What is best? Bridge or ferry for the Isle of Skye? If you intend to drive over to the Isle Of Skye you have three options to get onto the island; the bridge or two ferries, but which one is best? Read on for how you can get over to Skye.
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The Kylerhea Turntable Ferry
Located in Glenelg, there has been a car ferry service crossing the Kylerhea straits since 1934. The “Glenachulish“, the last manually operated turntable ferry in Scotland, runs annually from Easter until October, seven days a week between 10 am and 6 pm (10 am to 7 pm June, July, and August).
The ferry is pretty small and it runs approximately every 20 minutes or so. It’s old-fashioned and quaint and I guess that’s why we loved it so much. The drawback to this ferry is that you cannot pre-book online and if you arrive and there are six or more cars in front of you, you must queue and wait for your turn to be crossed.
Fares
These are subject to change so please check using The “Glenachulish” link.
| Car with up to 4 passengers | £18.00 |
| Return | £25.00 |
| Six-journey ticket book | £50.00 |
| Minibuses | from £35.00 |
| Motorbike | £10.00 |
| Return | £15.00 |
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The Armadale Ferry
The Armadale Ferry leaves from Mallaig and is a much bigger ferry. It runs all year round on both a summer and winter timetable and the crossing takes roughly 45 minutes.
You can book your tickets online, although must collect the tickets from the port. Prices start at £9.95 per car and £3 per passenger, one way. This is a busy and popular crossing that transported 285,483 passengers in 2017.
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The Skye Bridge
The road over to Skye takes slightly longer than the ferries and in order to get there, you’ll need to pass by the Eilean Donan Castle. The bridge was built in 1995 and is 2.4km / 1.5miles long and there is no longer a toll for crossing it.
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Where Are They Located
Glasgow Airport
- Glasgow to Mallaig – 3 hours 48 minutes
- Glasgow to Glenelg – 4 hours 28 minutes
- Glasgow to Skye Bridge – 4 hours 33 minutes
Edinburgh Airport
- Edinburgh to Mallaig – 4 hours 23 minutes
- Edinburgh to Glenelg – 4 hours 39 minutes
- Edinburgh t0 Skye Bridge – 4 hours 45 minutes
Inverness Airport
- Inverness to Mallaig – 3 hours 2 minutes
- Inverness to Glenelg – 2 hours 9 minutes
- Inverness to Skye Bridge – 2 hours 6 minutes
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