Fort William Sojourn (5)

… but enjoyable none-the-less. But Aviemore was a disappointing dump – just a long row of touristy shops with no quality of architecture whatsoever – a modern community to make money out of modern visitors.

The highlight of the main street has to be the beutifully formed railway station …

… which is shared between UK National Rail and the heritage Strathspey Railway.

Generally, the preserved stuff is parked elsewhere – but the line does run some stunning trains.

Sadly, there was nothing happening when the fbbs were there; and even if there was, there would have been insufficient time to go and see it.

Pity.

In fact, the fbbs settled here …

… and consumed some of this …

… whilst awaiting departure from Aviemore. It was only a short walk cross the car park to the bus stop pick-up point.

Thankfully, that constituted the sum total of the fbbs enjoyment of Aviemore.

And so to Inverness. 

The land becomes more hilly (mountainous) as the Capital of the Highlands is approached and both rail …

… and the A9 road …

… share a summit.

From here it is a steady descent to Inverness.

Convention has it that coaches park in Ardross Street next to St Andrew’s Cathedral (Scottish Episcopal Church; a version of C of E over the border!) …

… which is just too far out of the town centre for weary oldies! But next to the church …

… was a little shed in which was located a rather fine caff. 

After refreshment, Mrs fbb went off in a succesful search for a post box whilst her aged other half relaxed by the riverside.

The relatively modern “castle” (1836) is undergoing a massive renovation with completion not due until 2025. 

And so back via Loch Ness in yet more glorious sunshine.

And there was Urquart Castle, site of the Maisie MacSporran mystery/tragedy as outlined in yesterday’s 100% accurate blog. (Maybe not?)

And more loch and more sunshine.

In fact it has been fine weather every day until Thursday, when the coach got closer to Fort William – and dark clouds loomed big-time.

The rains came …

… and for about ten minutes Niall (pronounced Kneel), our driver, had to set his windscreen wipers a-swish.

But a watery sun soon returned and the evening remained dry!

On a more Public Transport note …

Hmmm?

Then there’s HiTravel?

Maybe a leaflet for Inverness will help us understand.

Pretty cover! So, what does it tell us about buses in Inverness?

But then there is www.travelhighland.info.

Hmmm?

This web site offers this …

… and finally, this:-

fbb was hoping for some bus information, possibly even a map. But he will have to make do with Stagecoach and Traveline.

And that is all you get – effectively nothing from HiTrsns and/or HiTravel.

Needs further investigation.