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Isle of Skye-Portree

We are staying one night on the Isle of Skye. I was thinking about Portree. Do you recommend a good place to stay near there? We will be driving from Edinburgh, stopping to see Loch Ness and the Eilean Donan Castle on the way. The next morning we will drive around the Isle of Skye before returning to a hotel near Edinburgh's airport for a flight to Ireland.

Posted by
1863 posts

We also stayed at Ben Tianavaig (2010) and were quite happy with it. The couple who own it were very pleasant and helpful. The town of Portree is a bit frumpy - convenient but it could use a bit of a sprucing up!...Our first time on Skye we stayed at Flodigarry. It is located farther out on Skye - I don't remember the name of the peninsula but it's the one with the Uig ferryport. Flodigarry is a lovely old English hotel with an excellent restaurant. If you like, you can even stay in Flora MacDonald's cottage which is part of their property.

Posted by
5678 posts

I want to make sure that you know that this is a long drive. Via Michelin puts it at 5 hours and 45 minutes and that is without a drive by of Loch Ness. I think that you should double check your driving time. Granted, if you are traveling in the summer there are very long days, but you need to realize that you will want to stop and take pictures. Skye is a big Island. I am very skeptical that this is a realistic itinerary. You need to play with Via Michelin and bear in mind that the time don't include time for lunch, bio breaks or photo stops. You can get a wonderful feel for the highlands of Scotland without going to Skye. And I love Skye. : ) Pam

Posted by
9110 posts

Pam's talking about one-way, also. Michelin and all other software computes at posted speed limits with some kind of bogus adjustment for traffic at different times. I don't think I could make it in seven hours starting with a full tank and an empty bladder andf not stopping until one or the other needed attending. I can't even picture much four-lane after Pitlochry - - toss a tractor and a few sheep in every once in a while and the average speed is a slow crawl. Anyway, whatever time it took you to get there, toss in a couple more hours (not counting what you spend driving around Skye) to get back unless you want to redrive the same roads.