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Traveling from Edinburgh to Isle of Skye

Hello!

I will be traveling from Edinburgh to Isle of Skye (Portree) this May by train. I was originally planning on getting to Skye via a train to Mallaig (then a ferry, then rent a car). But now I am thinking a train to Skye via Kyle of Lochalsh would be more convenient. I can rent a car right at Kyle, and continue on over the bridge to Skye.

Has anyone made the journey to Skye/Portree from Edinburgh via Kyle? If so, -
How many hours can I expect this to take?

Is renting a car difficult? Is returning the car time consuming (how long should I allot for this when trying to make my train back to Edinburgh)?
Any other tips for this route?

Thank you for any guidance!

Posted by
16893 posts

Train connections from Edinburgh to Kyle of Localsh take about 7 hours (just slightly longer than the connections to Mallaig), so that route makes sense to me, with the convenience of the bridge. How to Look Up Train Schedules and Routes Online gives you the DB train schedule link and tips for using it (but does not sell tickets).

Book ahead for car rental; www.autoeurope.com is one typical starting point for a price quote. Dropping off a car usually does not take long; see also http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/rental-car-pick-up-return.

Posted by
17 posts

Thanks so much for this helpful info!! How long can I expect the car ride from Kyle to Portree to take?

Thanks again!