Nic and Sue’s Euro River Cruise and l bits on the side. Autumn 2026. Day 11 – Plan C. Ft William to Skye

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Our first accommodation without breaky included last night. We were happy to get out for a change (and there wasn’t a lot of accomm on offer when we were booking)

Breaky at The Old Deli in High street. I had tasty blueberry pancakes – forgot the photo. Won’t be filling but it was delicious.

A bit of rain about this morning making sightseeing a challenge. Have coat and umbrella – will try.

Had a little walk in the rain post breaky, bought some physical roadmaps and then we checked out and headed off for a look around Ft William. We fuelled up and had to put some oil in too, as we had the amber ! light on the dash yesterday and very little measuring on the dipstick (will have to let AVIS know).
Then a tour along the foreshore of Loch Linnhe. The loch is looking black and choppy in the rainy weather. The houses/mansions along the left were pretty much ALL BnB’s and had No Vacancies. Would have magnificent views across the Loch to the Mountains beyond – in all seasons.
Then we headed for Glenfinnan – not the direct route as we were pointing the other way and a little out of Ft William by then.

Our first Ferry, which crossed the Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland between Inchree and Corran.

Then a really picturesque drive along a single track road with plenty of passing places we met only three cars along this stretch beside Loch Linnhe back to opposite Fort William – a round trip but so good.

Eventually we arrived at the Glenfinnan Viaduct information centre. I geared up to walk in the rain to see the Viaduct. It’s famous for being the longest concrete railway bridge in Scotland. Built in the 1890s by ‘Concrete Bob’ McAlpine, the viaduct’s 21 huge arches were constructed using pioneering technology at the time.

It’s probably made most famous for its appearance in Harry Potter films as the Hogwarts Express, crosses the Viaduct. The Jacobite train (HP train) makes two trips between Fort William and Mallaig each day. We weren’t in time to make it. It would have been mental to find a park and then a viewpoint.
It was still well worth seeing, without the train.

Then we headed off in the wrong direction and had to do a u turn a few miles down the road, before heading for Mallaig.

We stopped for lunch at a little pub in the middle of nowhere Lochhailort Inn. We both had slow roasted leg of Lamb with roasted carrots, parsnips, potatoes, summer greens and a Yorkshire Pudding. Bonus sides were more gravy, home made mint sauce ( just like mum used to make) and apple sauce.
The woman behind the bar was very friendly, as was the bloke who served us. It was just so nice to have a homemade meal – just like Mum used to make, when travelling. Best call ever to stop there for lunch.

We continued on alongside the Loch and the railway and amidst the misty, mountains with autumn tones in the bracken and green trees everywhere. We actually saw the steam train wiz past and quickly pulled into a road. While we missed the engine we saw the steam and some carriages for a short moment.

Then onto Mallaig. Lined up at the ferry, all booked out, but a burly Scottish bloke picked our Aussie accents and lined us up for the first in ‘stand- by’ for next ferry at 4pm. We evidently have a 50/50 chance. So we sat in the rain and waited for about 45minutes and hoped for the best.
The burly Scot had spent 3 years in Oz – Tamworth, a bit of a country music man. I questioned why he came back to this weather! His reply ‘a shrug and “gave up me fookin’ visa and awl!”
The cars began to line up for the next ferry, which pulled up started to unload… and we waited and hoped. Sue was counting vehicles and was not hopeful for us.

Well we got on, and so did two vehicles behind us.

Thanks Scottish Tamworth!! Saved us about 2 additional hours to go around.

The trip across was pretty quick, a bit of wind and swell but there was some sun breaking through over Skye.

We didn’t have far to go to get to Broadford which is our home for the next two nights.

We arrived at the hotel exactly the same time as two bus loads of people which wasn’t ideal but they got rid of them pretty quick and our room is totally fine again.
We had a bit of a look at plans for the next day or two and then our direction home or down to London and then went for a walk in the evening around the bay to the pier for me. The fishing boats and the white housing dotted through the hills across the harbour I guess very interesting and just the plant life the moths the wet the moisture in the lush growth.

Home via the co-op/supermarket to grab some car snacks/fruit. Then we shared fish and chips in the bar and the best G&T to date (Skye Gin) we actually made it to dessert for the first time.

Then back to the room, shower, blog, wordle bed.

A day around Skye tomorrow.