Other information
Planning to come to Skye for the first time? Or unsure whether to, or when to? Here's some information to help you make an informed decision.
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What's it like at different times of year?
It looks a long way from anywhere!
What's it like travelling in winter. Will I get snowed in?
How do I get to Skye if I'm not driving my own car?
What amenities are nearby?
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Within 10 minutes' drive is the village of Dunvegan, just 3 miles away. Here you’ll find a small number of shops, cafes, a post office and a petrol station, as well as a car park with toilets, recycling bins and excellent occasional seafood vans. Fasgadh Supermarket in Dunvegan is a good place to get wood and essentials. Opens Monday – Saturday 9.00am – 5.00pm. The nearest large supermarket is the Co-op in Portree (IV51 9HQ), approximately 30 mins drive. Opens 7.00am – 10.00pm every day
What's it like at different times of year?
Skye is an amazing place whatever time of year you come. The weather and the landscape are constantly changing, so it's worth bringing a range of clothing. It's stunning in the sunshine but exhilarating in the storms!
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Skye does get quite a lot of rain. The wettest months are September to January, while March to June is relatively dry. The warmest months are May to September.
Spring is one of the best times to visit the Highlands & Islands of Scotland, and Skye is full of life and colour. All the attractions are open from Easter onwards, and you've a good chance of some nice weather and eagles out hunting. Plus the place is relatively midge-free!
In Summer the island is magnificent in the sunshine, with very long days. It's also at its most culturally vibrant, with music and arts festivals, and is a great time for families to visit. The island doesn't get overrun with tourists in Summer, but it can get very busy indeed at the popular attractions, so it's worth getting to these early, to beat the queues.
Autumn brings out an appealing palate of colours and beautiful light, as well as more dramatic weather. The heather remains in bloom into September, and most attractions remain open until the end of October. There's still plenty to do, but the roads are much quieter than in Summer.
A clear Winter day on Skye is hard to beat. This season is great for enjoying log fires, hearty meals and wrapping up to go for a bracing walk. There's a surprising amount of wildlife to be seen, especially along the coast. Some attractions, and most shops, pubs and restaurants remain open, but it's worth checking with them directly in advance. Scottish Christmas and open-door Hogmanay are well worth experiencing.
It looks a long way from anywhere!
Skye's remoteness is very much part of its appeal, and the journey there should be viewed as part of your holiday. If you're coming from Inverness, you've a choice of 2 routes, both spectacular. If you're coming from England or Southern Scotland, you have ahead of you one of the great journeys of the world - download our Journey Planner to get more of a flavour of the road trip up from England. For overnights we recommend the Premier Inn Dumbarton - book early to get good rates.
What's it like travelling in winter? Will I get snowed in?
It rarely snows at low altitude on Skye, and when it does it doesn't tend to be deep or disruptive. If it snows on the mainland, Transport Scotland work hard to keep the main routes open, and there are usually alternatives. Both the Skye Bridge and the Mallaig Ferry sometimes temporarily close due to high winds.
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Always check the Traffic Scotland website or app before driving through the Highlands, and with CalMac Ferries before sailing. And make sure your travel insurance covers weather-related delays.
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By Air
Scotland's airports are very well equipped for car hire. The two best airports to fly to are:
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Glasgow - the drive up to Skye is one of the world's most scenic, and it will take a good half day to get to An Caladh, including stops.
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Inverness - you have a choice of two wonderful routes of fairly equal length to the Skye Bridge: the A82 down the Western shore of Loch Ness, turning onto the A887 at Invermoriston; or the A835 to Garve then the road to Achnasheen, Strathcarron and Stromeffery (part of the North Coast 500 Scenic Route)
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By Public Transport
Click through to the Travel Tips page at IsleofSkye.com for information. Note that there are no railways on Skye.
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How do I get to Skye if I'm not driving my own car?
