Planning Your Trip
Get the most from your visit by planning ahead
1.
Skye is bigger than you think! Check out where everywhere is.
2.
If time is short then do one or two things well – you can’t see all of Skye in a day.
3.
Before your visit learn about driving on single track (one lane roads).
Skye and Raasay
Covering about 650 square miles, Skye is the largest of the Inner Hebridean Islands.
The main point of access is the Skye Bridge which is located in the south east of the island. Skye can also be reached by ferry from Mallaig to Armadale (south west) and by ferry from Lochmaddy and Tarbert to Uig (north east). During the summer months there is a vintage ferry running from Glenelg to Kylerhea.
Once you’re on Skye a short ferry journey will get you to Raasay.
Fuel – Petrol, Diesel or Battery
There are only about ten petrol (gasoline) stations on Skye and not a great abundance of EV charging points (but the numbers are increasing). Always stay topped up with fuel – being so remote, it isn’t uncommon for a station to run out of fuel – it could be 40 miles to the next station.
And on public holidays, especially at Christmas and Hogmanay (New Years), don’t expect to find fuel stations open.
Driving – Allow Plenty of Time
If you’re going to be driving on Skye and Raasay, allow plenty of time. The roads are probably narrower than you’re used to and they can be busy too.
Some driving times:
Skye Bridge to Broadford – 15 minutes
Skye Bridge to Portree – 55 minutes
Skye Bridge to Dunvegan – 1 hour 10 minutes
Broadford to Armadale – 25 minutes
Portree to Uig Ferry – 20 minutes
Armadale to Uig Ferry – 1 hour 20 minutes
Portree to Neist Point – 1 hour 10 minutes
All of these times are minimum times – allow additional time if you’ve a ferry to catch or if it’s a busy time.
There are few ‘alternative routes’ on Skye – if a road’s blocked then in many cases there is nothing to do but sit and wait.
Book Ahead
Skye and Raasay can be very busy. To avoid disappointment and frustration, book ahead.
Everything from your ferry, should you choose to use one, to your accommodation – hotel, self-catering, B&B or campsite and if you’ve a special restaurant you’d like to visit, be sure to book that in advance too.
There are numerous booking sites to help you find the your perfect accommodation – everything from 5* hotels to yurts.
There are many campsites located on Skye – if you’d like to camp then please use a campsite.
We want to ensure you have the perfect Isles of Skye and Raasay experience.
We believe that every visitor to our precious islands deserves a unique adventure. You’ll help achieve this by allowing plenty of time for your visit, setting realistic timescales for your activities, learning how to drive on our unusual roads and taking care of the islands we hope you’ll love as much as we do.
“Many’s the lad, fought on that day”