2020 POSTCARD FROM SCOTLAND Thursday 24 September–Thursday 1 October 2020

On Thursday 24^th September I took the 1010 train from Euston to Glasgow.  It was a very painless journey, through a lot of rain, but I was well looked after in my first class seat!  I took a taxi to the Apex City of Glasgow Hotel and checked in easily and then met up with my friend Anne Hensman, who had arrived about half an before me.  We then checked in with the Keith, our Tour Manager, and chose our menu for dinner!  After unpacking and sorting Anne and I met up for a drink before dinner and then socially distanced dinner with the group.  

 

On Friday for some reason best known to a driver we had to have our suitcases ready for collection at 8am – not very civilised and not very necessary.  [We found out later that the luggage was to be driven to Fort William!] After that, and breakfast, Anne and I went for a walk down to Glasgow Cathedral and wandered back via a few other Glasgow sights.  

 

Soon after midday we boarded our West Highland Line train and spent four hours travelling through the most wonderful countryside – many lochs and many stunning views.  On arrival in Fort William soon after 4pm we checked into our rather moderate pub, the Nevis Bank Inn, and later that evening Anne and I enjoyed a good meal in their restaurant.   

Day 2 started off really well with a great train journey from Fort William to Mallaig.  The most glorious scenery and in brilliant blue sky.  We saw some fabulous sights and the scenery really was to die for.  On arrival we spent two hours wandering around Mallaig, a bit like lost sheep with nothing much to do, and then got back on the bus and it took us onto the ferry and across to Armadale.  We then drove for an hour or so to Portree – a delightful little town.  Anne and I found a small café and bought some soup and one or two other bits and pieces which we enjoyed outside in the cold but lovely weather.  However, after that it all went

downhill.  We were told that our ferry from Uig to Tarbert had been cancelled.  There was no back up organisation in play so the tour manager and the driver of our coach spent a long time trying to find us somewhere to sleep – 13 rooms in different hotels.  Once more or less sorted we then drove back to Fort William – and saw some stunning sights en route – and checked into our various hotels, but we were offered no dinner and no breakfast!  Fun and games!  

 

After a short night which I spent doing photos and writing up our day’s challenges, we set off for Ullapool.  We had a good journey to the ferry, and a comfortable two and a half hours on board, arriving at Stornoway at 2pm.  We were met by an excellent guide who took us out on an afternoon’s tour of Lewis!  We crammed in a lot, making up for our late arrival, visiting the Callanish Stones, Dun Carloway Broch and the

Blackhouse Village.  Thankfully it was a fine, if cold, day so it was easy to walk around everything. We returned to the hotel to unpack and then had a fairly early dinner.  

 

                                                                                                                  

On Monday we set off at 9.30 for what turned out to be a long day in the coach.  Driving down through Lewis to Harris, with occasional very short stops.  We had lunch in the Harris Hotel, and then did a walk around Tarbert, visiting the Harris Tweed shop, where I found a nice tartan scarf!  However, on the whole a bit too long a day on a coach.  On Tuesday I woke up very early so, after reading the newspaper, I went out for a walk around Stornoway and then back to breakfast!  That morning we were driven up to North Tolsta and had a walk to the ‘Bridge to Nowhere’, officially called Bridge Garry, and then back into Town for a walk in the Castle grounds which was great.  

 

We left the Hebrides on a 2pm ferry, arriving back in Ullapool at 4.30pm, and were then driven to the Macdonald Drumossie Hotel, a rather smart place which we thought was in Inverness but was miles outside.  We had quite a good dinner that evening but the next morning was wet and miserable so we stayed in the hotel.  There was no opportunity to actually walk around Inverness which was rather sad but not the end of the world as I had been there before.

 

At 14.50 we took a train to Glasgow, and spent our last night at the Crowne Plaza.  Had a good last dinner and in the morning we all disappeared to take our various trains back home.  I was on the 11.37 to Euston which got me home around 5pm.