Transport
Road - Buses
- Rail - Air - Ferries
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The term 'Road to the Isles' refers to an area on the West coast of North Scotland, from Fort William to Mallaig and Knoydart and the Small Isles of the Inner Hebrides. Click here for a detailed map. Although it is a remote area prized by visitors for its sense of security, safety, solitude and scenery access is not difficult by a variety of means. Travel by road, train or air and you will be sure of a journey through stunning scenery with a warm welcome waiting you on arrival. |
ROAD
The starting point for the 'Road to the Isles' is at Fort William, at the head of Loch Linnhe, which is on the A82. This can be approached from the South either via Glasgow and Loch Lomond to Crianlarich and thence to Fort William or by heading for Stirling on the M9 and turning off at Junction 10 to Doune, Callander, Crianlarich and Fort William. Once through Fort William turn left onto the A830 marked 'Road to the Isles' to Glenfinnan, Arisaig and Mallaig. This road through breathtaking scenery is the only single track trunk road in Europe but, after recent improvements, only about 10 miles of the route is in fact single track.
Auto hire/rental can be booked online through Bespoke Highland Tours who can arrange for your vehicle to be waiting for you at Glasgow Airport or Fort William. Car hire is also available locally from Morar Motors (phone 01687 462118).
For all Public Transport you are advised to check with the operator. All the information given is correct to the best of our ability but timetables can be changed without our knowledge.
BUS
Citylink run daily bus services to and from Fort William from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness.
The Citylink web site has full details which are summarised here as follows:
Glasgow - Fort William Monday - Saturday Sunday Glasgow 06:45 09:37 11:37 14:37 09:30 14:37 17:30 Fort William 10:10 13:05 17:33 18:03 13:05 18:03 21:00 Changes via
1 1 2 ***
1 1 1 1 *** Oban
Fort William - Glasgow Monday - Saturday Sunday Fort William 07:45 11:15 11:15 Glasgow 12:37 16:37 18:37 Changes 2 2 2
Edinburgh - Fort William Monday - Saturday Sunday Edinburgh 09:13 12:13 15:13 11:43 15:13 Fort William 17:33 18:03 21:00 18:03 21:00 Changes via
3*/***
2 **/*
2 *
2 *
2 *
* Glasgow ** Perth *** Oban
Fort William - Edinburgh Monday - Saturday Sunday Fort William 07:45 08:45 11:15 12:45 11:15 12:45 14:15 Edinburgh 14:00 15:13 17:15 19:13 17:15 19:13 19:28 Changes via
2 *
2 */**
2 *
2 */**
2 *
2 */**
1 ***
* Glasgow ** Inverness *** Edinburgh
Inverness - Fort William - Inverness Monday - Saturday Sunday Inverness 09:15 11:15 13:15 13:15 17:15 Fort William 11:05 13:05 15:05 15:05 19:05 Fort William 07:30 08:45 10:45 12:45 12:45 17:45 Inverness 09:20 10:35 12:35 14:35 14:35 19:35 Shiel Coaches operate a service between Fort William and Mallaig from Monday to Friday only:
the bus leaves Fort William for Mallaig at 13:50
the bus leaves Mallaig for Fort William at 9:05.The Mallaig, Oban and Skye West Highland Flyer and Skye Flyer bus service has been introduced to cut the journey time between Oban and Mallaig and link Skye and the Small Isles with the Isle of Mull. Click on the link to see the 2007 timetable and contact details.
RAIL
To reach north-west Scotland by rail from England, one of the most convenient options is the Caledonian Sleeper (reservations required):
Departs London Euston Monday to Friday at 21:15 - Arrives Fort William at 09:45.
Departs London Euston Sunday at 20:00*(*to 27/03/05) and 20:12*(from 03/04/05)- Arrives Fort William at 09:43.
It returns from Fort William Monday to Friday 19:55 & Sunday at 19:10, arriving at Euston Tuesday to Friday 07:43, Saturday 08:03*(*from 03/04/05) and Monday 07:27Check the First ScotRail web site for full details.
The West Highland Line which runs between Fort William and Mallaig is a famously scenic train ride and is one of BBC's 10 Great Railway Journeys of the World.
| During the summer you can take this spectacular
ride on the Jacobite Steam Train.
For 2008, this service operates Monday - Friday from 19th May - 10th October / Saturday & Sunday from 28th June - 31st August.
Departs from Fort William railway station at
10.20am. It is operated by the West Coast Railway Company Ltd. Book your tickets by phoning 01524 737751 or or 01524 737753. |
 |
The steam train leaves Fort William at 10:20, stops at Glenfinnan for about 20 minutes and arrives at Mallaig at 12:25. It then leaves Mallaig at 14:10 and arrives at Fort William at 16:00.
A standard train service is run all year round by First ScotRail. Here is a summary of the relevant timetables but you are advised to check the official web site for up-to-date info particularly out of the tourist season when less train services may be available.
Trains run from Glasgow (Queen Street) to Fort William every day.
Glasgow (Queens Street) - Fort William - Glasgow (Queens Street) Monday to Saturday Glasgow 05:35 08:20 12:40 18:20 Fort William 09:43 12:01 16:22 22:05 Fort William 07.25 12.04 17.41 Glasgow 11.21 15.44 21.04 Sunday Glasgow 18.20 Fort William 22.05 Fort William 17.34 Glasgow 21.25 From end May - end September, there is an additional Sunday service: departs Glasgow at 1240 arrives Fort William 16:22. From 27/05/05 to 03/06/05 departs Fort William at 12:04 arrives Glasgow 15:45
And trains operate from Fort William to Mallaig on the famous West Highland Line every day:
Fort William - Mallaig Monday to Saturday Fort William 08:30 12:01 16:22 22:10 Glenfinnan 09.04 12.41 17.00 22.42 Lochailort (on request) 09.20 12.58 17.16 22.58 Arisaig 09.36 13.14 17.33 23.15 Morar 09.45 13.23 17.41 23.23 Mallaig 09.52 13.30 17.48 23.30 Sunday Fort William 22.10 Mallaig 23.30
(and other stations as for Monday to Saturday)
From end May - end September, there are 2 additional Sunday services
(departing Fort William at 1205 and 1627).
Trains from Mallaig to Fort William are as follows:
Mallaig to Fort William Monday to Saturday Mallaig 06:05 10:35 16:10 18:15 Morar 06:12 10:42 16:17 18:22 Arisaig 06:21 10:51 16:26 18:31 Lochailort (on request) 06:36 11:06 16:32 18:46 Glenfinnan 06:53 11:23 16:59 19:03 Fort William 07:25 11:57 17:34 19:37 Sunday Mallaig 16:10 Fort William 17:34 (and other stations as for Monday to Saturday) From end May - end September, there is an additional Sunday service from 29/05/05 to 05/06/05 departing Mallaig at 10:35.
Before making travel arrangements, please double check the train times with First ScotRail to ensure no changes have been made to the timetables after this web page was written.
AIR
Information on air flights is provided to the best of our knowledge but should always be checked with the appropriate airline.
GLASGOW ( Various carriers to and from national and international airports) click link below
- Check details on the BA web site.
- Ryanair operates several flights a day from from Stansted to Prestwick. Check timetables on their web site.
- EasyJet fly from Luton (about 30 miles north of London) to Glasgow and return every day. Check timetables on their web site.
EDINBURGH ( Various carriers to and from national and international airports) click link below
- Check details on the BA web site.
- EasyJet fly from Luton to Edinburgh every day. Check timetables on their web site.
INVERNESS
- EasyJet fly from London Luton to Inverness and return every day. Check timetables on their web site.
HELICOPTER
For those of an adventurous disposition a helicopter can be chartered for the day from PDG Helicopters, Tel 0870 607 9000 or +44 1667 462 740. For quotations and pricing of charter contact sales on the above telephone number as there are various suitable landing sites which can be arranged in the area.
FERRIES
Various ferries run from Mallaig, Arisaig and Glenfinnan to the Lochs and Islands. The timetables are complex and only a summary will be given here. Some of the small ferry services will be found in our Business Directory on this site.
Mallaig
Caledonian MacBrayne (phone 01687 462403) operate a roll-on roll-off car ferry to Armadale on Skye. The summer timetable (25 March - 22 October) has departures from Mallaig daily at 08:25, 09:45, 11:05, 12:25, 13:45, 15:05, 16:25, 17:45 and 19:05. The return ferry leaves Armadale daily at 09:05, 10:25, 11:45, 13:05, 14:25, 15:45, 17:05, 18:25 and 19:45. (Sundays from 15 May to 11 September). (Last boat in either direction only operates July/August only Monday to Saturday).
Train connections available to Fort William and Glasgow.There are year-round daily sailings to the Small Isles (Muck, Eigg, Rum and Canna). Check full details of all sailing times and prices on the Caledonian MacBrayne web site.
Arisaig
Arisaig Marine run day trips for foot-passengers to the Small Isles during the Summer. Details can be obtained by calling Arisaig Marine on 01687 450224.
Email: info@road-to-the-isles.org.uk
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Produced by the Road to the Isles Marketing Group
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Page last updated: December 2007
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