RailTrails

Isle of Skye by Train and Ferry

The Isle of Skye is reached by train two ways: to Kyle of Lochalsh, at the mainland end of the Skye Bridge, or to Mallaig, then a 30min crossing to Armadale.

Sgurr Alasdair, 992m, is the highest of Skye's 83 listed hills.

Sgùrr nan Gillean in the Cuillin, from Sligachan on Skye

Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to get to Skye by train

The train takes you to the ferry port, and the ferry carries foot passengers, so you can walk on with a rucksack and no car.

  • Train and CalMac ferry

    Train to Mallaig, 30min ferry to Armadale

    The ferry terminal is a short walk from the platform. Mallaig station

  • Train and bridge

    Train to Kyle of Lochalsh, by the Skye Bridge

    Kyle of Lochalsh station is at the mainland end of the Skye Bridge, which carries the road across to the island. Kyle of Lochalsh station

Walking distances are estimates from the straight-line distance and the type of ground, not a measured route. Check a map before you set off.

Train times to the ferry from Glasgow, Edinburgh and more

The quickest train from each city to the ferry port. Then add the crossing: 30min from Mallaig.

FromTo MallaigTo Kyle of Lochalsh
Glasgow5hr 21min6hr 19min
Stirling6hr 4min6hr 5min
Edinburgh6hr 27min6hr 44min
Lancaster7hr 50min9hr
Newcastle8hr 10min8hr 39min
Durham8hr 27min8hr 53min

Hills you can walk to from the ferry

One listed hill lies within 3 miles of the Armadale terminal as the crow flies, so you can start walking straight off the ferry.

Hills on Skye

Skye has 83 listed hills, including 12 Munros and 48 Marilyns. Sgurr Alasdair is the highest at 992m.

Munros on Skye

Marilyns on Skye

Protected places on Skye

Protected places that lie mostly on Skye, each with its own page.

National Scenic Areas

Wild Land Areas

Can you visit Skye without a car?

Yes. The ferries carry foot passengers, so you can arrive with a rucksack and no car. One listed hill starts within 3 miles of the terminal. We don't list island buses, so for anywhere further from the ferry, check local transport before you travel.

More Scottish islands by train and ferry

Also by train and ferry: English, Welsh and Manx islands.

Check sailings with CalMac before you travel: some run less often in winter, and all depend on the weather. Crossing times are from the operators' current timetables and vary by sailing. Train times are the quickest in our journey-time data; check the live timetable for the day you travel.