Route from Skye to Plockton to Newtonmore

What is the arrival time of the ferry you booked from Maillig to Armadale? And are you planning the standard 3 hr trip? That would decide if you have time on your way to your Portree lodging.

You need to allow at least 75 minutes for the drive between Armadale and Elgol for the boat trip . The road is narrow and slow. If tehre is a lot of traffic you may need nearer 90 minutes.

Portree to Elgol is going to take 75- 90 minutes depending on traffic.

What time is check in and how long do you need to arrive before departure time of the boat?

I'm assuming you are planning the boat trip for the day you leave Skye to head to Plockton? If so then you definitely have time for the boat trip. From Elgol to Plockton would be about an hour, over the Skye bridge.

If arriving from Mallaig by ferry you need to have a reservation to bring a car on the ferry. Capacity is much lower than usual at the moment as Calmac (the operating company) juggle an aging fleet of ferries across all the island routes. You need to reserve now for September.

Our arrival time in Armadale from Mallaig will be 1215. We have 11 am ferry tickets from Elgol on the day we leave Skye and head to Plockton. We heeded advice a couple of months ago and secured ferry tickets and lodging throughout our trip-thanks to all who encouraged us to do so!

That sounds great and you should have no problems with the boat trip. The only potential issue will be the weather on the day. The boats that go out of Elgol are very small and don't sail in bad weather. The company will let you know.

Overall, I would tend towards doing the trip when you leave Skye.However, keep an eye on the weather/wind a few days out from the Mallaig sail(which you should do anyway as if any ferry is going to go off it’s that one)
If it looks like your sailing day is a cracker, then you could book the `Elgol trip for that same afternoon. Check cancellation rules but I think you’ll have a few days to spare re the trip you have currently booked or if you simply say that you want to change day/time.
It’s a superb trip into Loch Scavaig and Loch Coruisk but so much better on a sunny bright day of course.

Thank you all for the wonderful advice. I am realizing that flexibility will be the key to enjoying Scotland!

Can anyone share options for the route from Plockton to Newtonmore? TIA.

One option would be to head down to Duirinish to pick up the A87 to Fort Augustus on Loch Ness. Then take the A82 to Invergarry and on to Spean Bridge. From there you'll take the A86 to Newtonmore. You'll be driving along the lochs through stunning scenery. You'll have opportunities to stop for castles and ruins, waterfalls and hiking.

Hi, Jean (and losrichins),

Just a wee bit off there. Balmacara would be the point at which losrichins would pick up the A87. Duirinish is a great little village to drive through on the way to or from Plockton. There are often Highland cows wandering about the street.

The A87 actually meets the A82 south of Fort Augustus. The A887 would the most convenient route to take in order to visit Fort Augustus. It meets the A82 at Invermoriston, six miles north of Fort Augustus. From there, it's another seven miles south to Invergarry.

Things to see along the way would be the Lochalsh Woodland Garden at Balmacara (free the last time we were there); the oft photographed Eilean Donan castle; the Five Sisters of Kintail; the canal locks at Fort Augustus; and the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge.

Hope that helps!

Mike (Auchterless)

Jean and Mike, thank you for the recommendation. It sounds like a lovely drive.

If were to head north from Plockton, what would the drive be like? And what would we see?