We will be on Isle of Skye for 1 day in May with a cruise. We waited too late to get one of the excursions from the ship, so I am looking for help with a one day plan to see as much as possible. I did not find anyone on Tours by Locals available. What about a taxi?
I also read about the local bus routes. If no tour guide or taxi is available, what would be a good route using local buses?
Thanks so much for your help!
Posted by
Massachusetts, USA
1603 posts
Would you be willing to rent a car for a day and drive around the island? Of course you can't see the whole island but maybe concentrate on the Trotternish Peninsula.
Posted by
Lake District, England
5748 posts
If it's a Sunday there are no local buses.
If it's a weekday, and you are off the ship and tendered ashore by 1015, with an all aboard time of at least 5pm or later Dunvegan Castle is a possible bus trip (route 56). The bus gives you three hours there- back at Somerled Square, Portree at 3.15pm. I say 5pm or later for the tendering line up.
The only other possible local bus trip is the 57A/C round Trotternish.- 2 hour trip anticlockwise at 0910 or 1210, clockwise at 1010 and 1320. If possible do one of the morning runs in case of anything at all happening on the road. Just stay on the bus for the round trip ride.
Posted by
Isle of Skye, Scotland
1117 posts
The bus suggestions above are your best bet by far.
I had not heard of Tours by Locals so looked them up out of curiosity to see what they off on Skye. I was flabbergasted. Both by the prices and by the fact that as far as I can see none of those offering tours on Skye are actually based here on the island. Some of the offerings are laughable, such as the one offering to take visitors to the less touristy sites and then listing all the main honey pot locations!
If you want a local taxi on a day when a cruise ship is in then you need to book pretty much as soon as you know your cruise schedule. There are few taxis and they get booked up well in advance. There are a couple of well regarded local operators, of which Skye Jeep Tours is one that you could consider.
As for renting a car, again we have few options on the island and Morrison's is the only one based in Portree.
If you don't fancy any of the above, then you could always do a walk from Portree. This one Scorrybreac Circuit, might fit the bill. Portree is a small village, but the largest settlement on the island with cafes, a few independent souvenir shops and a good independent bookshop.