My wife and I will be in Scotland the first 2 weeks of April. One day we plan to drive from Callander to Mallaig where we spend the night before taking the ferry to Skye. What is the more scenic route-taking the Corran ferry and following A861 or going to Ft. William and taking A830?

Why would you stay the night in Mallaig? There is nothing there.

Both routes are <u>very</u> scenic - but you should have plenty of time to get across to Skye w/o spending a wasted night in Mallaig. Via Ft William it is about a 3 or 3.5 hour drive plus stops. An easy day's drive.

Meant to add -- via the Corran ferry and around is about a 4 hour drive.

Actually Mallaig has come along in recent years. There are some nice places to eat, the pier has seals and it is well placed for some of the nicest beaches on that stretch of sea. April is still off season. There is a certain brightness about taking the ferry from Mallaig to Skye. Here are my thoughts: : ttp://megrobb.typepad.com/britishtravel/2008/10/-----style-definitions----pmsonormal-limsonormal-divmsonormal---mso-style-parent---margin0in---margin-botto.html

"<i>it is well placed for some of the nicest beaches on that stretch of sea.</i>"

yes -- but they will have seen those beaches enroute to Mallaig. Even w/ restaurants, Mallaig isn't a destination. It isn't a pit, but really the only reason to stay there is if one misses the last ferry of the day.

The two routes are very different, and both superb in their own ways; but for a first trip go through Glenfinnan. There's more visible history, and recognisable "stuff", the viaduct, , the Prince's cairn, the monument, Neptune's staircase, the views of Ben Nevis.

I wouldn't stay in Mallaig myself, if I were you. I would recommend Arisaig or Morar

We thought we'd stay in Malaig because we want to catch the first ferry the next morning to Skye. If Malaig is that bad, I'll look at Arisaig or Morar.Thanks for the input.

"That bad" is a BIT of an exaggeration. "Not nearly as nice as Arisaig" would be another way of putting it.

no one said it was 'bad' -just not a place to stay. Especially to artificially build in an over night when Skye is a short ferry ride away.

If you want to take 8 hours, stopping many times enroute to the west coast - then staying in Arisaig is better. But you will have enough time to stop lots and still make it to Skye that evening. Neither choice Arisaig or Skye is 'wrong'. Arisaig is lovely. http://tinyurl.com/7f9g2rx

Me personally, -- I'd press on to Skye.

sheila-is there lodging in Arisaig that you can recommend?
janisj-if we decide to cross over to Skye that day, is there somewhere you would suggest that we stay the night? We will be spending a week in a cottage in Portree.

There is lodging at Ardvasar less than a mile from Armadale. I personally like the Ardvasar Hotel, but there are also some B&B's. You will also find plenty of options along the Sleat Peninsula enroute to Portree. It's about an hour's (45-60 minutes) drive from Armadale to Portree.

The Arisaig Hotel is fine enough

I don't know what your budget is, but Arisaig House, which used to be a hotel, is now doing B&B. There was an article in today's papers.

Not cheap, but...

http://www.arisaighouse.co.uk/