Thursday, 14 March 2013
Trains
Had some problems booking the Culrain to Inverness train. You guys have taken all of the bicycle places on that train!! Had to look at an alternative - I found that I can catch a train to Inverness from Garve (a 32 mile ride from Ullapool) which will mean riding down the A835. It gets into Inverness at 17.09 and I have booked the 17.30 train to Pitlochry.
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With the demise of Carbisdale Castle Youth Hostel, Invershin Hotel have opened a 10 bed bunkhouse, at £20 a night. But it could fill quickly on a Bank Holiday.
ReplyDeleteThere should be 6 spaces on this train. I have one, Martin wont need a reservation if he is going on his Brompton so even if Clyde and Shawn have both got reservations there are 3 others not accounted for - or taken by cyclists who got in even quicker than we did.
ReplyDeleteGarve is about 31 miles from Ullapool (rather than 43 to Invershin/Culrain) albeit the terrain looks a bit more hilly. The train is about 1 hour later so less need for haste. The journey is also much shorter.
ReplyDeleteKay had spotted Garve station was alongside the A835 and just 31 mile fron Ullapool so I like Maldwyn have booked a ticket/bike reservation for just £5.71 to Inverness where I will be catching the 19.30 to Crewe- No bunk I am afraid but I hope to avail myself of a few drams in the buffet lounge before an uneasy kip until 5.00am where I hope Kay will collect me. I am blessed with a wonderful understanding wife! We managed to grab 2x12.00 tickets to Glasgow from Crewe although as its such an early train we will be speeding a comfortable night in a Crewe Travelodge for the princely sum of £19.00. A night in glasgow then 8.15 to Oban for afternoon ferry to Castlebay by the long route. Leave a light on as it arrives around 10.40 at night.
ReplyDeletePeter -Either the web site was playing up, or as you say (the more likely), the places must have been taken by other cyclists. Just as well we had an alternative.
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DeleteOpinions, please!
DeleteCulrain is 12 miles further than Garve from Ullapool. The train from Garve is about 1 hour later than the other, to connect with the same 1730 to Perth (and so on to Edinburgh), so less need to rush. But which is the more beautiful route?
Clyde, I think beauty in the Highlands depends very much on the weather. The route South to Garve passes closer to higher mountains than the Northern road to Invershin/Culrain. Going South there is a climb of about 6 miles from sea level at the end of Loch Broom to 280m and then a steady decent to 80m at Garve. The Road North out of Ullapool undulates more, climbing to 250m before descending to 160m at the junction with the A837 and then generally downhill to 20m alongside the River Oykel to Invershin. There is an option to cross to the South side of the Oykel and climb to 100m on a surfaced road that follows the contour before dropping down to Culrain. Possibly better views of the river valley.
DeleteMost of the traffic from the South will be heading for the Stornoway ferry. There are separate Freight sailings as well as the twice daily car ferry. There should be very little hearty traffic going North, although it is anybodies guess what tourists will be up to on a Bank Holiday Monday. Looks like there is at least one cafe/pub type place on each route.
Hearty traffic - that's predictive text for you!
DeleteThanks, Martin. That's very useful.
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