Hello. We are traveling by train from Edinburgh to Mallaig, taking the ferry over to Armadale and then spending some time on the Isle of Skye. We need to rent a vehicle. There will be 8 ladies so a van would be needed. Can anyone give me some names of car hire agencies or some ideas on how I can accomplish this.
Thanks so much!
Tannya

Armabdale is a VERY small place. Not only do you want a rental car - you want a 9 or 12 passenger van.

http://www.portreecoachworks.co.uk/skye-car-hire.html has vans - but willl only deliver w/i 10 miles of Portree.

I've looked at your other threads and it looks like you want to stay in Protree.

The most Practical options are - 1) forget about the train/ferry and just rent a van in Edinburgh or Ft William or some other larger town

or

2) take the bus once you are on Skye and then when you get to Portree pick up a van from the Coach Works

sorry for the typo: Armadale

and to clarify, if you rent the van on the mainland you can either take it on the ferry - or better, use the bridge and save the extra £ a ferry would charge for such a large vehicle.

Hire in Mallaig. It does mean you have teh ferry charge, but it's truly your only option if you want to take the train (and I recommend you do)

Car hire is available from J.I.M. Motor Vehicles, Harbour Building, The Pier, Mallaig - telephone: 01687 462 211.

Another option would be to have a Skye-based taxi or driver guide pick you up at Armadale and take you to Portree. The only two I personally know of don't have anything larger than a 7 passenger vehicle. But maybe if you contact the Tourist Information Center in Portree they can recommend someone.

Or - contact your hotel in Portree and see if they can arrange a transfer for you (since you are probably taking 4 rooms they might even come pick you up - but don't count on it since they likely don't have that big a vehicle)

Really with such a big group your options are pretty limited. Over in Mallaig/the west coast/Skye it isn't like there are masses car rental agencies.

Thank you both for your input. It is so wonderful to have experts like you to help folks like us plan our vacation. Over the years I have used this site to plan and organize many trips and have never been led astray. Again, thanks to you! You devote so much of your time to others and your advise is invaluable.

Tannya

When I rented from Sutherlands Garage
in Broadford, they picked me up from the train station in the Kyle of Localsh and -- more relevant to your situation -- they drove me to the ferry dock in Armadale on the morning I returned my car. I assume they would do the reverse -- meet you at the ferry dock with your rental car.

I don't know if they have a vehicle large enough, but give them a call:

+44 (0)1471 822 225

Here's another place to try, and they have vans:

http://www.portreecoachworks.co.uk/rates.html

Yes, as I mentioned, Portree Coach Works does have vans - but their website says they only deliver w/i 10 miles of Portree. Maybe if you call them you can arrange an Armadale pick up for an additional charge . . . .

Ooops! The perils of skimming posts. Sorry for repeating the info.

No, that's OK - I didn't intend a "gotcha". I only meant to add that maybe if tannya phoned the coach works she might be able to arrange something.

Another place:

http://www.lochalsh.net/taxi/

We have hired a car from them. Kenny will deliver it to the ferry at Armadale when we arrive (£25 charge), then we can turn the car in at Lochalsh a week later when we board the train for Nairn.

Nelson,
Thank you for the car hire company. I have emailed them to see if they can accomodate us.
Tannya