakfast with local commuters to Inverness waiting on the platform for their train outside the window.
I was looking wistfully at the website of the station building at Plockton, wondering what it must be like to stay there. Thanks for your memories 👍
My pleasure! But don’t look wistfully, book it! It really is different and so relaxing. I’ve been three times now! If you travel by car as we did it makes a great base for touring the Highlands and Islands. Just one word of warning, avoid the midge season from June to September, those little devils can really spoil your day.@@JohnnyHooverTravels
Lovely video! The Kyle line does feature in literature: John Buchan's hero Richard Hannay, in the thriller "Mr Standfast", has investigated the World War I German spy plot in Skye, and gets back to London disguised as a book salesman, starting by the railway, with some nice descriptions of the scenery, and the slowness of the train. Look forward to your next video.
I might just read that. I really should reacquaint myself with Richard Hannay!
Thank you for watching and for your kind words 👍
A dramatic day weather scenery and incident. Shame the delay on return wasn't at Dingwall.
Haha - I like your thinking there... 🍺
Isn't Arcnashellach where Richard Hannay was trying to get to in the 39 Steps.
@@terranceparsons5185 maybe. But not a story i can recall although i did see the film many many years ago.
Thanks for watching 👍
Great video I'd like to go on that line having driven twice from Inverness to Kyle. Last year I sent a package from Strathcarron Post Office at the Railway Station - I was lucky to call in when I did as it only opens for 2 hours on Wednesday and Friday !
blimey, you got lucky there!
Thanks for watching 👍
Wow! Can i just say I absolutely admire your effort you put into your videos! You deserve an award! If you're still in Scotland, coukd you try the West Highland Line? I heard its one of the best Scottish train lines!
Thank you so much. Yes, I will do that line with my camera. I've done it before in went in TH-cam, but not since.
Hi Johnny,
Yes, it is now the Achnasheen Village Hall.
Great! Thanks for the clarification 👍
Travelling West is at its best as the sun sets with spectacular views especially across the sea towards Skye.
I suspect you are spot on there. No sun or sunsets to be had in Storm Babet though...
Best train ride I've ever experienced. It was in October and yes, there was a storm. The only way to get to Skye was a ferry then. It was 1991.
Great to hear the memories. And yes, it is a special line for sure. 👍
Did it back in the early 60's and rode in the obersation car W-E one evening, diesel by then but still brilliant journey!
@@mervynrogers7354 great memories 👍
I’ve only travelled on this beautiful line twice Inverness to Kyle. Once in 1982 with a Class 26 & the second time in 2009 with Class 52 Western Champion. Am I not a lucky bugger!
Well yes, that was certainly very interesting traction for sure!
Thanks for watching 👍
You shall to this train ride in May when the Rhododendron is blomming
A fantasic video of a fabolous railway line
Haha. No American football competitions in May 🤷♂️
But yes. I will return when the nights get lighter.
Thanks for watching again 😃
14:32 tree strike noise
@@Trafficlightsfan yep! Bit of a crunch!
Thanks for watching 👍
I was on that very train heading to Brora
Cool 😀
Auchnasheen station building a community centre I think upstairs, and well known and well used warm public toilets downstairs, very popular stop with all the Tesco drivers making deliveries long distance over to the West Coast and Skye.. once went in to use the gents… there was a stag inside! I went to the female toilets that evening
Haha brilliant! Didn't know Auchnasheen was a place for stag parties 😄.... ok ok, I'll get me coat...
If you ever visit Kyle again then I can highly recommend jumping on a local bus for the short hop over the Skye bridge to a little village on the other side called Kyleakin. Its a nice quiet place to spend a couple of hours or so before heading back to Kyle and jumping on the train back to Inverness 👍
Is there somewhere in Kyleakin to get a coffee? Last time I walked over the bridge (whilst getting sunburnt) nowhere was open :(
I was hoping to use my rover ticket to pick up the bus onto Skye, but, with the storm it was just too risky as stuff was getting cancelled at short notice. But I would like to see more of Skye for sure.
@@walterfillinghamYes; I'm sure I remember at least a couple of places that were open for snacks etc
i did the line to the kyle in the late 80's ... with a 37 .... very nice... then in the early 90s to skye... in a 156 ...awesome line.. we then stayed on skye ... and went down got the ferry in the south and went to mallaig .... which was closed.... why were they loads of folk running for the last train to fort william we asked ourselves ??
I would like to do that circuit. Actually I would be happy spending just more time up in the highlands! Sadly no 37s to enjoy up there any more...
Thanks for watching another 👍
Another cracking video Johnny! Shame about the weather but still an impressive journey! One thing I've always wondered is how do you make those map animations at the start of the video? I've always wanted to but haven't been able to do it!
There's a TH-cam video of a bloke doing roughly the same. I'll dig it out and post it here when I find it 👍
th-cam.com/video/pY6MPvVYvzg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=1z1AWbDc3eQV5H0J
There you go. Suspect it might be something similar in PowerPoint too
Plockton is a village worth a visit when in the area - not ridiculously touristy, despite being a location for film and television.
Yes. One of the problems with these flying visits is that there wasn't time to alight and look closer at places like Plockton. Another comment said much the same, so if I return I think I should spend a while there.
So now we know : not need anymore to take off from Gatwick to discover extraordinary sceneries …
Well, not unless you are taking a flight from Gatwick up to Inverness!
Thanks for watching 👍
I actually thought at the beginning that you were going to depart from what's left of Platform 7 at Inverness - it looks about enough for a two-car unit, though goodness knows when this did last occur... Yes, it definitely is worth making the trip from Inverness to Ullapool - and onto Stornoway, for that matter... I'm not sure whether it's still possible to do the NC500 by public transport - it was for a few weeks in the peak summer season when it was first advertised - though I imagine there will be a gap between Kinlochbervie & Durness otherwise - unless you're prepared to travel via Lairg, that is... There may also be a gap between Ullapool and Aultbea - I can't remember which route Westerbus takes... Lewis and Harris have pretty good coverage - there's even a both-ways Stornoway - Borve - Carloway - Callanish - Stornoway circuit possible; and the bus connects at Leverburgh with the Berneray ferry, for further connections to North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist & Eriskay - of Whisky Galore! fame - and the Barra ferry - for yet more bus connections... You're probably right about the station house at Achnasheen - there used to be an hotel right next door, maybe it used to be used for community functions too.
ah yes, the NC500. That does sound like a challenge, but also a difficult one, for the reasons you helpfully describe here.
but, as I have exhausted the train route out of Inverness, I really should go back and fill in the gaps using the local buses and some ferries too!
But it was very beautiful even if it was stormy weather
Yes it was. The stormy loch was very evocative 👍
How do you get from the Kyle to Skye? Do the ferries still run or do you need to catch a bus over the Skye bridge? I have been there years ago on a British Rail Land Cruise all the way from London in first class comfort .
There are semi regular Stagecoach buses that run over the bridge to Skye.
There are also a couple of direct services everyday from Inverness onto the island.
@@jasonlittlewood3874 Yep, that's it. Handy bus stop not far from the station. I had originally planned to continue by bus onto Skye as my rover ticket was valid on that bus. But the storm meant I really didn't fancy getting stranded...
@@JohnnyHooverTravelsI have a loose plan for an Inverness to Glasgow via Skye trip, but the local buses on Skye make it very difficult to plan.
The speeds on the map at the beginning are not totally accurate. between Dingwall and Stathcarron for MU`s it is 45 mph and then to Kyle is 30 mph for MU`s
Thanks for that clarification. I suppose with OpenRailwayMap it does depend upon what contributors have put. And therefore yes, it is not completely definitive. Thank you for reminding me of that fact.
From now on, where I may have said something like "linespeed is 40mph" I should definitely say "according to OpenRailwayMap, linespeed is 40mph" - or I should use a more definitive source!
Thanks again 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels Not meant as criticism, I think your speeds are the non MU speeds but as the traffic on the line is mainly MU`s I thought I ought to make the point. Out of interest there is now a section of the Far North line with 90 mph (MU) I wish this enterprising thinking would come down south !
@@nigelmorley5414 no worries. Wasn't taken in any way as a criticism. Clarifications, further information, pedantry? I don't care what people call it, they are all very welcome in my comments section. It really was a helpful reminder 👍👍
Hyperbole is pronounced Hi per bolly. Great video btw.
Oh yes. I would say Hi per bu lee... what an idiot that voiceover man is!
Thanks for reminding me how to talk. Ffs, what a gaff! Oh well...
Thank you for liking it anyway 👍
Lock?
To be honest that route is on a par with the glacier express.
Well I plan to go on that one too in 2024. So I'll get back you on that! 😀
@@JohnnyHooverTravels 4 videos st Moritz Chur, Chur to andermatt, andermatt to Zermatt two. You might as well do the Bernina as well I've been on it 3 times summer and winter
@@melvynbuckton6881 that's a plan!
@@JohnnyHooverTravels it's very difficult to video. Each part has much better views from a particular side of the train. But not the same side for the whole route and different for the other direction. I'm sure there's lots of recommendations on internet. I guess you will be watching lots of existing videos on each part of the route to get an idea what to film... and asking for advice from other people who've done it before.
@@melvynbuckton6881 the main advice I've had is to avoid the tourist train and use the local one which is much less crowded and has opening windows to improve the photography. I will be travelling on a 1st class interrail ticket (bought in the current sale) so there's an element of flexibility there.
Good video and i never fail to be impressed with the English man’s inability to pronounce the word ‘Loch’.😂 If the word describing a Scottish inland area of water was meant to be pronounced ‘lock’ the spelling would be ‘lock’.But as it’s pronunciation is very different from ‘lock’ hence the spelling is different.Loch.😊😂
Guilty as charged... mind you, the Scots have trouble pronouncing an awful lot of English words too 😉
Thanks so much for the kind words and thanks too for watching the video. If you are in the market for comedy pronunciation, then do check out me travelling around Ireland and parts of Europe too.... hmm, now I think about it, I've got some English place names wrong too! 🤦♂
@@JohnnyHooverTravelsJust started watching your videos and enjoying them very much! Thanks for reply J.😊
I did the journey in 1985 behind a class 37 and then took a ferry to Skye. Great videos as usual. Can you imagine if the service had been canned and a rescue train had had to be sent out to rescue the passengers on a single track line ?
I think the name of the game is that anything that fails has to wait 2 hours for the next 158 to drag it home! Of course if the tree incident had left the train completely disabled I suppose that just shuts the line until the blocking train can be fixed and dragged away 🤷♂️
Thanks for watching another 👍
Just so you know - the word is pronounced Hyperbolee.😀
I think he does know. Humour?
@@colinriley123 sadly it wasn't humour, it was a rather embarrassing brain fart...
...I blame my age and being (sometimes) a twat...
Great vid. Slight nitpick, "loch" is not pronounced like the English "lock". Soften it up and lose the 'click' sound at the end.
Ah Yes. Others have said the same. Mind you, the Scots are terrible at pronouncing English words! 😉
Best wishes to you and thanks so much for watching 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels Haha yep, we absolutely suck at it!
Example please?@JohnnyHooverTravels
I Know the Train Damage When You Arrived At Kyle of Lochalsh
@@oumimrane4470 Yes, there was definitely a dent!
Thanks for watching 👍
Hyper bowl 😂😂
I know. I'm embarrassed by that one...
@@JohnnyHooverTravels sorry, didn't mean to mock. That's how Michael Palin says it in the Piranha Brothers sketch from Monty Python and as a result, so do i!. Another wonderful video by the way!
My local line. You did a fair job on the whole of the placenames, but Strome does not rhyme with broom, it rhymes with home. To be fair, the onboard recorded announcement mispronounces it too. And the Ach.... names are not aak...., but ach, just as they are written. Bit of an adventure with the tree! One snowy morning I was on the same morning service from Inverness, and somewhere between Achnasheen and Loch Sgamhan I heard a thud, and looked up to see a stag flying through the air! No apparent damage to the train though. The slow journey time can be a bit frustrating, but more of a frustration is that the timetable is well designed for tourist day trips from Inverness, but really, really badly designed for those of us whose day trip is in the other direction.
Stromeferry - yeah I went with the onboard which made sense as down here Frome is "Froom"
As for the "ach"s... my mate texted me literally 20 min ago saying "I need to train you on the achs" 😄. So you ain't alone on that one 👍
Gonna show the stag comment to my wife as she was keen to know if i saw any! (i did but didn't get them with the GoPro). There's a lot of deer by the roads down here in Devon dicing with the road traffic- dunno if they stray onto railway tracks too.
Love the posting but at 11,39 would br much better WITHOUT the music, Best wishes and looking forward to more😁
Fair point. I don't make a habit of the music. So it won't be a regular thing. But mgt reserves the right to employ it now and again... 😉
Pity about the many mis-pronunciations
Sorry about that. 🤷♂️
Good video spoiled by pronunciation
Yes, I can imagine. Please accept my apologies.
Why do people say Key-Lommerturz when they mean KiloMetres. The last time I checked this country was the United Kingdom of Great Britain not the United States of America.
Haha, good bit of pedantry. I see what you mean. I wouldn't say Key-Logramz when discussing mass. And the europeans say kilo-metre.. hmm I'll have a word with the voiceover guy...
Oh pedantry back at you though. You need to double check again, because I think you'll find that it is The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 😉
In Australia, where we actually use metric, we say it like 'Kerlommerterz', yet if you want want say 3 'key-lows' as in "kilograms" of weight, it's a paragon. We thank the English for the confusion 😂 as our poor kids are taught the five different pronunciations of words ending in 'ough' 🙃🤐