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Seeking feedback on 1 week itinerary

We are a group of three adults planning to visit Edinburgh and Isle of Skye for one week in early May. I would love feedback on this itinerary. Are we attempting too much? Are drive times on Google Maps accurate or should we allow more time? Thanks in advance.

Day 1: Arrive Edinburgh from U.S. 4:40 p.m.

Day 2: Edinburgh

Day 3: Edinburgh

Day 4: Depart Edinburgh by car, stay overnight in Pitlochry or Glencoe

Day 5: Continue to Isle of Skye

Day 6: Isle of Skye

Day 7: Depart in evening for Inverness, via Kyle Line (return car in Kyle)

Day 8: 10:30 a.m. departure from Inverness airport

Posted by
2848 posts

Have you checked you can hire a car in Edinburgh and return at Kyle of Lochalsh? As fafr as I'm aware none of the major car hire firms have a depot there. You may have to drive to Inverness and drop the car off there.

Posted by
1587 posts

As mentioned, there are no car rental companies near Kyle/Portree for a drop off.

Have you booked your rooms on Skye? Lodging is in high demand (as are restaurant reservations).

Definitely add time to the Google Maps drive times. You'll want to stop along the way for ruins, a beautiful view, maybe a waterfall, ...

If you decide not to visit Skye, there are plenty of other places in Scotland worthy of a visit.

Posted by
1037 posts

As a pretty experienced Scotland driver, Google times are accurate IF you drive at the posted speed limit (sometimes a little difficult) AND you don't run into coo, sheep, tractors, or other tourists. I add 25% to Google times for planning, and we usually manage to stay on schedule. Skye can be worse than the "mainland".

I don't think you're spending enough time on Skye, or Edinburgh, for that matter. Traversing the entire country for a one week trip is sort of aggressive. You'll get to Pitlochry/Glencoe in the afternoon, and have to leave early to get any time on Skye, so you won't see much of either. Depending on resolving the car problem, you may have to leave Portree pretty early, as well if you have to get there by closing. The passengers will at least enjoy the views.

Don't forget all those routes from town to town are littered with castles, abbeys, scenic lochs, waterfalls, and cafes.

There's also a Bank Holiday the first weekend in May, so expect some traffic if that overlaps your dates. We were headed from Glasgow to Oban and we ran into a massive traffic jam at Loch Lomond that luckily was in the other direction. Literally miles of stop and go.

Sorry for what seems mostly negative feedback.