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-   -   Getting to Eilean Donan Castle (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/getting-to-eilean-donan-castle-1326256/)

gawr0008 May 24th, 2017 05:35 PM

Getting to Eilean Donan Castle
 
When I depart from Fort Williams, I was thinking either go straight to Glasgow for a few days or I was thinking of going to Eilean Donan Castle for a day trip and then heading back down to Glasgow. I know they are in opposite directions and I will spend most of the day traveling, but the pictures of Eilean Donan Castle look really great. Is Eilean Donan Castle worth the traveling and how can I get there? Is Dornie the closest city? It doesn't show up on the train arrive website. Does that mean i have to take a bus? How many hours would that take. I don't want to rent a car. Time is not the issue in my situation.

WoinParis May 24th, 2017 06:16 PM

Yes it is worth it. I saw it decades ago and image is as vivid as yesterday.
I went by car. Cannot help here.

janisj May 24th, 2017 07:36 PM

Worth it -- who knows. It is merely a quick photo op. A pretty photo op to be sure, but it is not a memorable castle inside,. So, is it 'worth it' to you to drive hours out of your way -- only you know.

But my first question is, why are you staying in Ft William? It certainly is not 'special', or even very nice.

janisj May 24th, 2017 07:43 PM

Oh -- I just noticed from your other threads that you are traveling by public transport (which may answer the Ft William question).

No -- it isn't worth back tracking since there is no train connecting Ft William and Kyle of Lochalsh. You'd have to take the train to Glasgow, then up to Inverness and then to Kyle -- a 13 hour journey each way.

historytraveler May 24th, 2017 07:53 PM

You mention the train but if traveling by train it is not easy to get to Eilean Donan. I believe the nearest train station is Kyle of Lochalsh, and you would need to take a taxi or possibly bus to get to the castle. I probably like it a little better than janisj but agree that it's not really special and certainly not memorable. It does provide a great photo opportunity if one can get rid of all those pesky tourists that get in the way of a good picture.;)

Agree that there are a lot better places to stay than Fort William.

historytraveler May 24th, 2017 07:58 PM

Ahhh, janisj picked up on the fact that the train from Fort William doesn't come near Eilean Donan or Kyle of Lochlash. The train that ends up at Kyle of
Lochalsh comes from Inverness and the Fort William line goes to Mallaig. Sorry but it's simply not possible.

janisj May 24th, 2017 08:22 PM

Well - it <i>would</i> be 'possible': Train Ft William to Mallaig, ferry to Skye, local buses to Kyle, taxi to Eilean Donan, taxi to Kyle, train to Inverness, train to Glasgow . . . in two days.

WoinParis May 24th, 2017 11:40 PM

i am pretty sure that is the castle where the Avengers regroup.
Chapeau melon et bottes de cuir in French. Fir once more fitting than the English name.


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