Arrival Instructions
The meeting point for the start of the course is outside the village shop in Acharacle (opposite the hotel). If you are arriving by car we will meet you here at 2pm on the start date. If you are arriving by any combination of plane, train or bus, then we will meet you at Fort William train station at 1pm where we will pick you up and transfer you to the site. See Below for specific details. Please note that due to the remoteness of the location and associated logistics, late arrivals will create problems for other participants and affect their enjoyment of the course. If you have any doubt in your ability to meet at the correct start time, please contact us well in advance to discuss.
Getting There
By car
Given the remoteness of the location for this course, we recommend that people car-share where possible to reduce costs. Please send us an email if you are coming by car and we’ll help you get in touch with others willing to car-share. For those coming from the South, your best approach is to head for Carlisle on the M6 North, taking the M74 North out of Carlisle towards Glasgow. At Glasgow, join the M8 Westbound signposted ‘Erskine Bridge’. Cross over the Erskine Bridge heading North onto the A82. Stay on the A82 passing through Crianlarich, Tyndrum and onto Glen Coe. After passing through Glen Coe, cross over the Bridge at Ballachullish (signposted Fort William), and drive a further few miles until you see a sign for the ‘Corran Ferry’ on your left. Take this ferry across Loch Linnhe (£7.90 one-way). The ferry schedule is available here. Once across the ferry, turn left onto the A861 and drive on this road for about 30 miles, skirting Loch Sunart, arriving at the village of Acharacle. For others arriving from the East or West, head for Fort William and drive south on the A82 for a few miles out of Fort William to the Corran Ferry. Proceed over the ferry as outlined above.
By Plane
There are regular scheduled flights from airports in the south to all major airports in Scotland – the main ones would be Inverness or Glasgow. From there, you can take a train or bus to Fort William. See below.
By Train
If arriving by train, you will need to get to ‘Fort William’ train station where we will provide a pick up service to transfer you to the location. The meet up time at the train station is 1 pm on the start day of the course. If you are coming a great distance by train, it is likely that you will need to arrive in Fort William the day before the course starts and stay over in Fort William overnight. Accommodation advice to suit all budgets is available – google.
Train prices to Fort William can be expensive so it is advisable to book well in advance.
- Trains from OUT of London are as follows – Sat dept. london 06.05 arr. Fort william 16.09 (£82) NB – you will need to find accommodation as the train arrives the day before the start date.
- Trains back TO London are as follows – Sat dept. Fort william 11.40 arr. London 21.17 (£82) Please double check the times!!!!
By Bus
Citylink coaches provide regular bus services from both Glasgow and Edinburgh to Fort William. At Fort William you should make your way to the train station where we pick you up and transfer you to the location. The meet up time at the train station is 1 pm on the start day of the course.
Accommodation in Acharacle
If you arrive early, accommodation is available at the Loch Sheil House Hotel – http://www.lochshielhotel.com/
Food & Drink
This course is fully catered. We will be foraging for and eating wild foods that we can catch or gather. If you have any strict dietary requirements, you must make these clear on your booking form.
We will have a small supply of potable drinking water on site, however we will be trying to conserve this by boiling local sources where possible. Most of you will know that our courses are normally alcohol free. On this occasion we will permit you to bring a ‘wee nip’ of good Scottish Single Malt Whisky – when in Rome!
Communications
Mobile phone reception is good on the beach (even internet) – if you need to ‘juice up’ you phone, please bring your own car-charger for use in the Landcuiser.
amosjl –
A fantastic week in great company and a stunning location! As usual with the Wild Human crowd, the atmosphere was relaxed and flexible. Rather than being separate groups of instructors and students, the camp felt like being amongst old friends from the off. The level of instruction was second to none, and once again the food was delicious! Despite the wet weather spirits were always high and there was plenty to get involved with. Learnt plenty and plenty more to learn….fingers crossed for next year! I’m hooked!
milestone21 –
I really enjoyed this course. The location is breathtaking and the people were great.
It was my first course with Wild Human. I’d heard great things and I wasn’t disappointed. Very knowledgeable instructors who were very approachable. I particularly liked how they ate with you which really helped cement the group spirit and I immediately felt at home.
You get as much out of this course as you put in, there is no pressure to participate in the activities, but lots of encouragement. So if you want some chill time it is not an issue but if you want to fill up your day with great activities lead by knowleadgeable and approachable instructors, then of course you can.
It is worth mentioning that ‘fully catered’ means that they cook for you. With other schools ‘fully catered’ means that they provide the food and you cook it over a fire. Personally I’m happy with either, but if you want to be doing all of your own cooking you should have a chat with them up front.
I’m probably going to sign up for this again. It was awesome.