BOB HIND continues on the third part* of his tour of the bus routes of Scotland’s offshore islands, reaching the Outer Hebrides and Skye but he has to divert from his carefully scheduled plan when stormy weather delays two ferry connections — and then a train breaks down…
* Part 2 last month
DAY 4 CONTINUED
Confused of the Outer Hebrides
I have some phoning to do. To catch the first ferry out of Barra the next day, I must book the local bus for the 20min ride to the ferry stage with one of the two local operators, H. MacNeil.
When this is done, I phone another company in North Uist to arrange a demand responsive transport (DRT) connection to a second ferry. This time the lady informs me that I can take a later bus as some of the journeys that had disappeared from last summer’s timetable have been reinstated this week, which will give me a welcome 2hr more in bed.
While this is good news, I feel I have come through a very frustrating circle. When I was planning the trip, the Western Isles Council (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar) website was very helpful and during last summer I found that I could leave Castlebay, on Barra, at 08.50 and make my way by ferry and bus northwards through the Hebridean islands to St…
