Scotland - The drive from Skye to Endinburgh - Insane?
 

I've read a lot of the interaries/comments here re: scotland, and I think it's a much bigger place than most think. I really have three goals for my week in Scotland:
a) spend 1 night with friends in glasgow
b) walking around the highlands
c) spend at least 2 nights in edinburgh

As a result, I'm thinking of the following

25-Jul Arrive Glasgow
26-Jul Glasgow->Glencoe - 2.5 hrs drive, then walk the glen (3-4 hrs), stay in fort william or somewhere nearby
27-Jul Glencoe->Portree - take a leisurely 3 hrs drive, hang out at the pub in the inn and around town
28-Jul From Portree, drive to the trotternish ridge and do a 4-5 hr walk (around quiriang)
29-Jul Drive Portree -> Edinburgh (!!!)
30-Jul Edinburgh
31-Jul Fly out of Edinburgh early am

My questions:
1. Do I have the expected driving/walking times somewhat right?
2. Can you recommend a good town around glencoe that is a bit of a civilization (is for williams the biggest town)?
3. How insane would the drive from portree to edinburgh be? theaa.com says over 6 hrs. I live in canada and am used to long drives, but is 6 hrs right, and how nuts would it be?

Would like a sanity check here.

Thanks,
Jeff
Toronto, Canada

Where are you flying from, Jeff? If from Toronto/North America, your first night in Glasgow you will likely be shot. It will be difficult for you to enjoy your time with your friends unless you take a significant nap, in my experience.

Between the long day of driving to Edinburgh and the early flight out your last day, you will really have one day to see the city. Edinburgh is compact, so you can see a lot in a day, but certainly not everything. It's not unreasonable, since your focus seems to be on the Highlands walking.

<<< I live in canada and am used to long drives >>>

On narrow twisting roads where you'll meet vehicles coming towards you or with animals in the middle of the road?

looks ok.

Has anyone else done a drive direct from glasgow to portree/skye?, or from edinburgh to portree/skye? Looking for a first hand account and how long it took you.

I hope this catches the eye of the knowledgeable Scottish folks. I don't think you indexed the thread to "United Kingdom" when you posted, so it might slip by some of them.

Just as a means of comparison-the train from Kyle of Lochalsh, the town just off of Skye om the mainland takes over 6 hours. Morning departure at 7:25 arrives Edinburgh 2:22, the late morning train at 11:59 arrives Edinburgh at 6:11.

By bus from Portree to Edinburgh- morning 8:00 bus arrives Edinburgh at 4:03 for a total time of 8 hours 3 minutes. If of interest check out Citylink.

Your Portree to Edinburgh drive is do-able as the road is in the main reasonable both in condition and for overtaking but some sections are problematic as there are few opportunities for overtaking so you will be curtailed by holiday traffic and Sunday drivers. I would say allow yourself at least six hour driving plus allowances for any stops you intend to make.
Your itinerary looks good and you are packing quite a bit into a few days. There is not much to Portree but the scenery and walks on Skye can be spectacular.

Quiraing walk time looks about right. I think you'll find it spectacular.

In Glen Coe, we stayed at the Clachaig Inn, which is in the glen. It's quite alone, but they have a pub with music. Accomodations and food are adequate.

It is certainly doable driving from Portree to Edinburgh - but on a summer Sunday I would plan on at least 7 or 8 hours. It is about 325 miles and much will be busy w/ caravans/coaches etc.

hi TorontoJeff,

I have been reading the Fodors posts to get an accurate meausrement of driving times through Scotland. From a previous post of about a year ago or something like that, someone mentioned 55 miles in 90 minutes is the average.

So I figure 37mph average taking sheep into account and the like *Ü*.

This distance traveled is what I'm using to calculate my trip through the Highlands.

Thanks all. Sounds like to avoid the sunday traffic, it might be best to go

glasgow->portree
portree/trotternish
portree->glencoe
glencoe->edinburgh

Thanks all for the help

Yes - that latest is a much more sensible itinerary.

The bonus is that you will drive up through Glen Coe and across Rannoch Moor in the direction that I think is the most beautiful.