I started from Glenelg this year.

I travelled to Kyle of Lochalsh by train via Inverness, arriving at 11:30

There is a scheduled bus at 11:35 from the bus station which is at least a 5 minute walk from the station.

The journey time is about 70 minutes. You can check the timetable and operator at Travelinescotland.com.

I decided to take the Broadford bus and got dropped off at the top of Glen Arroch.

It's a fairly pleasant 10 mile walk down to the ferry at Kylerhea ( the only remaining turntable ferry in Scotland and operated by parish of Glenelg) and then a short walk into Glenelg past the Bernera Barracks ruins.

The sign out point is at Mrs. Davidsons house, Taobh na Mara Tel: 01599522310. The house is located just past the memorial at approx NG809190.

I believe she does do B&B or at least she will know who does.

I stayed at the pub which is very good for both beer, food and accommodation. They sometimes have a quiz night on Thursdays so maybe you could enter a TGO Challenge team.

Hope that helps

Wot Ray said ... plus

When I started from Glenelg (a few years ago) you could arrange for Clan Taxis to meet the bus from Inverness at Shiel Bridge to take you over the rather spectacular little road to Glenelg. To enquire tel: 01599 555477. It might be a good idea to buddy up with fellow Glenelg bound Challengers to share the cost.

I too stayed at the Glenelg Inn, sharing a twin room with my walking companion and can confirm that beer, food & accommodation were all very good.

Take care on pub quizzes - some Mallaig Challengers this year comprehensively thrashed the home team, which seemed to provoke a little local discontent.

I got the bus to Sheil Bridge from Inverness, stayed overnight nursing a sweet sherry and a water biscuit and made the pleasant walk over to Glenelg the next morning. I had to refuse four offers of lifts. Being a Yorkshireman, I camped near the memorial but visited the pub for another sweet sherry and a water biscuit.
It was OK, but when the tide came in the front guy of the tent was briefly underwater. Luckily nothing floated away.

Thanks Ray! That's all I need. The beginning and the end are now fixed; I've just got to join them up. Paul M

I have started from Glenelg twice and there are a number of B&Bs. No bus service though but on both occasions the B&B owner came to collect us from the bus stop at Sheil Bridge so ask around, otherwise it is along walk before you start the Challenge and you might want to save your energy for the real event!

I started at Glenelg in 2009.

I caught the Inverness sleeper and the morning train to Kyle of Lochalsh, then I walked over that bridge thingy that everyone got so excited about a few years ago, and down to Kylerea (although a nice person in a car took pity on me when the rain started and gave me a lift for some of the way). I then used the turntable ferry (which I had last used in 1988).

I had planned on camping wild the night before, but it was raining, and my tent doesn;t like being put up in the rain, so I took pity on it and treated myself to a night in the pub.

My views on pub quizzes:

1. Can't stand the things.
2. Locals who think that they're entitled to win just because they're local are even more despicable than people who think that just because their house fronts onto a particular road, they should be the only people entitled to park there (private roads excepted, of course: they pay to maintain the road and what they do with it is up to them).

Thanks for the information! It looks like there is a variety of interesting ways to get there using things I've not heard of. I think I'll have to travel a bit earlier so that I have time to take on board these experiences!

Spoken like a true Challenger, Paul!

This is what makes the Challenge so great ... it gives you the opportunity to discover all sorts of new things about Scotland, and visit places you would never otherwise have been.