by Mark Collins

There have been a few places in the series that I have never visited before and one of them was Kyle.

The journey to the west coast was spectacular. I enjoyed a cab ride for part of the way between Inverness and Achnasheen and was able to take in some of the stunning scenery. Stags, otters and herons were visible on the journey and the sea and Lochs had a deep purple colour that I’d never seen before. (Cue “Smoke on the Water” gag!).

I don’t know if I should mention this but on arrival at Kyle of Lochalsh, the Director wanted a shot of the train arriving and me getting off, so Scotrail said it would be fine to reverse the train out and enter the station again. I suppose it was fine as the next service wasn’t due for another 7 hours.

There was also a group of four elderly American women in the carriage with us who spent the whole journey playing Bridge! It was a travesty that they missed some of Scotland’s most stunning scenery. It must have been different from Kansas City!

If you get the chance to go I can thoroughly recommend the mussels in the Kyle Hotel washed down with a pint of ‘heavy’, plus a trip across on the controversial bridge to the Isle of Skye which is only 15p.

There’s also a museum in the station run by Dave Voisey (originally from Twickenham) who is a member of the Friends of the Kyle Line. (01599 534824) I envy his route to work every day as he takes the train to Kyle from his home in Strathcarron. Many thanks to Dave and again to Eddie Toal of Scotrail and especially to our driver Don who as a local was able to point out the places of interest to me. A fantastic couple of days.

Trainspotting.links (will open in a new window)

www.scotrail.co.uk/kyle.htm
www.railscot.co.uk
www.highlandrail.org

Book

"Rail to Kyle of Lochalsh" by David McConnell. (Oakwood Press)