Ferry to Skye
How to travel to the isle of Skye by ferry
Select departure ‘UK' to find ferries from Scotland to the Isle of Skye.
Getting to the Isle of Skye
While many people will travel across the Skye Bridge to Skye, there are also some excellent ferry options. The ferry from Mallaig can be a quick choice and prevents a detour via Kyle of Lochalsh (where the bridge is built).
If you're up for some slow travel then the Glenelg-Skye ferry is worth considering. You arrive at a small and unique ferry via the beautiful mountain road.
In addition to connections from mainland Scotland, you can also reach Skye from various islands. Ferries run between Skye and Raasay and from the Outer Hebrides Lewis and Uist.
Map with crossings to isle of Skye
In total there are 5 ferry crossings to and from the Isle of Skye. Where exactly the ferries depart and arrive can be clearly seen on the map.
There are two ferries to the Isle of Skye from the mainland. You can choose the Mallaig-Armadale ferry and the Glenelg-Skye ferry.
To Skye from the Scottish Mainland
Mallaig is of particular interest to those coming from the direction of Fort William on the A830, so basically, anyone coming from the south. Often the bridge is still a bit faster to travel to Skye, but the ferry is much more fun!
When the bridge was built in 1996, the Glenelg-Skye ferry became much less attractive. Yet people choose to go on an adventure with this ferry. Because, according to many, it is a unique crossing. The experience starts with winding roads to the ferry. Then you get on the “Glenachulish”. the last manually operated turntable ferry in existence.
To Skye from the Outer Hebrides
Two options exist for those travelling from the Outer Hebrides to The Isle of Skye.
To Skye from Raasay
There is also a ferry service connecting the small neighboring island of Raasay with the Isle of Skye.
Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye is the largest island of the Inner Hebrides. It is about 50 miles / 80 km from southeast to northwest. Bringing a car is therefore quite useful if you want to explore the island well.
Nice places to visit are Portree, Dunvegan Castle and the Talisker Distillery. However, many people will also head out into nature to enjoy the beautiful scenery and spot some wildlife.
There are a number of websites where you can find good information about the island:
Prices and availability for crossings to the Isle of Skye
Useful for travellers to Scotland
Hello, may I know the information about Ferry route from Mallaig to Portree that can carry a car? Is it able to pre-buy by online? Thanks in advance.
Hi Geby,
Thanks for your question and we did the research for you:
You need to drive to Mallaig and from there take a car ferry to Armadale. From Armadale you can drive to Portree. I made a few arrows on the map to show you how this looks:
https://ferrygogo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/mallaigtoportree.jpg
Here is the route you need:
https://ferrygogo.co.uk/route/mallaig-armadale/
Good luck with your travel to the Isle of Skye!
Wish to book ferry with a hire car but do not have vehicle details until the day of travel. Can we still book now?
Yes. but you have to call Calmac customer service for this: 00 44 1475 650397
Can you take a motorhome on the ferry & is it a different price
Hi Clair
In most cases you can take a motorhome on the ferry. On the Calmac website you'll find more info here: https://www.calmac.co.uk/article/8251/What-information-do-I-need-to-be-aware-of-prior-to-taking-a-caravan-motorhome-campervan-or-boat-on-a-trailer-onto-our-ferries. Often this is a bit pricier than travelling by car, but we couldn't find the exact prices.
Did you figure it out already yourself? And if so, we would be happy to know!
Best regards and happy travels!