Getting There and Away

Written by Graham Smith, Hannah McKinsey, Jake Evans, Karen Price
28/08/2025
Stunning landscape of the Old Man of Storr in Isle of Skye, Scotland.
chris clark, Pexels

The main transport hub on the Isle of Skye is Portree, serving as the central point for local bus services and taxis. On the Scottish mainland, key connection points include the train stations at Kyle of Lochalsh and Mallaig, and major bus and rail stations in Inverness, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. Nearby airports include Inverness (INV), Glasgow (GLA), and Edinburgh (EDI).

By Car:

Driving is a popular way to reach and explore the Isle of Skye, offering flexibility. The island is connected to the mainland by the Skye Bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh, which has no toll . Car rentals are available on Skye, with daily rates ranging from approximately £30 to £70 . Driving from Edinburgh to Portree can take around 4.5 to 5 hours, Glasgow to Portree about 4 hours 20 minutes to 4 hours 45 minutes, and Inverness to Portree approximately 2 hours 18 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes, though it is recommended to allow extra time for scenic stops and navigating single-track roads .

By Bus:

Direct bus services connect major Scottish cities to the Isle of Skye. From Glasgow's Buchanan Bus Station, Citylink buses travel directly to Skye (e.g., Portree), taking about 6 to 7 hours and costing approximately £28 to £40 . From Edinburgh, direct Citylink services to Skye take around 7 hours 17 minutes to 7 hours 32 minutes, with fares between £35 and £55 . From Inverness, direct Citylink buses to Portree typically take 3 to 3.5 hours and cost about £18 to £25 . On the island, Stagecoach and Citylink operate local bus routes, with Portree as a central hub, though services can be limited, especially on Sundays . A Stagecoach DayRider pass costs approximately £9.20 .

By Train and Ferry/Bus:

There are no train stations directly on the Isle of Skye .

  • Via Mallaig Ferry:: From Glasgow, a train journey to Mallaig takes around 5 hours . From Mallaig, Caledonian MacBrayne ferries cross to Armadale on Skye in 30 to 36 minutes, with services running multiple times daily . Foot passenger fares typically range from £3 to £4, while a car with passengers can cost £26 to £51 for a one-way trip . The total journey from Glasgow via Mallaig and Armadale can take approximately 7 hours 23 minutes . A train and ferry route from Edinburgh via Mallaig to Armadale typically takes 7 to 9 hours .
  • Via Kyle of Lochalsh and Skye Bridge:: From Inverness, the scenic ScotRail train service to Kyle of Lochalsh takes approximately 2 hours 40 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes, with off-peak return tickets starting around £39.50 . From Kyle of Lochalsh, local buses connect over the Skye Bridge to various locations on the island, including Portree . A combined train and bus journey from Inverness to Skye via Kyle of Lochalsh can take around 4 hours 19 minutes and cost £40 to £45 .

By Other Ferries:

In addition to the Mallaig-Armadale route, a small, seasonal (April to mid-October) turntable ferry operates between Glenelg on the mainland and Kylerhea on Skye, with crossings taking about 15 minutes and running frequently . A car with up to four passengers typically costs £15 to £20 for a one-way fare . Ferries also connect Skye from the Outer Hebrides; for example, from Tarbert (Harris) to Uig on Skye, journeys take approximately 1 hour 40 minutes to 1 hour 56 minutes and cost around £54.11 .

By Air:

The Isle of Skye does not have its own airport . Travelers can fly into nearby mainland airports such as Inverness (INV), Glasgow (GLA), or Edinburgh (EDI) . From these airports, onward travel to Skye is by bus, train, or car .

Check out our other pages on Isle of Skye

Things to Do icon Things to Do Restaurants icon Restaurants Bars and Entertainment icon Bars and Entertainment Hotels icon Hotels Budget Stays icon Budget Stays