Isle of Skye
Transport - Sightseeing on the island - Books & Maps
Accommodation on Skye: B&Bs, cottages, etc.
One of the largest and best known Scottish islands, Skye is particularly famous for its mountain scenery. Many people come here to climb or walk in the Cuillin and the Quiraing. Quite an expanding population since the early 1990s, now there are over 9000 people living on the island.
Due to its popularity with tourists, you will find many craft shops and cottage museums. As for sports, you can visit the swimming pool in Portree, play golf at Sconser and Skeabost or go pony trekking. Watersports available on the island include diving, canoeing, windsurfing and yachting. Skye is also the ideal place for fishing and birdwatching. But if it's whisky you want, why not visit the Talisker Distillery at Carbost?
How to get to Skye
From the west coast of Scotland,there are 3 routes onto the island:
· by bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh
· by ferry from Glenelg
· by ferry from Mallaig
Full details given below
By road, Kyle of Lochalsh is:
75 miles north of Fort William
80 miles south-west of Inverness
180 miles north of Glasgow /
By driving or taking the train from Fort William and then getting the ferry from Mallaig to Skye, you can take one of the most famously scenic journeys of the west Highlands: full details on the official Road to the Isles web site.
Alternatively if you approach Skye via Kyle of Lochalsh or Glenelg, this gives you the opportunity of visiting the well-known, picturesque Eilean Donan Castle.
Road bridge from the mainland:
The bridge enables you to drive over to Kyleakin on the south-east tip of Skye which is 8 miles from Broadford, 24 miles from Armadale and 35 miles from Portree. The vehicle toll charges which started in 1995 were abolished in December 2004, so there is now no cost to cross the bridge.
By bus:
Buses operate from Inverness, Fort William and Glasgow. Most of these buses will take you to Portree. Some go as far as Uig to coincide with the ferries over to North Uist and Harris. Citylink runs most of these services and all its timetables are online.
By train:
Trains run from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh where you can:
· walk across the road bridge to Kyleakin
· get the Highland Country bus number 355 across the bridge to Kyleakin only (daily service approx. every 30 minutes there and back)
· get the Citylink coach service to Broadford & Portree, etc.
Trains also run from Fort William to Mallaig where you can take the ferry over to Armadale. This is recognised as being the most scenic railway line in the country and as well as the regular services (see train timetables and online ticket booking), a steam train also runs during the summer and makes for an even more memorable trip.
By vehicle ferry from Mallaig to Armadale
The summer ferry runs 6 or 7 times a day (including some Sundays at the height of the season) between Mallaig and Armadale on the Isle of Skye. The winter service is limited to 2 journeys a day (Monday to Friday only). Journey time: 25 minutes. Vehicle reservation required. Bikes are carried free of charge.
The official Caledonian Macbrayne website lists the current timetables and prices in detail. Tel: 01475 650 100 / fax: 01475 635 235 or for vehicle reservations telephone 08705 650000.
By private ferry from Glenelg to Kylerhea
This privately-run ferry takes you over the sea to Skye in 5 minutes and holds 6 cars. Telephone/fax: 01599 511 302. The ferry runs as often as required. The schedule is:
· 21st March - 22nd May (and Easter Sunday): Monday - Saturday 9am to 5.45pm
· 23rd May - 28th August: Monday - Saturday 9am to 7.45pm, Sunday 10am to 5.45pm
· 29th August - 1st October: Monday - Saturday 9am to 5.45pm, Sunday 10am to 5.45pm
For prices and full details, visit the Skye Ferry web site.
Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service.
Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey
and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.
Transport on the island
Car Hire:
Car hire on Skye is available from Portree Coachworks. Tel: 01478 612688.
Book vehicle rental online through Bespoke Highland Tours who operate as agents for Arnold Clark. They offer extremely good value car / van / minibus hire and I have used them myself on more than one occasion. Very good service. You can pick up your rental car from Inverness, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Fort William, etc.
For something special, check out Gran Turismo based in Edinburgh. They have a range of sports cars, classic cars and 4x4 vehicles for hire. Ideal for romantic breaks. Self-drive tours can be customised. Accommodation in friendly country mansions.
Buses:
Various local bus services operate on the island.
The main roads are covered by the Citylink services between Kyleakin, Broadford, Portree and Uig.
Rapsons (Highland Country Buses) operate many other local routes including Armadale-Kyleakin, Portree-Dunvegan, etc.
Also visit travelinescotland.com which is the official public transport guide with online timetables and a journey planner.
For all local transport connections (rail, ferry, air, bus), the Highland Council publishes Travel Guides which are available to purchase for a small fee - or Tel: 01463 702695.
Bike Hire:
· Sutherlands Garage in Broadford - phone 01471 822 225.
· Fairwinds in Broadford on Elgol Road (4th house after the Broadford Hotel) - phone: 01471 822 270. They also offer B&B accommodation.
· Island Cycles, The Green, Portree (near the long stay car park) - telephone: 01478 613 121. Mountain bikes, touring and sport cycles available. Also repairs and spares.
· Barbara at Orasay, Uig (north Skye ferry terminal) (Tel: 01470 542316 or 07968 652267 / web site).
My travellers' tips file may also be useful if you are planning a trip to Scotland. It covers airlines, national car hire, train information, maps, etc.
Self Drive Tours:
· Based in the Highlands, Scotland Made Easy can plan a customised itinerary for a self-drive tour to suit your interests, budget and time available. They will book you into recommended accommodation where you are assured of quality, comfort and hospitality - usually in 4 star B&Bs in Scottish homes. Optional 'specials' include a night in a castle, church, lighthouse, country mansion, etc. Skye is a popular destination on self-drive trips.
Whether you have already decided which places you want to visit or if you haven't a clue where to start, Scotland Made Easy will advise and take care of all the planning for you. They are accredited by the Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board.
Guided Tours / Day Trips:
· Glenedin Coaches operate day tours from Portree (depart 11am, return 5pm). You can see Edinbane, Fairy Bridge, Dunvegan Castle then drive along the scenic road through Struan and on to Sligachan, with plenty of photo stops. This tour operates 4th June - 30th September 2005. Tel: 01470 582306 / Fax: 01470 582396.
There are many local people who operate taxis on the island. They will take you on private tours and also take you to the starting point of walks if you need transport. Here are a few:
· Excellent guided tours of the Isle of Skye and west Highlands are available by car with Alasdair Ross based at 6 Olaf Road, Kyleakin (tel/fax: 01599 534 452). Ideal if you only have a day to visit the island and want see as much as you can, and/or if you don't want to hire a car and drive yourselves around. Particularly useful if you are staying in Fort William, Mallaig or Kyle of Lochalsh and just have a day to spare to go to Skye. He can pick you up from any ferry, train, bus or air terminal. Born and brought up on Skye he will give you the inside story on his personal guided tour. More details online.
· Kyle Taxi Company offer day tours of Skye & Lochalsh, or Plockton, Lochcarron and Torridon, or even Inverness and Loch Ness. They also have a classic Daimler for wedding hire. Telephone: 01599 534323.
· Nicolson Hire in Sleat. A 16 seat mini-coach and 6 seater people carrier are available for private tours.
· Other taxis available on Skye include:
Armadale and Ardvasar taxis - tel: 01471 844 361
Sleat: Clan MacDonald Taxis - tel: 01471 844 272
Broadford: Waterloo private taxis (Space Wagon and minibus available) - tel: 01471 822 630 / fax: 822 033
Broadford: Duncan MacLean Taxi and Private Hire - tel: 01471 822 343
Portree: Gus's Taxis (7-seater minibus available) - tel: 01478 613 000
Portree: A2B Taxis - contact Duncan MacPherson - tel: 01478 613 456. Open from 8am - 8pm, 6 days a week. Other times require prior booking. Purpose-built taxi can carry up to 7 people. Wheelchair friendly. Can also carry bicycles.
Portree: Ace Taxis - tel: 01478 613 600
Skye Hire by Angus Anderson - tel: 01599 534 110 (or mobile: 0378 594 194).
If you are visiting other parts of Scotland and want a guided tour of Skye, check out these companies:
· Puffin Express offers a mini-coach day trip from Inverness along Loch Ness (photo stop at Urquhart Castle) and through the mountains to the famous Eilean Donan Castle (1 hour stop). Cross the bridge to the Isle of Skye, along the Sleat peninsula and across the ferry from Kylerhea to Glenelg back on the mainland. Great scenery. Sundays 20 March - 16 October / Mondays 2 May - 17 October / Tuesdays 7 June - 27 September / Wednesdays 23 March - 12 October / Thursdays 2 June - 29 September / Fridays 25 March and 6 May - 14 October / Saturdays 4 June - 1 October 2005. Fare: £28 including admission to Armadale Castle gardens. Well worth it for a day out. Departs Inverness 9.15am. Returns 8pm.
· Celia Ffitch-Stewart is a fully insured driver-guide with Mercedes limousine for your tailor-made guided tour. She offers half day, full day or extended tours. Airport collection (Edinburgh, Aberdeen or Inverness). Services can include itinerary planning and accommodation reservations. Meet your clan chief, trace your roots, stay in a castle, tour the distilleries. Member of HOSTGA (Highlands of Scotland Tour Guide Association). Based in Fortrose, near Inverness.
· Highland Journeys, run by Nicola Fraser of Beauly, has a luxury 4x4 vehicle to take small groups on personally guided tours. Telephone 07778 499 307. Day trips depart from Inverness at 9am and last approx. 10 hours. For example, take the Isle of Skye Journey and visit Portree, the Trotternish Peninsula and Eilean Donan Castle. They also operate 2-day safari tours including the Skye Tour which shows you Loch Ness - Eilean Donan - Skye (overnight) and returns via Wester Ross and Beauly.
Walking / Hiking Trips:
· Author/naturalist Chris Mitchell offers guided day walks on Skye. Explore cliffs, moorland and seashore; learn to identify birds, wildflowers, lichens and ferns. Based at Croft 3, Waterstein (10 miles west of Dunvegan). B&B also available. Tel: 01470 511265.
· North-West Frontiers have guided walking holidays in small groups.
· Wilderness Scotland offer a wide range of guided walking holidays, wilderness expeditions, combined sailing/walking holidays and historical journeys. The holidays are graded for all levels of ability and feature the wildest and most unspoiled regions of the Highlands, including Ben Nevis and Glencoe, Knoydart, Kintail, Skye, Road to the Isles, Loch Ness, and the Western Isles.
· Skye Walking Holidays - explore the magic of the Quiraing & Trotternish area of northern Skye with local guides. Excellent accommodation and food at Duntulm Castle Hotel.
Choice of leisurely guided walking holidays (weekend or 7 days) with different themes such as wildlife, heritage, whisky or Gaelic music. Visits to local museums, historic sites, standing stones, Dunvegan Castle, Talisker distillery, Isle of Skye Brewery can be incorporated along with boat trips, piping and a ceilidh.
Watersports activities, cycling, horse riding & pony trekking can be arranged.
Self guided packages also available (2, 4 or 7 nights dinner, bed and breakfast, or self-catering cottages).
· Hebridean Pathways, based in Broadford, offer guided walks, coastal treks, mountain scrambling, private guiding, skills courses for climbing, navigation, etc. Special interest walks are also an option, covering geology, flora & fauna, and local history. Areas covered include Skye, Raasay, Torridon, Eigg & Harris.
Watersports and Boat Trips:
· Highland Voyages have a traditional Scottish boat which offers cruises around the Highlands and Islands. Scheduled 7-night trips include Hebridean Islands Discovery Cruise and Whale & Dolphin Cruise. Charters also available (from Fort William or Inverness).
Based in Inverness, they also sail down the Great Glen (Inverness - Loch Ness - Caledonian Canal - Fort William) and offer themed cruises (e.g. Scottish music, castles, distilleries). Extra activities can be included such as hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, golf, fishing, etc. Accommodation onboard for up to 12 people.
· Skyak with Gordon and Morag Brown offer Sea Kayaking around Skye.
· Dive & Sea the Hebrides offer complete diving holiday packages. These can include boat charter and accommodation if required. Contact: Gordon MacKay & Aileen Robertson at Shorepark, Lochbay, Waternish, Isle of Skye. Phone/Fax: 01470 592219. Mobile: 07980 106263 or 07778 761313.