Isle of Skye - Glenelg Ferry - Reservations available?

No, I believe it's just come and ride - there are numerous trips per day so the odds of getting one are pretty good. Here is a link to their website and FB page - you can find information there. They're closed right now but will reopen in April.
https://skyeferry.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/GlenelgSkyeFerry/

Hi, DrToonz,

The Glenelg ferry runs back and forth all day, during its operating hours. No need to reserve - just show up and go. It's one of the few (maybe the only) turntable ferries still in existence. As it only holds four cars at a time, there may be a short wait, but last time I was there, there was a tearoom (well, actually a caravan) so you could get hot drinks and a sarnie (sandwich) while you're waiting.

The road out to the ferry is worth the drive in itself. There is a spot near the top of the pass, with a viewpoint, where there is a spectacular view looking back over the Five Sisters of Kintail.

Also, if you keep going out past Glenelg, you will encounter the path down to the location where Gavin Maxwell lived during the events recorded in his book Ring of Bright Water. Camusfearna is gone now - it was destroyed by fire in 1968, but there is a memorial stone to Edal, the otter, where visitors have left tokens. It's a beautiful location, overlooking Sandaig Island.

www.whats-there.co.uk/sandaig.html

All the best,

Mike (Auchterless)

Previous contributors are correct - no reservations possible or needed. Usual wait is around 15 minutes while the ferry goes across and comes back. But the wait is fun - you can look out for otters, seals and even whales and dolphins in the narrows, while eagles fly overhead. The snack caravan is now a proper cafe - on the Glenelg side (no services on the Skye side).

Best wishes
Jacqui (Skyegirl)

Does the 'don't need to make a reservation' also go for someone traveling with a car? Thanks!

Does the 'don't need to make a reservation' also go for someone traveling with a car?

Yes - there is no prebooking. You turn up in your car and join the queue.

Do the short detour to the Glenelg brochs.

Hi, Rebecca,

It would be one heck of a hike to the ferry from Shiel Bridge!

Mike (Auchterless)

You can get a bus or subsidised taxi from Shiel Bridge or the Kyle (allegedly- certainly until Covid- traveline Scotland is unclear if it still runs)- it's the walk on the Skye side that would be the killer-
https://bug-voucher.co.uk/

Thanks Wasleys! We will try to arrive early in the morning, but not having to make a reservation ahead of time, allows for more flexibility time wise. (Want to make a stop in Glenfinnan to see the viaduct.)

Rebecca,
Don't arrive too early in the morning for the Glenelg ferry! It usually starts running around 10 to 1030am.

Jacqui (Skyegirl)

This might be of interest although it won't help where the ferry is concerned :-)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-19976650

Hi again, Rebecca,

If you're taking the Glenelg to Kylerhea ferry, the Glenfinnan Viaduct is pretty far out of your way. If you want to see/do both on the same day, you'd have to take the Armadale to Mallaig ferry once you're on Skye, then take the A830 east from Mallaig. The other way (Kylerhea to Glenelg) would leave you with a long drive to Fort William on the A87/A82, then west on the A830. If you're visiting Glenfinnan first, the routes would be reversed. It's farther than it looks on the map.

Unless, of course, you just want the experience of the ferry, and just plan to take it across and back. Then your route would be linear, and not circular. If you're doing that, you might as well travel as a foot pasenger, and save some money!

Best wishes and good luck!

Mike (Auchterless)

Jacquui, thank you! The times are helpful! (At the moment, I'm unable to pull them up on the ferry web site.)

Mike, thanks too! Since we'll be staying in Glencoe for 2 nights, before heading to Skye to spend 3, I thought it would be good to drive by the viaduct and just take the ferry from Mallaig to Armadale. 3 days later, we can then drive off Skye by way of the bridge near Kyle of Lochalsh. (From there, we'd like to take the northern route up through Plockton, Torridon, etc. to then end in Inverness for a couple nights.)

All of these insights and suggestions are so appreciated!
Rebecca

Hi once again, Rebecca,

When you do leave Skye, you could take the Kylerhea to Glenelg ferry instead of the Skye Bridge. If you're heading on to Duirinish and Plockton, it wouldn't be that much out of your way. Just a little hillier!

Mike (Auchterless)

Oh that's great to know, Mike, thank you!
We may want to swing back to get a glimpse of Eilean Donan Castle though, before heading North.

So appreciate all the insights! I research online and have 3 different different travel books, but there's nothing like getting help from folks who know the area or who have traveled these places.

Hi Rebecca,
Mike's advice is spot on (as always). Once you leave Skye by the Glenelg ferry (and hopefully make a quick stop to look at the ancient brochs - defensive towers where people lived), you would turn left back on to the main A87 and head slightly north to Dornie (site of the Eilean Donan castle). The best view of the castle is to be had from the car park of the Dornie community centre (just past the castle). You'd then continue north for a few more minutes turning right at Auchtertyre and heading for Plockton.

Best wishes
Jacqui

Thanks Jacqui, I have noted the 'best view' spot!

So I'm clear - taking the Glenelg Ferry would help in not "back tracking" from the Kyle of Lochalsh bridge, in order to see the castle? Does it save driving time? Love having options, so again, I'm very glad to know about the ferry!

Rebecca

Rebecca

If you leave Skye by the bridge and want to see Eilean Donan you would still be having to go back towards Kyle of Lochalsh to pick up the road to Plockton.

Taking the Glenelg ferry is a slightly longer drive but in my opinion much more exciting than the bridge (wonderful though it is) and brings into play the magnificent scenery on the way to Kylerhea on Skye and then from Glenelg passing near the absolutely amazing (and well worth a short detour) brochs, before heading to the A87 and from that junction a 10 minute drive north to Eilean Donan.

By the way at the junction of the Glenelg road with the A87 is the lovely little coffee shop and home to Glen Shiel Chocolates, started by a local lad while he was still a pupil at Plockton High School.

Jacqui

Jacqui, thank you, this is just great! I so appreciate your time and insights!
And...I always love knowing about nice coffee shops along the way.
Rebecca

DrToonz and Rebecca, you might want to look at this video by Steve Marsh. He is on a day trip to Skye and takes the Glenelg Ferry over, so you can actually see the car driving onto the ferry and then taking off. I haven't seen the rest of it but wanted to let you know about that. It looks pretty cool! If I could wing it, I'd be taking it but it's way out of my way, since I'm heading south to north.

Thanks to Mike (Auchterless) for first turning me on to Steve Marsh and to Stuart (isn31c) for reminding me about all the other videos he has. They are great to watch!

@mardee :
I am already a fan of Steve Marsh and have watched this video. He is indeed a good watch.
Thank you.