The HB and I are scheduled on the RS Scotland tour next summer, ending June 27. After the tour we plan to rent a car and drive to Skye for a few days. I thought to drive to through Ft. William and Glenfinnan (HP fans) and take the ferry from Mallaig. We'll spend two or three days touring Skye before driving back the other way (I know we should spend longer, but we are heading to Greece for a week after and only have a few days to spend). How long will it realistically take to drive to Skye, including the ferry? Google maps has it at approx. 6 hours there and 5.5 hours on the way back.
Thanks for your responses!
Posted by
OP
Southport, NC
439 posts
Thanks for the reply. Trying to keep it loose, but know I"ll feel awful if I don't see the train going over the aqueduct. Geek that I am!
Posted by
Centennial, CO, USA
1904 posts
Check with your rental company... ours specified we cannot take a ferry with the rental....
Posted by
OP
Southport, NC
439 posts
Thanks for the responses! I put in a "fake" date on the ferry to see what it would cost and the sailing times, but the site wouldn't allow me to continue without the registration number. I guess we'll have to wait to rent the car to find that out, and if we don't, and can't reserve the ferry ahead of time, then the plan is to at least watch the train cross the aqueduct (times are published on the train website) and then drive back. Not ideal, but worth it.
Posted by
Royaume-Uni
2726 posts
the site wouldn't allow me to continue without the registration number.
choose the "registration unknown" option on the calmac site
Posted by
757 posts
The Calmac website shows summer 2017 pricing and timetables without starting a booking, once you select the Mallaig route. I booked in March for June sailing this year without a rental car registration number. Advance booking is essential particularly if your dates include days with extreme high/low tides when there are fewer sailings. Coming from Edinburgh, to avoid the stress of rushing to make the outbound ferry to Skye, I chose the flexibility of driving onto the island, and took the ferry when returning to the mainland.
Posted by
DTW
348 posts
Have you looked into taking the HP train trip? I believe it does a round trip twice a day. We weren't aware of it until the day we were in the area. To view the train going over the viaduct you have to climb a hill. The climb is not difficult (we are in our 50's) and you will most likely encounter other fans making the trek. I am not sure the approximate time the train comes through that area. We were very lucky as we arrived only a few minutes before the train went across.
Good luck!
Posted by
OP
Southport, NC
439 posts
We have looked into taking the Jacobite Steam train but decided we would rather see it than be on it. We've done the Napa Valley Wine train and were a bit disappointed, and feel like it might be the same. I definitely want to reserve the ferry but won't know the registration of the rental car. I'll see if I can just call, or figure it out someway. Thank you for all the responses!
edited response: the steam train website publishes the approximate times the train crosses the aqueduct. Twice a day in each direction.
Posted by
6 posts
I watched the video about how busy Skye has become. We won't have those issues in late
September will we?
Posted by
63 posts
I visited Skye in mid-May and did not find it to be overrun nor did I see the conditions described in the video.