questions on options on getting over to Isle of Skye and then back to Fort William

A quick look at Citylnk service 915 the Glasgow-Skye run via Fort William will give you some answers.
If the ferry is off ( weather) the only upside is the trips out of Elgol surely will be too !

There's no way reasonably to get to Armadale from Mallaig or even Fort William without the ferry to meet your timeline.
Do prebook the Portree to Fort William Citylink ticket, your car hire guys might suggest you could drop off at Broadford ,it also has a Citylnk bus stop.
I spent a fair bit of time on Skye in 2023 to the point of being on first name terms with the drivers of the 57 bus route

Thank you!
Suzanne

My friend in Mallaig has his own small boat which he took me up Loch Morar in , an excellent adventure.
For what us worth April is on average one of the BEST months in the Highlands,I had near 5 weeks of no rain and saw the Northern Lights on the 21st out at Duntulm.
Ya never know

Thank you! Wow, northern lights would be an incredible bonus.

If the ferry to Armadale isn't running then you are out of luck as there is no other way to get to Armadale. You'd have to back track to Fort William and pick up the Citylink 917 bus to Uig/Portree. But as already said above, if the ferry is off due to weather then boat trips from Elgol are unlikely to be running either. I think you are too early for the puffins (at least in any meaningful numbers).

The day tour you are doing from Portree will be a VERY packed day, with no time for buying yarn. You will be taken from one photo opportunity to the next with little time to linger. If you have a rental car then I'd suggest that you could do your own tour, and could go at your own pace.

As for Yarn, Shilasdair is your best bet on the island. They hand dye their own yarn. It's on the Trotternish loop (same area as Old Man of Storr and Kilt Rock). The tour bus won't stop there but you can get there in your rental car or the public bus service. No decent yarn shops in Portree at all, although some of the tourist shops have a limited selection of Scottish yarns (but not Skye ones).

Who are you renting your car from? It's very unusual to be able to drop a car on the island unless it's from Morrisons or Morar motors. Best (only) way from Portree to Fort William without a car is the Citylink 917 bus.

Hello
Thanks for the information on Shilasdair. I was hoping to find some yarn options on the ride from Elgol to Portree. I didn't expect to do so on the day trip. Yarn isn't the priority while on the Isle of Skye.

Yes, we will probably be too early for the puffins; just hoping.

I've been emailing with Morrisons for car rental. They will provide a pick up in Armadale, for a fee, and we can drop off at Portree. Once I finalize our times, then I will confirm with Morrisons.

I've also done some checking today and I believe that I can take a morning bus from Portree and arrive to Fort William with plenty of time for our overnight train to London..

I'm now working to see if I can try to get up to the last ferry Thursday night and then I will be over on Isle of Skye and will have more time to make the trip from Armadale to Elgol. I realize that trip is going to take awhile as it is on a single track road and we will be driving left side for first time.

Thanks for your insights and information.
Suzanne

Suzanne,
There is one yarn shop in Broadford, on your way from Armadale to Portree. It’s Handspinner having Fun. It’s eclectic!
Jacqui

The 1540 #916 bus gets you to Fort William at 1842, for the 1900 sleeper.

If he is late jump off at Spean Bridge at 1824 and intercept the train there at 1919.

The previous bus is the #915 at 1035, arrive FW at 1340.

On the Thursday the morning train connects with the 1500 ferry, arrive Atmadale at 1545.

The #917 runs to Inverness, not Fort William.

Oops apologies for the wrong bus number. I really shouldn’t type without my specs on.

Hi Thanks to both isn31c and Skyegirl -
the #15 @ 10:35 is perfect.
Thursday morning train arriving in time for last ferry is helpful information also.
Of course, always nice to know about another yarn stop possibility.
Thanks!
Suzanne

Suzanne,
In the event of a ferry cancellation I have found a way for you to get to Elgol on time.
Take the 0603 train from Mallaig, and get on the front car. That arrives at Fort William at 0727. Take the 0735 #919 Inverness bound bus to Invermoriston public hall, arrive 0844, walk to the junction and turn left to the Glenmoriston Arms Hotel, depart on the #917 at 0923. Get the car rental company to meet you at Kyle of Lochalsh at 1038 or Broadford at 1101. You can still make the Elgol boat at 1230.
Maybe a bit breathless, but it can be done.

Good luck

Hi, Wow, that's impressive advice. Thank you. We've decided to hire a taxi, so I will share him that Plan B.

Thanks!
Suzanne

Suzanne,
The good news is that there are no ferry cancellations on Friday due to shortage of crew.
With a light breeze forecast the early ferry should run as booked.
Hopefully the rain forecast from 2pm will hold off.

By the way due to Engineering work the sleeper is running down the East Coast, not via the Lake District as normal. So you pass Durham at 3.15am and York at 4.30am. Which is why you don't get to Euston until 8.32am as the train meanders round North London.

Hello
Thank you. I didn’t get any messages on the ferry so I was thinking positive. But the Bella Jane has told me that the puffin trip may not go out on Friday. Our schedule is too tight to go a different day. Fingers crossed. Thanks for your help.

Suzanne