Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
By train and ferry or bus
Mallaig (departure point for
ferries to Skye - see above) is served by direct trains
from Fort William (4-5 daily; 1hr 20min) and Glasgow
Queen St (Mon-Sat 3 daily, Sun 1 daily; 5hr 10min).
There are also trains from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh
(Mon-Sat 3-4 daily, Sun 1-2 daily; 2hr 30min) where
you can catch a bus over the Skye Bridge to Kyleakin
(every 45min; 10min) and up to Portree (1 daily; 1hr
10min).
Moving on to the Western Isles
It's 57 miles from
Armadale and 49 miles from Kyleakin to Uig, from where
ferries leave for Tarbert on Harris and Lochmaddy on
North Uist.
Tourist information
W
skye.co.uk.
13
The Sleat peninsula
hanks to the CalMac ferry from Mallaig to
ARMADALE
, many people's introduction
to Skye is the
Sleat
(pronounced “Slate”)
peninsula
at the southern tip of the island.
he irony is that it's unlike almost anywhere else hereabouts - an uncharacteristically
fertile area branded “he Garden of Skye”.
Clan Donald Skye
On A851 • Late March to Oct daily 9.30am-5.30pm, gardens year-round same hours or till dusk • £7.50 •
T
01471 844305,
W
clandonald.com
Branded as
Clan Donald Skye
on account of its former inhabitants,
Arnadale Castle
,
a mile
north of the ferry terminal, is the shell of the neo-Gothic seat of the MacDonald clan - the
laird moved into the gardeners' cottage when the kelp fertilizer market collapsed in the
1920s. Intended as an account of the clan, its modern
Museum of the Isles
is actually more
interesting for its perspectives on Highland history, with sections on the Jacobite period
and its aftermath, featuring Bonnie Prince Charlie keepsakes such as his shoe buckles worn
in battle at Culloden and a couple of cannonballs fired at the castle by
HMS
Dartmouth
,
sent by William III. Just as appealing is the castle's forty-acre wooded
garden
.
Isleornsay
Having retired as Skye's main fishing port,
ISLEORNSAY
(Eilean Iarmain),
six miles
north of Armadale, is just a pretty secluded village with idyllic views across the bay to
seaweed-encrusted rocks and the tidal
Isle of Ornsay
, and behind it all a panorama of
peaks on the mainland.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
THE SLEAT PENINSULA
By ferry
Reservations are recommended in peak season
(
W
0800 0665000,
W
calmac.co.uk) for the Mallaig-
Armadale crossing (Mon-Sat 8 daily, Sun 4-6 daily; 30min).
By bus
All bus services from/to Armadale are via
Broadford.
Destinations
Broadford (Mon-Fri 5 daily, Sat 2 daily;
30min); Portree (Mon-Fri 2 daily; 1hr 20min); Sligachan
(Mon-Fri 2 daily; 1hr).
ACTIVITIES
Bike rental
You can rent bikes from
Armadale Bikes
(
T
01471 844241 or 07919 278871,
W
armadalebikes.
co.uk), in Ardvasar, half a mile south of the ferry terminal,
or bikes can be collected from the ferry terminal with
notice.
Sea.fari
T
01471 833316,
W
seafari.co.uk.
Wildlife and
scenery trips in a high-speed RIB from Armadale to spot
dolphins and minke whales in summer.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Ardvasar Hotel
Ardvasar, half a mile south of
Armadale
T
01471 844223,
W
ardvasarhotel.com.
This
pretty little inn has benefited from refurbishment over
2010-12 to create comfortable, contemporary
accommodation as well as a smart restaurant specializing
in local seafood - lo
bster,
scallops and crab, plus Speyside
beef for around £13.
£130
Ì
Eilean Iarmain
Isleornsay
T
01471 833332,
W
eileaniarmain.com.
This small hotel is a charmer,
romantically furnished in cosy country style: antiques, pretty
fabrics, awesome views and not a TV in sight. The restaurant
serves fine dining menus such as venison with garlic and
white tru
e mash, or there's informal eating in th
e bar
(mains average £13).
Daily noon-2.30pm & 6-9pm.
£170
Flora MacDonald Hostel
Kilmore, 4 miles north of
Armadale
T
01471 844272,
W
skye-hostel.co.uk.
Turn
opposite Kilmore church to find the community-run hostel.
Decor is of the granny's armchair variety - character or
