Getting Around the Island and other Isle of Skye, United Kingdom Transportation Tips

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: Buses are so sparse on Skye that the only real way to get around is by car. Roads are very good on Skye but be aware of a few things:

1 - The locals have places to go and people to see. They want to get from A to B and don't want to be stuck behind tourists who are drifting along admiring the scenery. There are many passing places on the single track roads (a large proportion of the islands roads are single track) and the police advise that you use these spots to pull over and let locals pass if they are travelling behind you. Peope will often hoot their horn to say thank-you.

2- Especially on the Duirinish Peninsula, you may see cattle being herded along the road. Be patient, switch off your engine and wait for them to pass.

3- Many people hitch hike on the island. Of course it's up to you if you wish to take them but if you do you'll be doing them a massive favour. I know it's not reccomended but up here I think it's pretty safe to hitch or pick up hitchers.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: The Isle of Skye is hardly easy to get to and if you don't have a car you'll have a failrly awkward journey. However, it's not all that difficult so long as you plan ahead.

There are no train stations on Skye so you'll need to disembark at Kyle of Lochalsh on the mainland just by the Skye Road bridge. The journey from Inverness is two and a half hours and there are three trains a day leaving Inverness at 08:53, 10:52 and 18:00 (check timetable at www.nationalrail.co.uk as they are subject to change). Going the other way trains leave Kyle at 07:25, 11:59 and 16:00. You can get to Inverness from Edinburgh or Glasgow in about 3 and a half to five and a half hours depending on the service, they go about one an hour (see my Edinburgh page for travel to Edinburgh).

From Kyle you can either try to hitch a lift, take a taxi or take bus number 916 or 917 which departs Kyle at 11:53, 15:58 and 19:20 daily.

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Phone: +44 (0)8457 48 49 50 (Rail Enq.)
Website: www.nationalrail.co.uk

'Mode': TO
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: A lot cheaper than the train but takes just as long. Bus Routes 915 and 916 travel from Glasgow to Broadford, Portree and Uig on Skye. Services leave Glasgow at 07:00, 10:00 and 15:00 taking between 6 and 7 hours. Going the other way bused depart Portree at 08:00, 10:15 and 15:20.

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Website: www.citylink.co.uk