Isle of Skye to Inverness

The advice would be different depending on if you are driving or using public transport. This reads like tomorrow morning, but I doubt you are on Skye in February.
What kind of time of year is this?

I read it as they might be leaving this morning ?

I'm assuming this is not today, especially as you were posting at 0240 UK time!

There are two main routes by car from Skye to Inverness, known by locals as the top road and the bottom road!

Both start in Kyle of Lochalsh, where you could pause just on the mainland side of the Skye Bridge and have a wander around the Plock. This is Kyle's public space (an old golf course apparently) and there are pleasant walks bringing you to hidden coves and great views back to Skye.

The bottom road passes through Kyle of Lochalsh on the A87 and continues past Eilean Donan castle (worth a stop just before you get there to take photos of the castle with no tour buses in shot, from the Dornie community centre car park). It's not really worth going in the castle as it's a reconstruction and not particularly authentic. Then you continue along the A87 passing through Glenshiel (excellent chocolate shop run by a local lad who started making chocolates while still at school). At the top of the glen is the site of a battle. There's a pull off and you can walk back to a rather lovely waterfall. Continuing on the A87 takes you alongside loch Cluanie. Pretty scenic stuff. Avoid the right turn towards Fort William and continue on to Invermoriston where you turn left on to the A82. Urquhart castle will be on the right and while ruined is in a great spot on loch Ness. Avoid the Nessie tourist traps of Drumnadrochit and you'll soon be in Inverness.

The top road follows the A87 until you reach Auchtertyre where you make a left turn on to the A890. This road then wends and winds its way up and down alongside loch Carron. You could stop to visit the gardens at Attadale, and/or make a diversion to have a look at the village of Lochcarron. You basically stay on the A890 until Achnasheen where you turn right at a roundabout on to the A832. At Achnasheen is a cool little lunch/snack stop called The Midge Bite. At Garve you turn right on the main A835 which takes you to Inverness. You could make a small diversion to visit the small town of Beauly, which is quite a nice place for a stroll and maybe tea and cake.

You could make a longer diversion from the 'top road, passing through Lochcarron and Kishorn maybe doing an 'out and back' to explore the Bealach na Ba route to Applecross, or taking the A896 to Sheildag and Kinlochewe before arriving back at Achnasheen. Have a look at google maps and you'll see what I'm talking about.

No really major sites on the 'top road' but by far my favourite drive to Inverness as there's usually a lot less traffic (e.g. tour buses and camper vans) and the scenery is spectacular all the way.

I will give a plug for the albatross cafe on the outskirts of Lochcarron too.
Think its Sean who owns the midgebite cafe and hes a fine fella and great cook

Thank, you Skyegirl for the reply. My mistake, we are actually going in May and doing a road trip leaving from Skye in the morning. I am very very excited to add these stops on our road journey.

Thank for this information. We are traveling Skye to Inverness in May also. You give wonderful advice SkyeGirl!

Thank you Skyegirl for your detailed info re routes from Skye to Inverness, some months ago. We will be going that way in late August early September this year and this is very helpful. Could you give me an idea of timeframes for this journey please? We like to ‘slow travel, by that I mean take our time and make plenty of stops, I don’t mean to hold up traffic by dawdling!

patcar, Google Maps will tell you that it's about 2 hours from Kyle of Lochalsh bridge to Inverness, but I would add at least another 30-45 minutes to that. And of course, that's without stopping.

But no worries about "dawdling" as you drive. If you notice you have a few cars coming up behind you, just pull over in the next passing place and let them go by. Believe me, they will appreciate it and many times will honk in thanks or give you a wave.

Apologies for the delay in responding. I have been away on a long anticipated holiday in Finland. Mardee is right about driving times.