​​​​​​​

MESSAGE BOARD

THE CHALLENGE COMMUNITY, ON-LINE!

FRIENDLY ASSISTANCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT AVAILABLE FOR CHALLENGERS OLD AND NEW,

FROM FRIENDLY AND ENCOURAGING CHALLENGERS, NEW AND OLD

PLEASE USE YOUR OWN NAME WHEN POSTING. THANK YOU!

Download route sheets, admin forms, event documents here

Any queries? Email the coordinators  Sue, Ali & Mick at tgochallenge@gmail.com 

The TGO Challenge Message Board
Start a New Topic 
Author
Comment
Getting To Torridon

This will be my first crossing, i have nearly got a route starting from Torridon but having trouble working out how to get there. I understand that it is the hardest start point to get to, but it looks real nice.

From what i have found so far, the best way to get there would be to get the sleeper train to Inverness. Take the train to Strathcarron and then a bus to Torridon.

The sleeper train gets in at 8:48 and the train to Strathcarron leaves at 8:55. That could be quite tough to get that train. There is one bus a day from Strathcarron to Torridon which i believe waits for the train from Inverness before it leaves.

So missing the train from Inverness to Strathcarron will add on an extra day of travel. Are there any other ways?

Re: Getting To Torridon

Hi Nick,
From memory there is a train that leaves Inverness at 11:00 getting to Strathcaron around 13:00, the local bus service does meet the trains but it's the second train of the day that gets the bus that goes to Torridon the earlier bus normally terminates at Applecross.
I am also doing same start point and train journey, bus details normally published in final details and it's worth phoning bus company to let them know your plans as they will be aware of numbers as they use minibuses normally.
If it's a nice day worst scenario is walk or share taxi.
I am sure you will have more recent info off past Torridon starters shortly.
Byron

Re: Getting To Torridon

If I read the timetables correctly, there's only one bus from Strathcarron to Torridon anyway. The 0855 from Inverness gets to Strathcarron at 1047; the 1100 gets in at 1250 when the bus from Strathcarron leaves, so that maybe that would work if the sleeper gets in late..? Don't know if it hangs around. I've asked the hostel if they know of another option and I'll post it here if they have a suggestion.

Re: Getting To Torridon

When I started from Torridon, there were a group of Challenges starting there. We clubbed together and caught a mini-bus and taxi from Inverness. Cost was around £12 per person, or thereabouts.

This saved a lot of problems with connections etc.

You could try being the "organiser" of this way of getting to Torridon. There should be a good number of starters from Torridon.

Re: Getting To Torridon

Hi Nick,

Really can recommend John McCormack. (Email: enquiries@seethehighlands.com)
We shared a 6-seater between the 5 of us from Inverness to Torridon paying GBP 85,00

After quite some research this appeared to bee the cheapest possibility.

He is offering this as well:

"If you are arriving by train or bus from Inverness I do a fixed price of £45.00 from Achnasheen train station via Kinlochewe to Torridon or you can stay on the train to Strathcarron were I will meet you and take the scenic coastal route via Kishorn and Shieldaig to Torridon either way the price is £45.00"


John is a nice guy and very reliable.

Re: Getting To Torridon

Where are you travelling from Nick?

A couple of years ago, with plenty of time to spare, I travelled by bus to Kyle of Lochalsh from Fort William I think, picked up the train to Strathcarron, then spent a couple of leisurely days walking into Torridon.

It was a very pleasant way to ease myself into the Challenge.

Re: Getting To Torridon

Well I'll be setting off from Birmingham.

I'm looking at getting the sleeper train from Crewe to Inverness.

Yet to look at getting the train to Fort William and doing it that way.

It seems i read the timetable wrong anyway, i would be able to get the later train from Inverness to Strathcarron. Wouldn't mind the walk either, depending on the weather.

I'll have to try and find some other challengers starting from Torridon and see if they want to get a taxi or anything.

Thanks everyone for the information, great help!

Re: Getting To Torridon

Nick, I have not checked the updated bus timetables but when I had a Torridon start in 2011 I got the sleeper to Inverness, the train to Strathcarron and the bus to Shieldaig. Some buses went all the way to Torridon but some only as far as Shieldaig. The (6 or 7 miles?) walk from Shieldaig to Torridon was very pleasant and meant that I felt I was making better use of my time rather than hanging around (or rushing) for transport links.