Exactly How to Get From Glasgow to Isle of Skye
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There is no quick and easy way to travel from Glasgow to the Isle of Skye, but it is worth the time and effort it takes. Skye and the surrounding area is one of the most beautiful and interesting regions to visit in Scotland.
If you are wondering how to get to Isle of Skye from Glasgow the two best options are driving or taking the bus.
By car the journey takes 5-6.5 hours. By public transport bus is a better option than train since there is no train network on Skye itself. There is no train from Glasgow to Isle of Skye. The bus from Glasgow to Skye takes 7 hours and there are two direct bus routes.
Given the distance it is not possible to do a day trip from Glasgow to the Isle of Skye. I recommend spending at least 2 nights during a trip.
All the different options of travelling to Skye are described in detail below. Please note that all distances and travel times are from Glasgow to Portree on Skye.
How to Get From Glasgow to the Isle of Skye
By Car
- Journey time Glasgow- Isle of Skye: 5- 6.5 hours
- Distance from Glasgow to Isle of Skye: 356 km / 221 miles
Car is the easiest and most convenient way of travelling to the Isle of Skye.
The quickest route from Glasgow to Isle of Skye is shown on the map above. The airport is located on the way out of Glasgow so it is a shorter drive if starting from the airport than from the city centre.
My experience is it is cheaper to rent a car at Glasgow airport than in the city centre and I would highly recommend renting a car.
Driving the route suggested above you don’t need to take a ferry. There is a bridge across to Skye which is free to cross.
Stops to Make on the Way
Since it is a long drive to Isle of Skye from Glasgow, plan to stop along the way. All the stops detailed below are shown on the map above.
Using these suggestions you can create an itinerary for a Glasgow to Skye road trip:
- Glencoe: The mountain views as you drive down into Glencoe village will be familiar to anyone who has seen the James Bond film Skyfall. There are many good hikes in the area but even from the parking areas along the road the views are fantastic.
- Fort William: Climb Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK, or do one of the many other excellent hikes in the area.
- Glenfinnan: From April to October you can see the steam train from the Harry Potter films cross the viaduct. The Glenfinnan train bridge is a short drive from Fort William or Arisaig.
- Arisaig: Close to Mallaig are the two small villages of Arisaig and Morar. Stop for a few days to explore the nearby beaches such as Camusdarach, Silver sand of Morar and Traigh beach in Arisaig.
- Small Isles: the collective name for the four islands of Muck, Eigg, Rum and Canna. All the islands can be reached by ferry from Mallaig or Arisaig. Each island is different and well worth a visit.
- Eilean Donan Castle: my favourite Scottish castle. The best views are from the far end of the car park.
- Kilchurn Castle: A short detour to Lochawe takes you to this picture-perfect castle. You can’t enter the castle, but it is an interesting photo stop. It is halfway between the A82 and Oban so combine it with a stop in Oban.
- Oban: A seaside town with pretty beaches and plenty of interesting things to do, such as touring the Oban distillery.
- Isle of Mull: a short ferry ride from Oban, Isle of Mull has pretty beaches and scenery. Between May and late July you can take a trip to see puffins on nearby Lunga island.
I highly recommend renting a car with RentalCars.
By Bus
- Journey time: 6.5 – 7 hours
- Daily departures: 3
There are two options for the bus from Glasgow to Isle of Skye – the 915 and 916. Both buses are operated by Citylink.
The main difference between the two routes is the stops they make in Glasgow. The 915 is the only bus to Skye stopping at Glasgow airport.
The timetable for the buses from Glasgow to Portree can be found on the Citylink website. There are no night buses with the last departure at lunch time.
When to Buy My Glasgow to Isle of Skye Bus Ticket?
Glasgow to Skye Bus tickets are released 3 months in advance. Book early for the cheapest price.
If you are making several bus journeys it might be worth getting one of the Citylink Explorer Passes:
- 3 day pass: allows 3 days of unlimited travel over a 5 day period and cost £56
- 5 day pass: allows 5 days of unlimited travel over a 10 day period and cost £84
- 8 day pass: allows 8 days of unlimited travel over a 16 day period and cost £112
By Train
There is no train from Glasgow to Skye because there is no rail network on Skye.
Although you can’t travel all the way from Glasgow to Skye by train you can take the train to Kyle of Lochalsh and Mallaig which are located close to Skye. Both provide bus and ferry links to Skye.
These two options are time consuming and more complicated than taking the bus. I only recommend the two routes described below if you want to stop along the way.
Glasgow to Skye by Train via Kyle of Lochalsh
- Journey time: 10+ hours
- Daily departures: 2 (otherwise an overnight stop is required)
The steps involved are:
- Glasgow to Inverness by train: There are several departures to Inverness every day taking from as little as 3 hours.
- Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh by train: There are a couple of departures per day and it takes 2 hours and 35 minutes.
- Kyle of Lochalsh to Portree by bus: All the buses from Glasgow and Inverness stop at Kyle of Lochalsh on the way to Portree. However, the morning trains from Inverness have the most convenient connections. Make sure you check the bus schedule before booking the trains. Some departures have a long wait in Kyle of Lochalsh.
Stop along the way at:
- Inverness: The main attraction in Inverness is the castle in centre of town. It is also a great place for day trips to Loch Ness, Crawdor Castle or for dolphin watching.
Glasgow to Skye by Train via Mallaig
- Journey time: 12+ hours
- Daily departures: 1 (otherwise an overnight stop is required)
The steps involved are:
- Glasgow to Mallaig by train: There are 3 trains a day which take just over 5 hours. The first departure allows you to make it all the way from Glasgow to Portree in a day.
- Mallaig to Armadale by ferry: The ferry from Mallaig to Skye has regular departures during the day. As a foot passenger there is no need to book tickets in advance. Should you want the comfort of knowing your ticket is booked you can buy tickets in advance at the Calmac website.
- Armadale to Broadford by bus: There are 2 departures a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Check the timetable before travelling.
- Broadford to Portree by bus: There are several buses operating on this route.
Stop along the way at:
- Fort William: Base yourself here for a few days to climb Ben Nevis, try some whisky at the Ben Nevis distillery and take the steam train cross the Glenfinnan Viaduct.
- Mallaig: The main attractions in the area are the beaches near Mallaig and the ease with which you can visit the Small Isles.
When to Book My Ticket for the Train to Skye From Glasgow
Both bus and train tickets become available 3 months in advance. The earlier you book the cheaper the price.
For trains it is particularly important to book tickets in advance. Tickets bought on the day are very expensive.
Glasgow to Skye train tickets can be bought via Trainline. For itineraries that include several train journeys in Scotland, England or Wales consider buying one of the many railcards on offer (they can be purchased on the Trainline website as well).
Railcards cost £30 but give you 30% off ticket prices for a year. You don’t need to make many trips for one of these cards to pay for itself.
The most relevant railcards are:
- 16-25 or 26-30: For everyone aged 16 to 30
- Two Together: For two people travelling together (both people must be named on the card application)
- Family and Friends: Name up to four adults that can use the card but only pay for two. In addition, the card gives 60% off for four children aged 5-15
By Ferry
There is no Glasgow to Isle of Skye ferry.
By Plane
You cannot fly to Skye from Glasgow. Skye doesn’t have an airport.
The closest airport is Inverness. From Inverness to Portree on Skye it is a 3-hour drive. Therefore, there really is no point flying from Glasgow to Inverness in order to get to Skye.
The same goes for Edinburgh to Portree. There is no point of flying from Edinburgh to Inverness.
Book your car hire with Rental Cars
FAQ on Getting From Skye to Glasgow
Can you do a day trip from Glasgow to Isle of Skye?
No, it is not possible to do an Isle of Skye day trip from Glasgow.
It takes a minimum of 5 hours from Glasgow to Isle of Skye by car one way. There is no airport or any Glasgow to Isle of Skye train that can get you there overnight.
Final Thoughts on Travelling from Glasgow to the Isle of Skye
I highly recommend hiring a car and driving. However, regardless of whether you drive or get the bus it is too far to do as a day trip. Plan to spend at least 2 nights on Skye. You can easily spend more time since there is a lot to see and do.
And don’t forget to admire all the amazing scenery you pass on the route from Portree to Glasgow. You can create a fantastic itinerary when travelling from the Isle of Skye to Glasgow and make the journey into a trip itself.
LOOKING FOR MORE ON THE AREA AROUND ISLE OF SKYE?
