UK rail trip – 2022
Day 4 – 6th April, 2022
After breakfast, my host and I caught the bus into Inverness city centre. Al needed to carry out a few errands, I needed to catch a train to Kyle of Lochalsh. On the way in, I saw a canal with some locks. I made a mental note to return here tomorrow. We parted ways at the next bus stop and I stayed on until the bus station in Inverness. Upon arrival at the station, I checked for the platform number, but it wasn’t yet displayed so was not ready for boarding. However, with the benefit of the Real Time Trains website, I already knew which one it would be. It would be a class 158, which was already at the platform. So, I grabbed some snacks from the WH Smith shop that was on the station concourse. The concourse at Inverness station isn’t the best in the world! It wasn’t long before the platform was anounced. With that, I passed through the barrier gates to board.
Upon leaving inverness, the train passed over the canal I spotted from the bus earlier. It wasn’t long before leaving the city behind. Urban landscape soon transitioned to rural with some very spectactular scenery – not always easy captured from a moving train! So, the pictures do not give it credit. Certainly not my best photography! So, I just sit back and enjoyed the ride and scenery. This line had already become one of my favourites.
Two and a half hours after leaving Inverness, I finally arrived at Kyle of Lochalsh. I’d been wanting to visit here for many, many years. Ever since I watched Michael Palin’s episode of Great Railway Journeys of the World, Confessions of a Train Spotter, back in the 80s. Suffice to say, despite the weather, I was not disappointed at all!
After making my way to the Islander Bunkhouse (the hostel part of the hotel) and checking in, I went out with my camera and took some pictures. I’ll let them tell the story!
Following this, I grabbed some fish and chips from a local chippy and then went back to the Islander Bunkhouse and had a drink or two. I then retired for the night. Tomorrow, it’s back to Inverness and then the Caledonian Sleeper to London Euston.
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