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itinerary/route recs for trip to Isle of Skye

Posted by (US) on

Our party of four adults would like to journey from Edinburgh to the Isle of Skye for four days/three nights over a weekend: friday October 25-monday October 28. We have lodging secured at the Uig Hotel near Portree already, a rental car reserved, and are prepared for stormy weather. I wish we had more time but such is life as working folk. We are looking forward to our two full days exploring Skye.

My request for recommendations is for the best routes to drive to Skye on friday and to return to
Edinburgh on monday. We have all day in each direction and would prefer not to be driving after dark. we do not have anything specific in mind to see yet. We are interested in enjoying the scenery, we enjoy learning about history and visiting a castle or other historic or natural sites, we enjoy a good lunch, visiting distilleries isn't high on our list but we're not opposed, we are athletic and would enjoy an opportunity to stretch our legs, and finally, we are from california and are used to very long drives to spend time in beautiful places. in addition to your recommendations on the best routes/itinerary for our journey to and from Skye, I'd appreciate your thoughts on taking a car ferry in one of the directions to Skye. if the winter schedule or weather do not favor taking a ferry than no problem, we're fine taking the bridge both directions. but if incorporating a ferry into our journey is advised I'd like to know why and the details and how to take it. thanks so much!

Posted by
7973 posts

This is the ferry timetable for those dates- just 3 a day- https://www.calmac.co.uk/winter-timetables/mallaig-armadale

And this is the sunset/sunrise chart- https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/@2643156?month=10&year=2024

So if you take one of the afternoon boats you will be crossing Skye as the sun is setting or later.

So to me the way to do it is out over the bridge and back via the morning ferry as you will be crossing Skye at sunrise.

You need to be in the queue/line at Armadale 20 minutes before booked departure time. So by 9am- that means leaving the hotel no later than 7.15am for the 1 hour 20 minute drive, and add in some leeway. Preferably 7am.

You need to be booking the ferry ASAP on https://www.calmac.co.uk/9784

Posted by
10 posts

many thanks for your response. Is taking the ferry more scenic than taking the bridge? or does it save a lot of time if one is driving from Portree to Edinburgh?

Posted by
7973 posts

I don't think either is less scenic than the other- just different scenery.

There is an inherent one hour minimum (probably closer to 90 minutes or even more) time penalty of the ferry vs the bridge route simply due to the time on the ferry and the time in the line up. In the winter with so few crossings there is the general inconvenience factor, especially Skye Bound.

From the mainland 'ports' of Mallaig (ferry) or Kyle of Lochalsh (bridge) the time difference is fairly insignificant.

If going via the Bridge the fastest route (by about 30 minutes) assuming normal traffic is the A9 to Dalwhinnie then the A86 to Spean Bridge for the A87 to the Kyle (the Laggan route). Just be careful of the average speed cameras on the A9.

From Mallaig (the ferry) the fastest route is again the A86, but only a few minutes slower is through Glencoe to Crianlarich then the A82/A84 over Lochearnhead and through the Trossachs to Stirling to rejoin the A9.

Scenery is always very subjective, but to me (as well as being a lot faster) that route is far better than going the Loch Lomond route.

If you went via the Bridge both ways (by choice or a ferry cancellation) do Laggan one way and the Trossachs the other way.

Posted by
336 posts

Hi there,

I stayed at the Uig Hotel in May and was pleased with it.

I took the northern route and bridge to arrive. Beware, I stopped numerous times for photos especially once on Skye. So the drive may be longer than you think depending.

Let me know if you would like info on places I visited or the driving.

Posted by
10 posts

We just returned from 10 days in Scotland, including three nights on Skye. We took a “scenic” route back to Edinburgh, stopping for lunch at Loch Ness, and visiting Balmoral Castle later in the afternoon. It was a very long drive—almost 300 miles—some of which was on single track roads and very slow going. Three hundred miles on US roads would be much more manageable. Still, I’m glad we took this route, and arrived at the airport to drop off our rental car just before dark.

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