Hello there. I will be travelling to Scotland next month and am wondering if the Isle of Skye is do-able without a car....I will be travelling alone and do not feel comfortable renting a car and driving on the wrong side of the road by myself....who knows what could happen. Thus, I am left with the BUS. I would like to see Skye but feel many places would be too remote without wheels. Any thoughts? Thanks.

I'm not real source for your answer, becouse I've never been there.But I'm telling you, take car, it's not so bad! I have to learn to drive on left side here, on Tasmania.In my country I have no problem.Call me if you need covering CAR ACCIDENT costs.What are friends for :} !Stop by Tasmania!Have fun

Maybe once I am there I won't feel so scared about it...Too bad Tasmania is off the beaten path, although it would be fun!!!

I have been to Skye several times and it is easier w/ a car. But if you really can't bear to face driving alone it is certainly possible to get to Skye by public transport. There are several trains a day to Mallaig where you catch the ferry to Armadale on Skye. from there local buses will take you all over the island. There are also buses that cross the bridge to Skye at Kyle of Lochalsh. I know less about the bus service since I usually drive and have taken the train twice - but there is another Fodorite (Sheila) who lives in Scotland and if she sees your thread she will possibly have better info about bus service.

it will be slower and harder to get to some places - but a lot of hikers do Skye w/o ever getting in a car -- or bus for that matter.

Driving in western Scotland is easy tho'. The roads are narrow but there is also relatively very little traffic.

So you could do it either way and probably be just fine.

if you do a search for "Skye" you will find a lot of threads . . . .

thanks janis. just maybe i will try the car thing..

There are quite of lot of private guides in Skye, who will drive you; if you have the budget.

stew,

Where are you staying in Scotland?
I live 10 miles from Glasgow - and to drive from there to Skye is only a couple of hours - slightly longer from Edinburgh.

The routes to Skye are not the slightest bit difficult - I am sure you will have no problems if you take a hire car.

We're off to Florida for the last 2 weeks in September - or else I would have given you a lift!!!


Brian

We visited Skye the last week of June this year and it was the highlight of our summer in Europe. We loved the area and please hire a car. It is doable and the driving will not be so bad. Keep in mind that sheep roam freely over some parts of Skye. The scenery is beautiful. Visit the castles, picnic along the coast, and stop wherever your fancies take you. Have fun. I am jealous.

thanks everyone!! i have just recently noticed and read that people hire cars. i imagine it would be rather pricey? but for one day, what the heck. i will certainly include skye in my itinerary, whether it be by bus, car or car hire!!

I'm not sure what kind of travel you prefer but I had a great time on Skye and other places in Scotland with a backpacker/hosteler oriented bus tour which originates in Edinburgh. The buses hold about 16 people, mostly younger crowd, and traveles for 5 days and stops at hostels. Great for solo travelers. A party atmosphere, everyone gets along great. The bus tour I used was called MacBackpackers and there is another one called Haggis (spelling?) I booked through their web site.

stew - just to clear up some language differences - - -

Yes, you can hire a driver/guide for a day or longer.

But beware calling it "hiring a car". that is the same thing Americans call "renting a car". When you see sites/ads for "Car Hire" is it just a rental car agency - drivers are not included.

That would be a driver/guide or car service

On my first trip to Europe back in 1979, I hitchhiked in Ireland and also on the Isle of Skye (using my BritRail pass for the Scottish mainland) so that's an option you might consider.

I can't recall the name of the town on Skye I stayed in but I hitchhiked from there to the Black Cuillins (sp?) and back. Got a ride on the way to the BC from a very friendly Scottish guy who pointed out Ian Anderson's newly-established salmon farm (which he still owns) to me.

I can't imagine going to Skye and having to rely on the buses...although a tour bus could be a different story.

I think you could handle renting a car.... especially on the one track roads where it won't matter what side of the road you are used to! hehe. No seriously, it won't be that bad.

Skye is soooo beautiful, have fun!!