Taxi CompaniesWe highly recommend booking taxis' in advance, Uber does not operate on Skye.
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As others have said, Uber in Scotland is available only in the major cities. In other parts of the UK, this may vary. Lyft does not operate at all in the UK. There are some other ride share companies like Bolt and Ola that do operate in parts of the UK, but not in the Highlands.
There is not a railway on Skye. There are two train stations on the mainland that are very close and connect to local bus routes. Glasgow to Mallaig - then the Ferry to Skye.Inverness to Kyle – then a Bus on to the Island.
The train is an easy option for travel between major towns and cities. Scotland's extensive train network covers all major cities and towns, but the railway map has large, blank areas in the Highlands and the Southern Uplands where you'll need to switch to road transport – in many cases, traveling by local bus.
While it is not as quaint as other Highland towns, Fort William was definitely the most workable in terms of being in the Highlands without a car. The Jacobite Steam Train goes directly out of the station twice daily. Fort William is also big enough that we were also able to get a private day tour to the Isle of Skye.
Skye is a large island, and there is loads to see. I think you need 2 days minimum to see the major sights on Skye. To explore the island at a slow pace, it would be easy to spend a whole week hiking around the pretty landscapes and visiting the historic ruins and viewpoints.
From family walks on the spectacular coastline to dramatic scrambles in the Cuillin mountains, the most challenging in Britain, the island provides fantastic walking for everyone. We help you find the best walking routes on Skye, from the classic outings to hidden gems not found in guidebooks.
Perhaps the best option to visit the Isle of Skye without a car is to take a Skye scenic tour. Not only does it provide transportation to and from the island, but it also takes you to many parts of the island. Ample time is provided at each destination for relaxed sightseeing before moving on to the next attraction.
Often called 'the gateway to the Highlands', Inverness is the nearest city to Skye and probably the easiest answer to how to get to Skye. It has a teeny tiny international airport, with 1hr connections from London Gatwick, London Luton and Bristol with easyJet.
Driving in the Scottish Highlands & Islands however is an altogether more challenging experience. Narrow, winding, single-track roads are much of what you'll be driving on once you're in Scotland's remote places. Hairpin bends, blind summits, blinder corners, potholes, and hidden dips are common.
There are around 1,000 Uber partner-drivers serving Glasgow and Edinburgh, where we have been operating for over a year. The service is proving very popular with locals and visitors: Almost 90,000 people have travelled in an Uber in the past month and over 400,000 people have used the service in Scotland since launch.
Living and walking a lot on Skye we find that tales of midges do tend to get a bit exaggerated. As long as there is a breeze the midges will not bother you too much so best advice is to head up a hill. They are worst in damp, humid weather and they tend to hang around water and heather.
Given the unpredictability of the local weather, the best way to pack for a trip to Skye is to think layers. Bring along at least one warm jumper or fleece, but also pop in some T shirts! A pair of jeans will see you through more days on Skye than a skirt (unless it's a kilt!)