Mallaig to Armadale?

Question

I'm planning a railway journey through Scotland, and would like to visit Skye from Mallaig, by ferry to Armadale. Then getting off the island via Kyleakin a few days after. Does anyone know ho to get from Armadale to Portree and Kyleakin though, depending on public transport? Bicycle rent even?

Answer 1

The Mallaig - Armadale ferry is a summer only ferry which operates from April through to late October. There's about 8 sailings a day and about 4 on Sunday. Check with Calmac (Caledonian MacBrayne - the ferry operators) for sailing dates and times.

Scottish Citylink (the Scottish equivalent of National Express) runs services from the mainland onto Skye so you can use these between Kyleakin, Broadford and Portree.

One of the local bus service is Highland Country Bus which used to, and quite likely still does, run services between Ardvasar - Armadale - Broadford - Portree. There are other bus companies but I'm not sure which routes they run although pretty much all of them will include Portree and / or Broadford.

There's local taxis in Armadale and most other villages so you shouldn't be stuck and if the worst comes to the worst you could try hitch-hiking.

Skye also has a number of post-bus routes including one from Broadford to Elgol. If you get the chance and the weather is nice I'd recommend taking this journey - you'll get some excellent views of Bla Bheinn and of the Cuillins from Elgol. If time permits walk in to Camasunary Bay - it's about 4 miles from the road along a rough track or about 5 miles taking the coastal path from Elgol. Even better is to continue beyong Camasunary and around the coast to Loch Coruisk - there is a river to cross and an awkward stetch known as the Bad Step but if you can negotiate these the rewards are well worth it. There's also a boat which sales from Elgol to Loch Coruisk - it's called the Bella Jane and if memory serves me right, it's expensive.

There's a great deal to see and do on Skye especially if you like the outdoors and hiring a bike would be a good way to get around - check at the Esso petrol station in Broadford for hiring a bike. A lot of the roads are very narrow and winding so care is needed, most of them are relatively flat as they follow the coast or stick to the glens, there are some exceptions and you'll need strong legs unless you get off and push.

Here's some websites with more info...

Bella Jane Boat Trips
http://www.bellajane.co.uk/

Broadford to Elgol Post Bus
http://www.ealaghol.co.uk/travel/gettingaround/#postbus

About the Isle of Skye
http://www.ealaghol.co.uk/
http://www.skye.co.uk/

Calmac Ferries
http://www.calmac.co.uk/

Highland Country Bus / Rapsons
http://www.rapsons.com/frameset.html

Scottish Citylink
http://www.citylink.co.uk/

Pictures of...
Bla Bheinn - http://images.google.co.uk/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=bla+bheinn
Cuillins - http://images.google.co.uk/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=cuillins
Coruisk - http://images.google.co.uk/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=coruisk

Answer 2

There is a regular bus service [rapsons] from Armadale to the north of the island, There is also bike hire at Armadale, but it will take you a long time to cycle, Armadale to Portree takes over an hour in the car.
Though cycling is a good way to see the south of the island, there are loads of good cycle routes, a way from the main roads.

Answer 3

I went a few years ago, there's a bus.