Highlands via public transport
May 18th, 2006, 06:19 AM
#1
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Highlands via public transport
Hello,
I am looking for a fairly remote wild place in the Highlands accessible by bus where I can hike and camp. I'll be leaving from Glasgow and have at least 3/4 nights. Is it perfectly feasible to just hop of a public bus and be in the middle of amazing hiking and wilderness camping? Should I be thinking train? Or has anyone here done any roadbike/camping in the Highlands?
Thanks!
Miles
I am looking for a fairly remote wild place in the Highlands accessible by bus where I can hike and camp. I'll be leaving from Glasgow and have at least 3/4 nights. Is it perfectly feasible to just hop of a public bus and be in the middle of amazing hiking and wilderness camping? Should I be thinking train? Or has anyone here done any roadbike/camping in the Highlands?
Thanks!
Miles
May 18th, 2006, 06:25 AM
#2
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Here's a walking path which might suit you, in parts.
http://www.west-highland-way.co.uk/mainFrame.htm
Begins just outside of Glasgow. You could start at one of the more remote parts if you wished.
http://www.west-highland-way.co.uk/mainFrame.htm
Begins just outside of Glasgow. You could start at one of the more remote parts if you wished.
May 18th, 2006, 08:49 AM
#3
Not the highlands - but a good choice for what you want to do might be Skye. Amazing scenery, great hiking/walking, train/ferry/bus connection from Glasgow, semi-decent bus connections on the island itself or from Skye to places on the mainland. Places to camp or you could stay in a hostel like in Glen Brittle - where I think there is also camping. Lots of backpackers/hikers so you can have company - or not if you prefer.
Or you could take the train up to Inverness an then take buses or post buses out to the remote northwest coast.
Or you could take the train up to Inverness an then take buses or post buses out to the remote northwest coast.
May 18th, 2006, 12:55 PM
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A couple of wesbites with useful practical info:
www.celticfringe.org.uk/travel.htm
Transport info for Wester Ross, which is a gorgeous area.
www.royalmail.com
Search for "postbus" to get postbus schedules. Postbuses aren't really buses, but are postal service vans or cars that take riders, and are great for getting from train stations to remote places. But they don't run often, so advance planning is required, and there's no guarantee that there will be room if others want to ride, too.
http://walking.visitscotland.com/walks
One of many sites that can help you choose a hike or a hiking area.
www.celticfringe.org.uk/travel.htm
Transport info for Wester Ross, which is a gorgeous area.
www.royalmail.com
Search for "postbus" to get postbus schedules. Postbuses aren't really buses, but are postal service vans or cars that take riders, and are great for getting from train stations to remote places. But they don't run often, so advance planning is required, and there's no guarantee that there will be room if others want to ride, too.
http://walking.visitscotland.com/walks
One of many sites that can help you choose a hike or a hiking area.
May 20th, 2006, 01:16 AM
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Miles, with all respect to Pausianas, the West Highland Way is the motorway of country walking in Scotland. It crosses some fantastic country, but by its mere existence loses the concept of wilderness.
I'll suggest two for you, but you might want to have a look at Cameron Mcneish's 2 book- Wilderness Walks and, inspiringly, More Wilderness Walks.
The first is in the Cairngorms and starts At Coylumbridge and finishes at Glenmore Lodge about 3 miles away. But meantime you have walked the Lairig Ghru , gone through Glen Luibeg and Glen Derry, round Loch Avon and back through Strath Nethy. It's about 40 miles, mostly on paths, and I really wouldn't recommend it if you can't navigate.
The second is Knoydart. There are all sorts of ways of doing this (on foot-there are no rads in the Rough Bounds).
Glenfinnan is a classic starting point for acess into Knoydart by walking up Glen Finnan to Loch Arkaig and then via Glen Dessary into the Knoydart mountains. One can then walk through to Inverie, catch the ferry back to Mallaig and get back to Glenfinnan on the train. Definitely needs a lot of planning and good fitness, allow at least three days.
I can suggest others if you want, but Mr McNeish would do better than I.
I'll suggest two for you, but you might want to have a look at Cameron Mcneish's 2 book- Wilderness Walks and, inspiringly, More Wilderness Walks.
The first is in the Cairngorms and starts At Coylumbridge and finishes at Glenmore Lodge about 3 miles away. But meantime you have walked the Lairig Ghru , gone through Glen Luibeg and Glen Derry, round Loch Avon and back through Strath Nethy. It's about 40 miles, mostly on paths, and I really wouldn't recommend it if you can't navigate.
The second is Knoydart. There are all sorts of ways of doing this (on foot-there are no rads in the Rough Bounds).
Glenfinnan is a classic starting point for acess into Knoydart by walking up Glen Finnan to Loch Arkaig and then via Glen Dessary into the Knoydart mountains. One can then walk through to Inverie, catch the ferry back to Mallaig and get back to Glenfinnan on the train. Definitely needs a lot of planning and good fitness, allow at least three days.
I can suggest others if you want, but Mr McNeish would do better than I.
May 20th, 2006, 03:06 AM
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Like Sheila says there are several ways onto Knoydart.
By public transport you can take the bus going towards Skye and get off at Shiel Bridge. From there you can get a local bus service which has to be pre-booked which will take you to Arnisdale and from there a small ferry can take you to Barisdale (not subsidised). From Barisdale you can head over to Inverie, bagging a few Munroes enroute!
There is a bothy and a small campsite at Barisdale and a bunkhouse at Inverie.
The ferry from Inverie to Mallaig only runs three days a week, otherwise there are other boats which you can hire to take you across, but that would be more expensive.
www.skyeways.co.uk
www.arnisdaleferryservice.com
www.knoydart-foundation.com
www.knoydart-ferry.co.uk
If you are fit and prepared for it this will take you into one of the most remote and beautiful parts of mainland UK!
By public transport you can take the bus going towards Skye and get off at Shiel Bridge. From there you can get a local bus service which has to be pre-booked which will take you to Arnisdale and from there a small ferry can take you to Barisdale (not subsidised). From Barisdale you can head over to Inverie, bagging a few Munroes enroute!
There is a bothy and a small campsite at Barisdale and a bunkhouse at Inverie.
The ferry from Inverie to Mallaig only runs three days a week, otherwise there are other boats which you can hire to take you across, but that would be more expensive.
www.skyeways.co.uk
www.arnisdaleferryservice.com
www.knoydart-foundation.com
www.knoydart-ferry.co.uk
If you are fit and prepared for it this will take you into one of the most remote and beautiful parts of mainland UK!
May 20th, 2006, 03:52 AM
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More thoughts about Knoydart - if you were thinking about coming in the Glen Dessary/Kinloch Hourn route then you should take a look at these two sites too.
www.glendessary.info
http://www.jmt.org/cons/knoy/index.html
Also remember that burns and rivers can quickly go into spate with heavy rain and become uncrossable.
www.glendessary.info
http://www.jmt.org/cons/knoy/index.html
Also remember that burns and rivers can quickly go into spate with heavy rain and become uncrossable.
May 20th, 2006, 05:46 AM
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oops - that should be Glen Dessary/Kinloch Hourn routes (plural)!! They are different ways of walking in one takes you to the head of Loch Nevis (Glen Dessary) and the other to the head of Loch Hourn (Kinloch Hourn)and on to Barisdale. It is worth checking to see if there are post buses to take you to the starting points.
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