TUESDAY Night in Inverness, Scotland 17 May: The day started with another huge cooked Scottish breakfast complete with the most horrible coffee you can imagine. The Royal Highland Hotel really tries hard to impress. The coffee Tuesday was consistently as bad as Monday’s version.
The TV weather guy said that it was clear in the West should remain that until late in the afternoon. And so we decided today was the day to ride the train to Kyle of Lochalsh and return before the skies open up.
It was a lovely day and the scenery was spectacular. The Kyle line was built in1897 at great expense and was considered a feat of marvelous engineering. It is a very remote area and people often take the 2-1/2 hour ride to buy groceries in Inverness! The train driver and conductor often take grocery lists and shop for people. The train was packed with tour groups and tourists. They nearly oversold the seats, and according to the tour guide this is normal and Scotrail refuses to put on a bigger train. There wasn’t even a refreshment cart.
Kyle of Lochalsh has about four shops, a hotel a couple of cafes and a butchers shop which doubles as the realty office! We had intended to take the bus over to Skye and take the later train back to Inverness, however, we could see the weather coming over the Cuillins and soon we felt the spit spot of starting rain. It was looking a bit nasty so we decided to cut our losses and head back on the 2.35PM train. So, I STILL have not been to Skye!! However, she has come to the water’s edge and could clearly see across the water to Skye, said Paul.
It is quite awesome country, but wild, wild. Lots of sheep, mountains, moors, lochs, rhododendrons, heather and miles of nothing. I can hardly believe people choose to live in such isolation.
Every seat was full again. This time they did oversell. It was every man for himself, even if some people did reserve seats. I cannot believe Scot Rail is so inefficient. The Friends of the Kyle Line are canvassing to bring back the old observation train. That tour guide I mentioned earlier said that the company he works for (on occasion) spends at least $200,000 on that line, and that is only one company. I see a letter to Scot Rail in my future!!!
We enjoyed the ride, but it would have been much better with a bite to eat and a wee dram, and a few more seats!
We are back in the hotel deciding what to do next. Did I mention that we went to the Raja last night? It was terrific, great food and very nice surroundings.
Interesting point on the Queen’s historic visit to Ireland, as our new friend the tour guide said, “We are ALL carrying European Passports now. It is time to put the past where it belongs” A very valid point I think.
