Balloch to the Isle of Skye
 

My family and I will be visiting Scotland in early July. We will have a car and two kids (12 & 14). We are booked into a B&B in Balloch and have a day to explore the area and drive to the Isle of Skye. I am looking for advice on a route from Balloch to Skye and what sights to stop and see on the way.

It partly depends on where you are headed <i>after</i> Skye.

If you are headed north later -- then take the road to Mallaig and the ferry over, then leave Skye by the bridge/Kyle of Lochalsh.

Do you just have the day - or do you have a day AND night before needing to be on Skye?

If it is just the one day and you are spending that night ON Skye -- then it will be about a 6 hour drive to say Portree. Doesn't leave a lot of time for detours.

A short detour to Killin/Falls of Dochart, a stop in Glencoe and a stop at Glenfinnan is about all you could possibly manage.

Thank you janisj. We only have one day. We will be spending two nights on the Isle of Skye at a B&B called Bla Bheinn on the A863 on the road to Drynoch. We will be spending two night there before driving to Stirling for two more nights.

OK -- since you are headed southeast after Skye, what I'd do is: from Balloch to Carbost (where the B&B is) will be about a 5.5 hour drive. I would leave early in the AM and go over via the ferry w/ just stops at Glencoe and Glenfinan Press on to Skye. You will want to pre-book the ferry of this is a weekend. 3 or 4PM-ish

Then for your drive to Stirling take the bridge, a short photo stop at Eilean Donan. Do your detour to Killin on this leg and end up at Stirling.

Both drives will take about the same time.

Thank you janisj, that sounds perfect. Thanks so much for the advice. Do you have any recommendations for the one full day on the Isle of Skye?

My map application suggested three different routes from the Isle of Skye to Killin, and I was wondering which would be best.
1. The longest was up around Inverness and back down.
2. The shortest through Fort William, south past Glencoe, through Clifton and up to Killin. That would involve going back over some parts of our journey from Balloch to Skye.
3. The third option starts towards Fort William, but turns east at Highbridge onto the A86, then south on the A889 to the A9, then onto some B roads (B847, B846) and onto the A827. The third option seems the best, but it is difficult to be sure from a map. Any recommendations?

The fastest would be the A82 -- but that way would send you back through Glencoe and you will have already seen that bit of countryside.

So I'd take the A86 > A9 > then through Aberfeldy, along Loch Tay through Killin and then catch the A85/A84 south.

That route will take you through some glorious scenery and through Fortingall (according to legend the birthplace of Pontius Pilate) and past Ben Lawers.

That sounds perfect, janisj. Thanks so much for all the details.

Coming late to this thread, and I see you've already booked accommodation on Skye, but just in case your plans are still flexible and/or for future reference, let me just suggest you look at substituting Mull for Skye. From Balloch the drive (to the Mull ferry in Oban) is half as long as to Skye, you could go via Glen Coe in one direction (or both) or do a big loop - Balloch to Oban (to Mull) to Glen Coe on the way back to Stirling.

Many fewer miles, Mull is amazing, and more time outside the car - all would apply.

I really enjoy Mull myself -- and would have suggested it in the first place but Skye accommodations were already booked so didn't mention it.

Skye is amazing - just returned from there.

That is a preview of my (hopefully) forthcoming trip report. ;)

janisj's recommendation is spot on, as usual.

My advice: Don't worry about what you cannot see due to time constraints, and enjoy what you can see and do. You will not regret it.

We will have to go to Mull next time :-)

When stopping in Glencoe, where should we head first? The National Trust Visitor Centre or the old town?

Got to the visitor's centre - and do some walks if you choose. Then eat lunch at the Clachaig -- no need to explore the 'town' such as it is.

https://www.clachaig.com