Spend more time in Skye or Glencoe area ?

I would vote for more time on Skye. Right now you've just got one whole day and maybe a couple of hours on Day 1. Remember that days are shorter in March so you will start losing sun around 6 to 6:30 pm depending on when you go. Also it takes time to travel to the various sites (add at least 25% to Google times) so you won't get around as quickly as you think you might.

Thanks Mardee.
We will be travelling with kid, so I mentioned we can't do long hikes. If I spend whole day drive/stop/walk/go on Trotternish loop on Day-2, where should I spend more time in Skye, before reaching to hotel in evening? Checking with google map and currently it is showing around 3 hours from Portree to hotel. If I leave Skye at 3 PM, I can easily reach by late evening. So If it is recommended to spend more time in Skye, I will have it from 9 AM till 3 PM, before I head to hotel way.

Since you’ve got less than 3 full days scheduled for Skye, spend more of the time on Day 3 on Skye. The Cuillin, very rugged and striking mountains (photogenic!), are in the south-central part of the island. We actually spent more time on the northwest part of Skye, by Colbost.

We spent 2 nights in Fort William, then took 2 days to drive to Edinburgh, but we made stops at some castles. Actually, the first day, there was a very heavy rainstorm as we drove through Glen Coe. Even with the windshield wipers at full speed and water streaking down the side windows, there wasn’t a lot of scenery we could appreciate, and there was no hiking, and no stops made until lunchtime at a pub, after the rain had slowed down. As you mentioned, activities could depend on weather, so be prepared to change plans if weather necessitates it.

Thanks Cyn.

It looks like we have option to visit Cuillin (and/or Elgol) or Colbost, before we leave for Corran Bunkhouse hotel. Depend on weather, we can pick at that time where to go.

Would you like to mention, what you saw/visit during your stay at Fort Williams? When we will leave the hotel, we will have full day to reach Edinburgh. We can spend time around Glencoe till noon and then leave for Edinburgh, or we can drive/stop full day to Edinburgh, are our options.

My husband had planned to climb Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the UK, and Fort William (note: it’s not Williams) is essentially just beneath the peak. Unfortunately, he woke up early the morning he was going to do the climb, feeling sick to his stomach, and pretty much unable to move. He spent the rest of the day in bed at the B and B, and I went into town for lunch and to look around. There was a really good Indian restaurant downtown.

The next day, he felt better, and we started off in the direction of Edinburgh. Within 15 minutes, it started to pour rain - not buckets of rain, barrels of rain! The storm stopped around 12:30, and we pulled over for lunch, and to try to warm up, waiting for things to dry out. We stopped at the Doune Castle (used for a Monty Python movie), then on to Stirling. If there had been drier weather, Glen Coe valley would’ve offered gorgeous scenery and hiking/walking opportunities.

For day 3 I would head south from Portree and drive to Elgol. You might well see the local Highland cows on the road (they are often right on the road a few miles before Elgol). Then you might have time to have a walk on the beach at Elgol and a cup of tea/coffee plus a slice of excellent cake at Amy's Place tea room in Torrin before heading back to the main road and your drive to Fort William. Personally I'd suggest taking the ferry from Armadale to Mallaig and then driving to Fort William from Mallaig. It'll give you some different scenery and it's a lovely way to arrive/leave the island.

It will take you the best part of the day to get to Edinburgh. My preferred route would be south from Fort William, passing through Glencoe and turning left at Crianlarich to wend your way across to Perth where you can pick up the Motorway to Edinburgh, or heading further south to Stirling from where there's a different motorway to Edinburgh.

@Cyn , was it Spice Tandoori Indian restaurant in Fort William ?

@Skyegirl , Here is the map I can see for your suggestion - https://maps.app.goo.gl/ajxAhPJ56yutwBkU6
For March end, do I need to book ferry in advance ? I checked the schedule, there are three only, 9:00 AM, 4:55 PM and 6:25 PM. So, if I need to be on ferry, have to reach on time.

And for next day to Edinburgh, you suggested two options -

• https://maps.app.goo.gl/qq23FVoqfKhLC6qWA

• https://maps.app.goo.gl/NFkBnD3DBG6USS4F8

Spice Tandoori - that was the place! It’s been a few years since we were there, but based on our dinner, I highly recommend it.

While I’m at it, the Mother India’s in Edinburgh is an exceptional restaurant. It’s also right next door to a superior Scottish music pub, the Royal Oak. We had a fantastic, very memorable evening going to those two places.

When you are in Glen Coe, be sure to drive along the Glen Etive Road. The scenery is stunning! The road is 12 miles long; follows the Glen Etive River and ends at Loch Etive. Then you drive back the same way. We spent 16 nights in Scotland and loved every place we visited; however, our two favorite places as far as scenic beauty is concerned is Skye and Glen Coe.

Thanks Cyn.

kmkwoo , Glen Etive Road is must for us and will definitely take it, hopefully weather stays with us :-)

My sister and I were in Glencoe this Fall, and it was beautiful! Wind, rain, amazing fall landscape. We had taken the local bus down from Fort William for the day, and spent the day hiking along the old road and up to Hagrid's Hut location. Then did a Range Rover tour with the Park Service. I am already trying to decide when to return to Glencoe and spend a few days there to be able to see more of the beautiful scenery. I will include the Isle of Skye on that trip, as we did not have time to fit it in.

Yes you do need to book the ferry from Armadale to Mallaig in advance and I would recommend doing so as soon as possible. Here is a link to the Calmac website. Calmac homepage

See the special timetable note- Due to service being operate by MV Lochnevis, this vessel operates single-ended which means vehicles will be required to reverse on/off the car deck on sailings.

The vessel also does the Small Isles sailings during the day so if weather delays her on that trip the afternoon sailings are subject to delay.

Good point about vessel changes meaning you may well need to reverse on to the boat. However, I have watched crew members help drivers who are not confident in doing this. It's really nothing to worry about!

Thank you.

Driving onto ferries sounds scary but it's really not. I spent 3 1/2 weeks in Scotland last year and drove onto and off on at least 7 ferries. It's pretty simple - they tell you where to go (sort of like an automatic oil change place), you drive there, they tell you where to stop, you stop. You exit the car (make sure you remember where you are, though - sometimes coming back it can be confusing) and head upstairs to the lounge area.

When it's time to leave, you head back down and get in your car, then just follow the car in front of you out when it's your row's turn. You drive IN facing forward and drive OUT facing forward. If you did have to reverse, it would be no big thing, imo. I never had to, though. And as Jacqui said, you can always get help.

Enjoy Scotland!!

Thanks Mardee :-)