The Spectacular Isle of Skye Without a Car

The Isle of Skye is small: just fifty miles north to south and 25 miles east to west. I could feel that smallness. It was cozy. It felt good. Despite the small size, it took some planning to travel the Isle of Skye without a car.

Hours from Scotland's cities, houses dot Skye's landscape. The separation from the mainland and the distance between houses had me reveling in the isolation and, at the same time, feeling a sense of community, despite being a traveler.

And then, of course, there's the landscape for which Skye is best known.

Having arrived at my destination, I sat in front of my hostel and looked left where the land of grasses, moss, heather, and bracken faded into the sea. Then I turned my attention to the right, where the land rose toward jagged cliffs of granite and a range of rocky cliffs.

Getting Around the Isle of Skye Without a Car

Planning my trip to Skye was a challenge logistically. I could have rented a car but I'm not confident driving on the left side of the road. There are many places to stay, however, they are expensive. Most were out of my price range. Plus, I was looking for a bit of quiet. I didn't want to be in a town. Research took me all over the Internet learning what was possible. Here's the information I think you need to travel to Skye without a car–what I learned in advance and while there.

• Lay of the Land
  • Portree is the main town on the Isle of Skye. It's the hub for buses. There is a tourist information office in the town to answer your questions and a Co-op where you can buy groceries. There are also a number of restaurants there.
  • The Old Man of Storr is the most popular walk. It's busy and unless you're there on the off-season it will not give you that feeling of really being on the Isle of Skye.
  • The Quiraing is a hike very worth doing. Most people start at the parking lot on the south end and don't complete the walk. Consequently, that section of the walk is busy. I recommend that you start at the north entry point, which I did. As a result, I met only one party of three until I was at the halfway mark.
  • The Fairy Glen is really worth visiting. The Glen is as beautiful as the Fairy Pools and easy to reach by bus. Walk in from the road. It will be about a 4 km round trip.
  • The Fairy Pools main entrance is difficult to reach by bus but it is only a 2.4 km round trip to see the pools from the parking lot. You can take a bus from Portree to Sligachan Hotel and then hike to the pools from there. It's about 8 km each way so you would need a very early start.
• Isle of Skye Without a Car
  • Stagecoach is the local bus service on Skye. It is not frequent but their planning tool is helpful. I got caught on a Sunday afternoon in Portree after 5:00 pm when the service had ended and had to pay for a taxi to my hostel. That was expensive. It's important to note that, outside of the towns, you don't have to be at a designated bus stop for the bus to pick you up. You can flag the bus down.
  • Walking paths are everywhere and are an option. However, if you're trying to get somewhere in particular it's probably not your best choice.
  • Hitchhiking is done on Skye. I had not hitchhiked in decades but because transportation is so limited and the island so small, it's done there. I hitchhiked three times and each time I was picked up by tourists. On one occasion it was a couple from Denmark, one of whom is known as Monsieur Guerlain, a perfume blogger. The three of us went for coffee.
  • Real Scottish Journeys is a tour company. I did a one-day tour with them to ensure that I didn't miss the Isle of Skye's highlights. I'm glad I did because I could not give you an opinion on places like the Fairy Pools otherwise. Bill was an excellent guide, weaving traditional music and folklore into his commentary. If I had a week I would definitely recommend the tour for orientation. However, with little time I would recommend a long walk rather than a bus tour as that's how to experience the real Skye.

Where to Stay on the Isle of Skye

Finding a hostel in Skye was a challenge. But it's been three years since I was there and, now that I'm updating this post, I have found some interesting options.

I stayed at Dun Flodigarry Hostel. The location is fantastic on the east coast of Skye. It's off the grid and uses a windmill for power. It has a fantastic kitchen and dining room. The dorms are mixed, there are no lockers, and I didn't find the beds comfortable. So it gets a recommendation, but not a high one. Here are other options I've researched for you to consider.

• North-east, near north entry to The Quiraing. The Flodigarry Hotel and Skye Restaurant offers the same fabulous location as the hostel but with the comfort and convenience of a nice hotel and elegant dining. Rooms have sea views and you can walk to fabulous hiking and fishing. If you're exploring the Isle of Skye without a car, you will have to rely on taxis or buses to get there but once you're settled in, you'll have many options.
• Central. An affordable option in Portree is the Portree Guest House. It is on the main road into Portree, the main town on Skye, is affordable, and has private bathrooms.
• South. Go upscale and stay in a boutique hotel with an award-winning restaurant. Located on the southernmost tip of Skye near Isleornsay, the Duisdale House Hotel was formerly a hunting lodge built in 1865. It's been completely transformed. The hotel is included in some luxury walking tours and, naturally, has good walking opportunities. It is far from the most popular ones, though (and therefore from the crowds as well).
• North-west, near the Fairy Glen. A modern B&B with private bathrooms, Stones Bed & Breakfast is near the magical Fairy Glen and on the stagecoach route.