Fort William Sojourn (6)

Ardnamurchan, Moidart, Morvern and Ardgour must include some of the remotest places in the UK, yet, amazingly, there is a network of buses serving the area. One of the trips out from Fort William is planned to go to this area. 

There are THREE obvious ways in, two from Fort William – the third we will meet later. The main road access is off the A830 to Mallaig.

The left turn is clearly marked just after the obligatory hotel in the middle of nowhere. There isn’t much more at Lochailort.

Of course all the toad signs are bi-lingual!

The alternative access is south from Fort William on the A82 …

… some sample fares, operating times and …

— a ferry.

This is the way that Sheil Buses service 507 goes.

Its main targets, c/o Sheik Buses web site, are …

… the head of Loch Sunart …

… and Lochaline which the potential passenger can easily spot on the above map. Well you can on this one!

The 507 follows the road to Lpchaline (actually pretty much the only road!) something of a metropolis in these parts!

Just past the shop, restaurant and filling station (metropolis indeed) is the sign to the third access point, the ferry from Fishnish on the Island of Mull.

This has the feel of a local link …

… not at all as grsnd as the main ferry from Oban. That is a proper “sail”!

The Lochaline to Fishnish route takes its customers a few miles from Tobermory …

… famous for its multi-coloured waterside dwellings.

Here viewers of a certain age might expect to find Miss Houlie (striped), Evie McCredie (blue) and, of course, Archie The Professor (pink)! His castle sits above the town, renamed Balamory for the cameras.

For motorists and white-van-man the route via Corran and Lochaline is probably significantly quicker than the big boat from Oban.

As with so many of these very rural routes, the timetable is very much orientated round school requirement, in this case Ardnamurchan High.

The through unschool service to and from the mainland at Fyprt William runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays only.

But did you spot that extension by request (letter R) from and to Drimmin about half an hour beyond Lochaline.

fbb reckons his readers might like to visit Drimmin Slipway.

It is the end of the road! Drimmin Slip …

… once provided water access to Drimmin House and its estate just a tad firther on along a private track.

The estate is now home to self catering properties – although its a long way (to Lochaline) for a pint of milk!

Nevertheless, Shiel Buses 507 will rundle along the narrowest of roads on a Tuesday or Thursday and take you ro Fort William to stock up at Morrisons …

… and bring you back in the afternoon.

One sadness for an enthusiastic visitor to Fort William is that fbb cannot even get to Lochalinr and back without an overnight stay. A couple of the trips out by Lochs and Glens are similar to those enjoyed on last years’s holiday. so ut would be ace to get to Lochaline and back. But it cannot be done.

But are there other possibilities?

Hmmm?