I used a cell phone in Scotland when we were there before with only a few areas not providing a signal, (Comrie where we stayed had none, but five miles away I had no problem) but when I went to the Telestial site to see what I'd be paying for a SIM card this time, the map of Scotland showed no coverage for Skye. Not that I'll be using the phone all that much, but it would be nice to call home once or twice during the week we'll be there (we'll be staying in Portree) without using a pay phone, so I'm wondering if the map is accurate?

What provider does Telestial use? I checked the coverage maps on http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/index.shtml

Vodafone, O2, and Orange all seem to have good coverage, but not T-Mobile.

Get yourself a £5 phone card as a back up and you can use any pay phone. Calls to the States will only cost a few cents a minute. I always get a phone card even if I have a cell phone. They are really inexpensive and you can use them other places/times

When we were in Skye, my husband's phone only had reception (he has O2) on the very top of the mountain - neither of us had reception anywhere else. I would take the PP's advice and get a phone card for backup.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll look into Vodafone and get a phone card as well.

Twina49, even when a coverage map looks good, there are local dead spots. If you have a contact in Portree, it may pay to ask them which provider offers the best reception in that area.

If you are interested in Vodafone, there is a coverage map on their website where you can zoom in on Portree, though: http://maps.vodafone.co.uk/coveragev...b/default.aspx

Heimdall,

I live in the country (western Pennsylvania), so we have the same dead spots once in a while.

I contacted the rental agent for the house we are getting in Portree to ask if there was a particular service she recommends. Thanks for the suggestion!