Base for hiking in Skye … and car necessary?

The Walk Highlands website is the walker's 'Bible' and it has loads of ideas for Skye. Most of the starting points are going to be well off a bus route, so a car really will make things easier. Portree is the usual base of choice as it has the most options for accommodation and gives access to Trotternish Peninsula as well as the North West.

If you decide on the southern part of Skye, then Broadford may be the best choice.

BUT NOTE accommodation books up on Skye very quickly and for may places may already be fully booked. start looking ano as it may be a caser of where you can find somewhere....

Really you need a car. Preferably a van that you can sleep in. We had a small van for 7 weeks in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. This made life easy. Otherwise hire a car and a decent tent and camping equipment. We were able to purchase showers for a couple of quid off the hostel in Portree.
We also purchased showers from Raasay House after hiking DunCaan across the water on Isle of Raasay. We had a great freedom campsite (very discreet) on Raasay.

The same proviso applies for booking camping sites well in advance too.

Thanks for the quick replies. Another question…. Could someone direct me to the best website for understanding the ferry system and bookings require requirements? Before I finalize our lodging, I want to make sure we can get to it! Thanks again for your insights and time.

calmac.co.uk for the ferries

But one way at least you'll probably be using the Skye Bridge- which replaced the old Kyle of Lochalsh to Kyleakin ferry.

Do also look at https://skyeferry.co.uk. for the little Glenelg turntable ferry, and see if you can build that unique wee ferry into your schedule. The last such ferry in the world.

Thanks for the ferry information. We are figuring out accomodations now -- and those who advised it would already be limited are correct. We do enjoy camping when at home, but for this trip we prefer to stay in a hotel or B&B.

I have a room for our first two nights in the North West of Skye on the Duirinish peninsula. Ideally, we will do one more night in Skye before transiting back to Inverness. Appreciate thoughts on another general area we might look for accomodations in to give a different experience / access to trails?

One consideration is Isle of Raasay ... ?

I realize it may come down to what is available but if anyone has thoughts we would love to know!

Wasleys I was referring to freedom camping not using campsites.
I don't think there is much accommodation available on Raasay other than Raasay House. We had a brilliant and very discreet location for our van.
It is a short ferry ride so easy enough to do DunCaan and return the same day.

Raasay is a good idea. The comment/observation I would make is that it is a ferry crossing back to the mainland of Skye. Like all ferry crossings in Scotland it can get disrupted due to bad weather and whole day cancellations can happen. It is a fairly sheltered route so such events are not massively common. In May pretty unlikely but a storm can come in at anytime.
Not a big risk, but a risk nonetheless.
The vessel used is a very reliable one but could 'go tech'. CalMac would likely charter the Spanish John from Mallaig or another vessel in that event but that takes time to organise. Another low risk to think about.
Me, I'd probably put Raasay at the start not the end of the stay to mitigate the risks.

But I don't know if you are flying home from Inverness or just elsewhere in the UK- if the latter then you could gain back any day lost elsewhere in the trip.

I don't want to say don't do Raasay, I want to say the opposite, but I have to be responsible to you as well. You can then decide what to do on that basis.

I was referring to freedom camping not using campsites.

We call that wild camping in the UK and you need to be aware of best practice advice

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You could consider a night in the south of Skye. Elgol might be a good bet. There are many suggested hikes on walk highlands.co.uk in that area. One place that gets good reviews and has an excellent restaurant is Coruisk House.

Raasay is another option. In addition to Raasay House, there is also a distillery, which has B&B rooms and a restaurant. I have friends who have stayed in both and much preferred the distillery.