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Drive from Kennecraig Ferry Terminal to Portree?

Posted by on

Hi -

We are making our 2nd trip to Scotland in May - a 12 day span and trying to cover some areas that we missed on our last trip. We are spending a few days in Islay, and we have a car. After Islay, we were planning to drive to Portree and have some time to base in Skye. Is the drive from Kennacraig ferry terminal to Portree possible, and does anyone have an idea how long it might take? The best I can find online is that it would take 5 or even 6 hours. We could do a stopover somewhere, maybe Glencoe, but we were trying to avoid too many one night stops.

Thanks

Posted by
7977 posts

At the moment the route is Glencoe and the Skye Bridge anyway- which is a 224 mile drive, 6 hours or more.
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The alternative route, also through Glencoe currently, is via the Mallaig to Armadale Ferry. That is a bit faster, and shorter, BUT there is a 45 minute wait in line at Mallaig for the ferry, apart from the fact that the ferry is basically hourly. So overall that is likely to be a slower route.

Currently the non Glencoe route to Mallaig, via Oban, on the A816 (Lochgilphead to Oban road), then the A828 is closed due to storm damage at Ardfern. It is hoped to reopen that road in the New Year on a temporary alignment, but it may only be a single track new road over the landslide area, and the old road may never re-open.

So for the time being you have to assume that the Glencoe route will be the most sensible route to take.

It's not a short cut, but in summer there is a twice a week ferry from Port Askaig to Oban. A way to see more scenery, and break the drive, but it would add another hour or so to the journey.

Posted by
767 posts

I second the idea of Port Askaig ferry. An hour longer with no driving, but weather can be an issue.

We made a similar trip a few years ago and made an overnight stop in Fort William, having time to do some hiking in Glen Coe then took the Mallaig route with a chance to watch The Jacobite cross the viaduct at Glenfinnan. Then hike to Fairy Pools before arriving in Portree.

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