Laggan bus is strath's 'best kept secret'!
Jo Cumming and furry friend Sandy were the first passengers on a new bus service serving Laggan Bridge.
The 39 leaves Aviemore Station at 10.10 and arrives 11.05 at Laggan Bridge – but nobody knows.
After quick turn round at the Laggan Coffee Bothy it leaves at 11.10 as the M39 for Inverness bus station via the UHI campus. It stops outside the Balavil Hotel going to Laggan and opposite the Newtonmore Co-op going north.
"Until Stagecoach update their see system the new timetable is hard to find," said Jo.
"Until it can be reprogrammed, the route destination on the bus says Newtonmore although it is going in to Laggan Bridge, which is rather confusing."
There is one stop on the way at Cluny Mains Farm so walkers could return to Newtonmore over Creag Dhubh or along Glen Banchor.
The bus runs on weekdays only at the moment. During term time, passengers can use the school bus morning and afternoon with this late morning bus providing greater flexibility.
Colin Morgan, chair Laggan Community Council told the Strathy: "It's certainly one of the best kept secrets, as no-one on the community council was advised of the new service – which started on May 22nd!
"The driver on the route would only confirm that the bus is available up to the end of June but we remain hopeful that it will also operate during the school holiday in July and August, which the present 140 school bus does not.
"There has been a campaign by many members of the community for a bus service connecting Laggan to the rest of the strath for many years, even when Jo was running the local shop, from 2004 to 2012!
"The service has the potential to open up the Upper Spey walking routes out to Garva Bridge and beyond, as well as the Glen Banchor trail back to Newtonmore from Cluny.
"It is hoped that this just a start, because Lagganites can now go to the rest of strath by bus at 11.15 from Laggan Bridge, but not yet get back in afternoon - at least not outwith school term dates."
