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To Skye or not to Skye?

It never seems to fail that I can get everything lined up for a trip and then one piece doesn't work out and I am stuck!

In this instance, I had all of my hotels booked for Scotland and then I went to book my overnight train to Inverness and suddenly it was sold out (could have bought when I looked 2 days before so I am really kicking myself!!!). Ugh!

The original plan was to overnight into Inverness and arrive bright and early and rent a car. We were going to drive to the Isle of Skye and I have a hotel reserved in Portree that night. The plan was to stop at different sites along the way and then stay that night in Portree. The next morning we would do some more of Skye and then make our way back past Inverness to Carrbridge where we are spending the next 2 nights.

Now that I have the train issue, my overnight train options are now Aberdeen, Edinburgh, or Glasgow. Aberdeen is the closest to Inverness if I want to continue with my original plan although we would have to catch another train to Inverness and then rent a car from there which would be at least a 2 hour delay from our original plan.

Wanting to see if anyone had other ideas for us or for how to do a route that would make this work. Note that we have 5 people - me, my husband, and 3 boys (will be 17, 14, and 11).

Day 1 - arrive on overnight train to either Aberdeen, Edinburgh, or Glasgow - wanted to go to Skye but will consider other options
Day 2 - explore whatever area and make way to Carrbridge
Day 3 - explore area, stay again in Carrbridge
Day 4 - make way to Edinburgh, see Military Tattoo at night, sleep Edinburgh
Day 5 - more Edinburgh, sleep Edinburgh
Day 6 - morning train to Glasgow - visit a friend there and light sightseeing - leave on overnight train (doesn't leave until almost midnight) to London

Thanks for any advice!

Posted by
317 posts

Overnight train to Fort William? I'm sorry, I've never tried to schedule this, so I can't offer experience. I just know that it's a possible stop and on the same side of Scotland as Skye.

Posted by
91 posts

Fort William unfortunately is also sold out - I thought of that too! Ugh!!!

I thought my worst problem would be finding a hotel for 5 on Skye and I actually go that - now I just can't get there!!!

Posted by
82 posts

I personally found Skye to be one of the highlights of our RS tour a few years ago- I think you should reconsider your plans. I t is an absolutely beautiful island, and there are plenty of things to see and do. Why don't you just go to Edinburgh first instead of starting out in Glasgow? Since you are ending your trip in Glasgow, it is much easier to travel to Skye from Edinburgh and then go down to Glasgow. Well, good luck with your planning- Scotland is a beautiful country!

Posted by
1519 posts

Relax...skip Skye this trip and enjoy the abundance of other things to see and do without the hassle. Skye has become one of the It places to see, but unfortunately doesn't yet have the accommodations to serve the demand. The campsites even sold out last year. Look at the Visit Scotland Web site for some great visuals of places to visit. There are lots of ancient castles to explore. Drive a van next time and camp in the wonderful National Parks...some also have cabins.

Posted by
91 posts

I guess I wasn't clear but I did not say that I was starting the trip in Glasgow - I have the choice of starting in Glasgow OR Edinburgh OR Aberdeen.

Right now, the overnight train to Aberdeen seems the most appealing just because it has a better boarding time the night before (~9:30pm vs. ~midnight for the other 2). We can get on a train from Aberdeen to Inverness that morning pretty cheaply. So we can follow our original plan but just be set back a couple of hours. I think it makes the most sense to rent a car from Inverness to shorten the drive for us?

I was just looking for alternate suggestions that I wasn't thinking of if having to start in one of the 3 cities that I mentioned...

Thanks to everyone so far!

Posted by
1692 posts

I'd say skip Skye and go to Mull instead. But I am a Mulienach by sentiment!