Scotland - Days Three & Four
Thursday 29th October 2020
For the third day running we caught the 09:51 service from Ardlui but for the first time, we were the only people to board the train. One female alighted as we joined just one other passenger in the rear unit [156478] for a rather special journey. In order to maintain social distancing with the Conductor who was at the rear of the train, we had boarded at the very front of the rear unit so once the train had split at Crianlarich, we were just behind the driver’s cab and the space for bikes. Shortly before departure from there, the driver checked where we were travelling to and was probably quite surprised when we replied with ‘Corrour’! He had clearly noticed the two large suitcases and a buggy that we had with us and mentioned that it’s usually only the rear door that’s opened at that station – however, very kindly he offered to stop the train in a different position at Corrour so that we could get off by using the front door instead. Sure enough, we pulled into the short platform on time and along with one man and his dog, left the train for the short walk over to the Station House.
We were staying in one of the three rooms that are now part of the old signal box at the station and although our room wasn’t quite ready for check-in, we enjoyed a couple more hot chocolates with all the toppings while three other tables were also in use! Despite the drizzle, with the threat of heavier rain in the afternoon we decided to venture out into the wilderness and took the short walk down to the ‘Corrour Summit’ sign, which is only about a ten-minute walk along a footpath after leaving the station. After a bit more exploring, the rain started to get heavier so we retreated back to the Station House and settled down next to the burning log fire with some drinks and a heavenly chocolate brownie.
We then moved over to the old signal box and after getting settled into our room, we went and sat upstairs in the communal / rest area which gives some lovely views of the immediate surroundings.
Before long, it was time to head back over to the Station House for some dinner and we both opted for the venison burger – it really is a must-have if you visit and even the chips were amazing! For a while, we were the only guests in the restaurant but then another couple arrived shortly before we headed back over to the room to get some sleep. However, we first had the rather surreal experience of the London-bound Caledonian Sleeper pass just outside our window as 21:00 approached, and then the last Scotrail service of the day to Mallaig trundled through about half an hour later.
Friday 30th October 2020
Despite not officially opening until 08:30, the lovely staff at The Station House had agreed to open up a bit earlier for us after finding out that we were heading back home on the first train of the day; the 08:32 departure for Glasgow Queen Street. The bacon rolls and soft drinks ‘to go’ were very welcome, as were the blue skies and an absolutely beautiful sunrise out in the middle of absolutely nowhere.
We made our way back to the platform and took shelter from the brisk wind in the little wooden hut, before 156500 appeared out of the mountains and duly stopped with the rear of its two carriages at the platform. Nobody else boarded but three people got off the train – which was the first of the day out of Mallaig – once the trainee Conductor had released the doors under the watchful eye of Suzie; the Scotrail Conductor who is just as bubbly and lovely in real-life as she comes across in Geoff Marshall’s fabulous ‘Behind The Scenes at Corrour’ YouTube documentary.
After a short delay at Rannoch while we waited for the northbound Caledonian Sleeper to pass, we enjoyed a fairly uneventful journey into Glasgow and then back home…but we’re already looking at plans for another trip up to the magical Scottish Highlands...hopefully next year if it’s safe and appropriate to do so!
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