One of the largest and best
known Scottish islands, Skye is particularly famous for its mountain scenery. Many people
come here to climb or walk in the Cuillin and the Quiraing.
Due to its popularity with
tourists, you will find many craft shops and cottage museums. As for sports, you can visit
the swimming pool in Portree, play golf at Sconser and Skeabost or go pony trekking.
Watersports available on the island include diving, canoeing, windsurfing and yachting.
Skye is also the ideal place for fishing and birdwatching. But if it's whisky you want,
why not visit the Talisker Distillery at Carbost?
How to get to Skye
From the west coast of
Scotland, there are 3 routes onto the island:
* by bridge from Kyle of
Lochalsh *
* by ferry from Glenelg *
* by ferry from Mallaig *
By road, Kyle of Lochalsh is:
75 miles north of Fort William
80 miles south-west of Inverness
180 miles north of Glasgow
Road bridge from the mainland
The old Cal Mac ferry from Kyle of Lochalsh has stopped running now that the road
bridge is open there. The toll in the summer is 5.70 pounds for a car (one way) and 2.90
for a motorbike (slightly less outside the tourist season). The locals buy tickets in
books of 20 and these work out cheaper.
By bus
Buses operate from Inverness, Fort William and Glasgow. Most of these buses will
take you to Portree. Some go as far as Uig to coincide with the ferries over to North Uist
and Harris. Contact Citylink runs most of these services and all its timetables are
online. Some of these are in conjunction with Skyeways Express Coaches (telephone: 01599
534328 / fax: 01599 534862 or their Inverness office tel: 01463 710119 / fax: 01463
711292). For buses between Armadale (ferry from Mallaig) and Kyleakin/Broadford/Portree,
phone Waterloo Bus Services on 01471 822 630 for times.
By train
Trains run from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh where you can cross the new road
bridge on foot (no charge).
Trains also run from Fort
William to Mallaig (the most scenic railway line in the country) where you can take the
ferry over to Armadale.
By vehicle ferry from Mallaig
to Armadale
The summer vehicle ferry runs 6 or 7 times a day (including some Sundays at the
height of the season) between Mallaig and Armadale on the Isle of Skye. Journey time: 30
minutes. There are fewer sailings in winter when it is a passenger only service (no
vehicles carried). Bikes are carried free of charge. The official Caledonian Macbrayne
website lists the current timetables and prices in detail. Tel: 01475 650 100 / fax: 01475
635 235 or for vehicle reservations telephone 0990 650 000.
By private ferry from Glenelg
to Kylerhea
This privately-run ferry takes you over the sea to Skye in 5 minutes and holds 6
cars. Telephone/fax: 01599 511 302. The ferry runs as often as required during the
following times for 1999:
29 March - 22 May: Monday to
Saturday 9am - 6pm (no Sunday service).
24 May - 29 August: Monday to
Saturday 9am - 8pm, and Sunday 10am to 6pm.
30 August - 30 October: Monday
to Saturday 9am - 6pm, and Sunday 10am to 6pm.
Prices: car with up to 4
passengers: single 5.50 pounds, day return 9 pounds (plus 50 pence per additional
passenger). Foot passengers: single 60 pence, return 1 pound (1999 prices). Also charges
for bikes and motorbikes.
