schuba

looked into this recently. here it is:

http://www.calmac.co.uk/summer-skye-timetable.html

JJBhoy

lifeofmytime,

I'm afraid I can't help with your booking query, but here's a link to the Mallaig - Armadale timetable up until 20 October 2007:

http://www.calmac.co.uk/summer-skye-timetable.html

Jim

lifeofmytime

Oh that's perfect, thank you schuba!

And also, I must have had a brain fart or something since I was looking at one of my old itineraries. We'll actually be heading to the ferry on our way from Glasgow on Sept 25.

lifeofmytime

Thanks to JJBhoy as well

JulieAA

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to jump in here and say we just got back from our trip and really appreciated all the great advice we got from this forum. I envy you lifeofmytime because your trip is still ahead! I'm going to post a trip report soon, but in looking back at all the talk about B&Bs in this thread, I have to say my most favorite B&B that we stayed in was Tigh an Dochais in Broadford on Skye. I got that referral from this website and it was really wonderful. Neil Hope is really everything that a B&B host should be, full of great advice and suggestions, helpful tips. Plus the place is luxurious, and Neil makes a lot of his food from scratch! Best bed I think I ever slept in. We also loved other places we stayed, but I'll save that for later. Again, thanks so much. I'm already thinking of where to go next time.

sheila

You only really need to book teh ferry if you MUST be on the one you're aiming for, or it's the last one of the day.

Otherwise at that of day, it'll be fine. Do you need driving times still? If you trust my estimates?

lifeofmytime

Sheila - yes I do still need driving times. Thank you for offering!

We pick up our car rental at 10am at the Glasgow Airport, and then we'll be heading to Portree as our end destination. We will have a couple of stops though. We'll need to stop for lunch somewhere about 2 hours away from Glasgow - any suggestions (no frills, cheap - sandwiches or whatever)? And then we'll head to the ferry. We're hoping to get to Armadale with enough time to spend at least an hour at Armadale Castle and the Clan Donald Centre. We'd love to spend more time there, but I think we're cutting it close as it is. I see on their site they are open until 5:30pm, so if we catch the 3:05 ferry we should have just over an hour there. The next earliest ferry leaves at 1:35 - is there any hope at all of catching that one if we packed lunches and didn't make any stops? Especially considering this will be our first UK driving experience?

How long does it take to drive from Armadale to Portree? My dad's a diabetic so I have to be very aware of meal times etc. We'll probably have to eat supper in Armadale or nearby if we don't catch the earlier ferry. Any suggesions there?

Thanks again to all for your help! I'm sure I'm not finished with all my questions yet, but I can promise a trip report when all is said and done.

sheila

I could do that. I don't know if you could- not trying to be smart here.

It's about 150 miles, and 50 miles an hour would be pushing it. Really. Not to mention the last hour is magical and it would be a shame to rush it.

So, either pick up the car earlier- like 8am- or resign yourselves to the 3 o'clock ferry. Book yourself on it, and you'll be in Armadale about 3.30pm

The Clan Donald centre's a wee step away- maybe 2 miles? There'sa caff there, if that's what you're into.

It'll take about an hour to get to Portree, and you pass the restaurant at Eilean Iarmain, Kinloch Lodge and the Sligachan Hotel on the way if you need to eat en route.

If you stop en route, I'd pitch for the Holly Tree at Kentallen

janisj

I'd definitely try to pick up the car earlier. A 10 a.m. pick up means getting away by 10:30 if you are lucky. it just takes time to complete the paperwork and examine the car. Sheila's suggestion of an 0800 pick up would be my choice too.

W/ an earlier start you'lll get to Skye much earlier (and have some "wiggle room" enroute for photo ops and traffis slow downs. Leaving at 10:30 means it won't work if you hit any snags.

You can eat at the Clan Donald center and also keep the Sligachan hotel pub in mind. Sligachan serves food all day long (which isn't the norm) so while on Skye it is always a good fall back position if one needs a meal.

lifeofmytime

Thanks again! I'll see if I can rearrange our schedule a bit and leave earlier. If not, well at least we'll get to spend a bit of time at the Clan Donald Centre.

lifeofmytime

Okay - still making some last minutes plans. Only 4 days to go!

I bumped up our car rental on Tuesday to 9am, and booked us on the 3:05 ferry (we have to be there by 2:35). This should give us enough time without having to stress out too much if we get lost or something lol, right?

For our 1 full day in Skye, I was hoping to take a leisurely drive up north to see Old Man Storr, Kilt Rock and Duntulm Castle. Do we have time to see those things and be back in Portree in time to explore a bit? We're going to be rushing around so much on this trip and I want to make sure this is one day we don't. I've decided to not go to Dunvegan Castle because it feels like we're spending our entire trip in the car as it is lol. What do you guys think? Is it worth it to do Dunvegan instead and forget about going up north?

Also, does anyone know of an online map that lays out where the attractions are? I know if we do the northern loop we'll come across the three things I mentioned above, but I'd like to know where they are.

Also, any restaurant recommendations for Portee? Nothing too fancy, but a mid-range restaurant or pub would be good.

I can't believe we're leaving Saturday!

historytraveler

If it's pouring down rain and you can't see more than 20 feet, visit Dunvegan Castle and perhaps Talisker Distillery,Edinbane pottery and/or the Skye Silver shop in the Old School, just west of Dunvegan.

Otherwise I'd tour the Trotternish Peninsula. You'll have time to visit all the sites you mentioned and still be able to explore Portree ( it's not that big). The Skye Museum of Life is also a recommended stop.

Sorry, I don't do online maps,but it's hard to miss these spots. I have only eaten at the Cuillin Hills Hotel and Chandlery both of which are a bit pricey.

I know you'll have a fabulous time. Bon Voyage!

d1carter

Lifeofmytime:

If you are staying at Ben Tianvaig in Portree, you can get directions from your hosts as well as restaurant recommendations. The owners are just wonderful. My wife and I got away from our teenager for a meal by ourselves in Portree, down in the dock area. I just can't remember the name. The good folks at Ben Tianavaig will.
Relax and have fun! You are going to love Scotland.

janisj

Ya know - on-line maps are fine and all. But you are going to need a detailed road atlas in any case. So I'd buy one in Glasgow - it will show all the sites/sights/viewppoints/castles etc.

sheila

I 100% agree with historytraveller.

Try Cafe Arriba on the harbour in Portree

noe847

I totally agree with janisj about the road atlas. You want the ones that are in the form of large spiral books cover the whole UK. These will give you the amount of detail that you will want as you tour around small roads. It's the best investment that you will make, and you can find one in central Glasgow - certainly at the big Borders books on Buchanan, but anywhere really. I lay mine flat on the bottom of my suitcase and bring it back each trip.

lifeofmytime

Thanks everyone for your input and help. I do plan on buying a road atlas when we get there, but I'm a little anal and like to have an idea where everything is beforehand. I did find a few more online maps of Skye, and between them all I was able to figure out roughly where those spots are along the way. How long a drive will it be to do the northern loop? I know we'll be making lots of stops along the way so it will take us much longer, but I'd like to have a rough idea.

Thanks again for your help - I don't think this trip would have come together the way it did without all of you!

lifeofmytime

ttt

shazzza

I'm not much help with your question. I've never driven that loop and don't know how long it would take, but I can say Dunvegan is well worth the trip. It was one of the highlights of our trip last spring. But if you're more into scenery (which Skye is famous for) then your plan is probably better for you. The Quirang (not sure if I spelled that right) is up that way too.

lifeofmytime

Thanks Shazzza. I guess my only concern is that I'm hoping to have a bit of leisure time in Portree after driving the northern loop. I saw in another thread someone said they left from Plockton at 10am and got back around 4pm. It obviously depends on how many stops we'd make along the way, etc, but I'd like to leave around the same time from Portree and get back by 2:30 or 3pm. But I also don't want to rush through the Northern Loop either - I'll be taking plenty of photos etc. So I guess I'm just wondering if that is doable.