We have a trip to Ireland and Scotland booked in late August and now that our itinerary is set and accommodations booked I'm likely to ask the always helpful Fodorites for suggestions on specific areas. First up: we are driving from Oban, where we'll just stay one night, to Portree, where we're spending 3 nights. Question is whether we should (1) take A82 north to A87 west and go over the bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh, which Google says is about 3 hr 40 min; OR (2) drive to Mallaig and take the ferry across, which Google says is about an hour longer. We'll have plenty of time that day and I'm just wondering which drive would be more interesting and where we might stop along the way in a nice village for lunch, a short walk/hike etc. The last time we were in Scotland was our honeymoon in 1986, and we took the ferry at Kyle of Lochalsh, so clearly the bridge is new! Thank you in advance!

Presumably you're not ending the trip at Portree, so maybe you could say where you're going next, after Skye. If it's someplace like Inverness, or back to the central belt, then you could take one route heading to Skye, and a different route when you leave.

My personal preference would be to head to Mallaig via the A830, the "Road to the Isles" past beautiful Glenfinnan and Arisaig. However, there's been quite a lot of disruption in ferry service over the past months, so I'd only take that route if you're fully booked for the Mallaig-Skye ferry and have supplied CalMac with contact information so they can reach you in case of delays or cancellations.

Then I'd return to the mainland via the Kyle bridge, with the choice of routes to your next stop based on where that might be.

It's good that you'll have "plenty of time," because on Skye in August you'll need it.

Gardyloo is correct in so many respects.

We decided to build the ferries ourselves rather than have South Korea do what they are very good at - knocking them out very quickly at a cut price. There’s currently two new ferries which are under construction in Glasgow and hugely over budget/ late.

This year is going to be a tough one foe the islands - as if thé économies haven’t suffered enough due to Covid. The ferries are breaking down with no back up , being transferred around routes resulting in reduced services and cancellations. The current situation isn’t too bad but Easter wasn’t good.

The ferries have over the years regulated the numbers visiting the islands. The bridge at Kyle blew open the doors and I personally think they should now count the cars coming over and out a limited on. Or do what the Danes/Swedes do and charge £50 each way to reduce demand. Syke isn’t pretty in August, think fist fights over parking spaces but it is still very scenic.

Again, I’d agree, turn left in Fort William take the road to Arisaig which has some of the best views in Scotland over the islands.

Ditto -- since anyone going to Skye will usually also leave Skye . . . take both routes. Oban via Mallaig to Skye and the Bridge back off the island. (Really no matter where one is heading afterwards using both routes is usually best)

In either case the drive will almost surely take longer than you think. Oban > Mallaig > Portree will usually take 5 hours plus stops - photo and otherwise, plus whatever wait you have for the next ferry. In August you will definitely want to pre-book the ferry. Oban > Kyle of Lochalsh > Portree about 4 to 4.5 hours plus stops.

On either route you will be passing through some glorious countryside and will want to stop often.

August in Skye will be a bit of a zoo. The island in large and can absorb the numbers - but the roads, parking areas, restaurants, etc not so much. Especially parking at any scenic bit may be hard or impossible at certain times.

Was posting the same times at British Caicos . . . we are all of a theme here

OP's earlier thread where we gave some of the same advice info Ednburgh Hotel & things to do

Thanks, everyone! And yes, janisj, I did post questions earlier before our itinerary was set. We're two couples so there is a certain amount of negotiation! So Google says about 2 hours from Oban to Mallaig. Leaving time to sight see and have lunch, do you think reserving the 1400 ferry is safe? We'll be doing this on a Monday, and I've checked the schedule online. Other options are 1300 (seems tight) and 1515 (seems late to get to our hotel on Skye). With all the talk of service interruptions you all still recommend this way, so I'll take it. I also think the ferry is a nice driving break and offers different views! Any lunch recommendations?

All your talk of Skye in August has me a little nervous, but I'm from Maine, and go to Acadia National Park every summer. It is also on an island, connected by a causeway, and gets crowded. I would have much preferred to make this trip in September, but the other couple had constraints. C'est la vie!

We are indeed leaving Skye via the Kyle bridge, headed to St. Andrews. I know, that's a long drive, 5 hours on Google, but we're going to endure it to have 2 days for the boys to play golf in St. Andrews. So another question for you all, Google takes us basically straight across: A87 to A86 to A9, etc. Going through Inverness is longer. Preferences? Suggestions on somewhere to stop to stretch our legs?

You should allow more time for the trip than Google says. Fort William is a real bottleneck and can be tough to get through.
These are small roads, in high summer, so cars, some towing caravans, plus campervans/RVs plus local traffic and big lorries. Plus cyclists!

if you are used to Acadia - Skye will be fine. It’s a shame because there are areas on the West Coast which are just as stunning but off the tourist radar and very quiet even in August.

Better keep them that way .

"So Google says about 2 hours from Oban to Mallaig"

Not at the best of times and in August with all the caravans (travel trailers), cyclists - count on close to 3 hours and consider yourselves lucky if its that quick.

Then after the ferry Armadale to Portree will take at least 2.5 hours.

I'm sure we could have found a less popular but just as spectacular place. We wanted to return to Skye 36 years after our honeymoon and our friends wanted to go there, too. Maybe next time!

Thanks, janisj. So would you still take the 1400 ferry or try and get there for the 1300? Its tricky making reservations ahead.

Daylight is long enough (sunset around 8:30 PM in late August) I'd be fine taking the 2PM ferry - it is such a lovely drive and stopping at Glenfinnan at minimum is a must IMO. If you'd have time I'd also take the short detour in to Glencoe - that would be great.

Is Oban a must for that night??

Oban is a favorite of the other couple's son and DIL and we have reservations at the Oban Manor House to stay and for dinner. I'll look up Glenfinnan; what is at Glencoe? I know we're rushed, you just can't do everything. FYI - I'll be asking for Skye advice in a separate post. I'm sure that will stir up lots of opinions! Haha, its all great!

Glencoe is . . . Glencoe. Not much else to say Short detour off the route between Oban and Ft William. A glorious glen with the history of the massacre.

Glenfinnan is on the road between Ft William and Mallaig - no detour involved. amazing scenery, the monument to Bonnie Prince Charlie, and the gorgeous railroad viaduct (famous even before Harry Potter.

https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co....coe/index.html

https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co....nan/index.html

Here are a couple of other resources:

https://www.visitscotland.com/info/t...finnan-p236571

https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/glencoe

Thank you!

So after all that great info you gave me I went to book the ferry Mallaig-Armadale. Although the timetable shows almost hourly departures, the day we're traveling has a ferry at noon and then nothing until 4:10! Then I found this note:

Mallaig - Armadale tidal amendments Summer 2022

We will be operating amended timetables between Mallaig - Armadale due to low tides on specific dates throughout Summer 2022
Amended timetables will operate on the following dates:

June: 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 29, 30
July: 1, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 28, 29, 30, 31
August: 1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
September: 1, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
October: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.

So it looks like we'll be arriving and departing via Kyle and will have to miss that beautiful road and maybe Glenfinnan...depending on time!

"So it looks like we'll be arriving and departing via Kyle and will have to miss that beautiful road and maybe Glenfinnan...depending on time!"

Why? I might have aimed for the 4:10PM sailing in the first place. There is so much worthwhile on the route up from Oban so taking a more leisurely drive is fine. You'd still have more than 4 hours of daylight after arriving at Armadale. I definitely recommend taking the ferry one direction and the bridge the other direction.

You cold stop at Glencoe, Neptunes, staircase, Glenfinnan, several gorgeous beaches. PLUS you'd have a chance to see the Jacobite train crossing the viaduct since it passes through Genfinnan at about 3PM