Exploring Britain's Hidden Remote Corners Using Only Public Transport 🚆

A travel blogger has visited some of Britain's most remote locations - all by public transport.<br /><br />Kay Gillespie 36, has travelled to dozens of offshore islands, partied with Vikings and visited some of Scotland’s most picturesque spots - by bus, ferry, train and even kayak. <br /><br />Intrepid Kay has worked in Canada and Ibiza, and travelled all over Europe, but now spends most of her time exploring Scotland – without a car. <br /><br />Kay, from Edinburgh, has been to 66 Scottish Islands, including inhabited islands; some are just rugged rocks she has had to kayak out to. <br /><br />She has travelled many times on the famous West Highland Line, voted one of the most scenic railway journeys in the world. <br /><br />Some of her top experiences include staying in remote eco hostel in Corrour, Loch Ossian Youth Hostel, and watching thousands of colourful puffins on the Isle of Lunga. <br /><br />Kay has never learnt how to drive and received much doubt when she began as a travel blogger, but she admits the transport network in Scotland is “great” and provides “a more local experience”.<br /><br />Her favourite place is the Isle of Iona, a pilgrimage destination which she describes as “the most idyllic island with turquoise sea and white sand beaches”.<br /><br />To get there from Edinburgh means either two trains or two buses to Oban, then a ferry to Craignure (Isle of Mull), a bus from there to Fionnphort on Mull, then a ferry to Iona. <br /><br />It was Kay’s first solo adventure to Ibiza at 18 which sparked her enthusiasm for travelling, though her homeland did not initially take her fancy.<br /><br />She said: “Ibiza was my first solo adventure - much to my mum’s horror - which started the travel bug for me.<br /><br />“I stayed for five months, and it paved the way for the unconventional path I’ve followed since.<br /><br />“It wasn’t about Scotland back then - I had no interest in what was on my own doorstep. <br /><br />“I just found overseas travel much more exciting!”<br /><br />Though 2010 was the start of a new journey for Kay, as she had returned from briefly living in London. <br /><br />She was unemployed and was eyeing up a sailing trip in Croatia combined with a bus tour around Eastern Europe.<br /><br />Kay noticed the company had a sister travel company in Scotland, who were looking for reservation staff for their tourism office - and if you worked there, employees receive a discount for the European tours. <br /><br />Kay explained: “I applied for the job because I wanted the staff discount!<br /><br />“I was unsuccessful in that role but they asked me if I would train to be a tour guide instead and when I accepted that job - it changed the course of my life. <br /><br />“I went on training trips to the Highlands and Isle of Skye; when I saw Glen Coe for the first time, my jaw hit the floor. <br /><br />"I couldn’t believe this was my home country. <br /><br />“I saw the snow-capped mountains, the lochs were glassy still and the weather was beautiful. <br /><br />“I knew it had lit up something inside me - I was so excited to share it with people from all over the world."