Edinburgh to Isle of Skye, Scotland: An Amazing 2 Day Road Trip

Updated: September 19, 2026

The awe-inspiring Isle of Skye lies along Scotland’s northwest coast. It’s an island filled with rich natural beauty and roaming wildlife, including the magnificent Highland hairy coos (featured image), and it’s absolutely worth visiting.

After learning that the island is only a 5-6 hour drive from Edinburgh, I quickly added the road trip to our Scotland itinerary. When you’re from the States, 5 hours doesn’t seem like a lot. I always try to include a bit of nature when visiting a new country, but I had no idea the scenes I was in for. With that, I’ll share a few tips and too many pictures to inspire your Isle of Skye road trip.

Edinburgh to the Isle of Skye

When leaving Edinburgh, you can choose a few routes, but they all lead to the same bridge connecting to the island. We went with the fastest, most direct route highlighted here because we wanted to arrive before dark. We rented our car from Alamo near the Waverley train station and had a good experience from pickup to drop-off.

Planning to drive to Skye? I’d recommend comparing rental-car prices before booking, especially if you’re picking up in Edinburgh and returning somewhere else. Compare rental cars in Scotland from multiple companies in one place.

While in Scotland (and all of the U.K.), you’ll need to drive on the left side of the road. It sounds more challenging than it is if you’re from a right-driving country. But I promise the drive from Edinburgh to the Isle of Skye is easy as long as you remember to stay in the correct lane.

Driving might get more challenging once you arrive on the island. Some roads are narrower than others, but they’re still two-way roads. Traffic is minimal, though, so it’s not hard to manage. Remember that animals are constantly roaming, so be extra careful when driving to respect their space. 

The majority of the roads we were on were paved. But once you go deeper into Skye, you may encounter some dirt roads and no street lights. So I wouldn’t recommend too much night driving. We did it once, trying to find our way back to our bed and breakfast, and it was pretty stressful.

If you’re starting your trip in Edinburgh, check out my 3-day Edinburgh itinerary for ideas on how to spend your time in the city before heading north to Skye.

If you have more time than we did, there are some fascinating stops along the way, including Glasgow, national parks, gorgeous lakes, and maybe even a Loch Ness monster. The Scottish Highlands are another bucket list addition you can combine with the Isle of Skye.

The best time to visit seems to be May to September, with peak tourism in summer.

We visited in September, and the weather was unpredictable. It’d be sunny for one minute, then dark clouds, a short rain shower and back to sunny skies. It didn’t complicate driving; it just made it hard to take consistent photos because the lighting kept changing.

Bed and Breakfast Isle of Skye

Carter’s Rest is located in the middle of nowhere (Upper Milovaig), Skye. This bed and breakfast offered happy animals every day (backyard, front yard, side yard), made-to-order breakfast, a quiet you can’t find in a big city, and breathtaking views.

The B&B is that white house below. Notice the sheep in the back and the cow near the driveway?

Update: I’m confused about what happened to Carter’s Rest, but I believe they sold the building and now it’s running under Emma’s. The link will lead you to the same house, but with a different name and hosts. However, reviews still make it seem like a great place to stay.

One of my favorite memories was looking out my room’s window and seeing all the sheep roaming, grazing, and butt-scratching on the rocks. The following day, I checked on the sheep again (can you tell I’ve always lived in a big city?), and they were all replaced by cows! I couldn’t stop laughing and wondering who the heck swapped out my animals.

If you’re looking for something less secluded, Portree, the capital town, is a popular base for exploring the island. Portree is the easier choice if you want restaurants, shops, and a central base for exploring Skye. Browse hotels in Portree and compare prices before your trip. It might not be as picturesque as Carter’s Rest, but if you want easy access, book your stay in Portree. 

Isle of Skye Road Trip

We had 2 nights at the B&B but only 1.3 days to explore the island. Again, this is not enough time. But we still managed to see some incredible things along this scenic drive that are still some of our favorite travel memories to date. If you plan well, you’ll be able to see many of these stops, and possibly more if you’re a super early riser.

We made a simple loop following road A87; I’ll share the route here. It’s a 3-hour trip, but it took us the entire day with all the stops and dinner.

Not comfortable driving in Scotland? You can also explore Skye with a guided tour from Portree, which takes the driving and navigation off your plate while still covering many of the island’s major sights.

Speaking of dinner, don’t miss the best fish and chips ever served at The Old School Restaurant. Reservations are recommended.

NEIST POINT LIGHTHOUSE | If you’re staying at Carter’s Rest, this famous lighthouse is only a 9-minute drive away. You can stop for a photo from afar, or, if you have more time, hike out to the lighthouse.

FAIRY GLEN | This unique landscape is an excellent place for photos and short hikes. Legend has it that Fairy Glen is home to the magical Skye fairies.

HAIRY COOS | I suggest you stop whenever you see these glorious creatures. The B&B owner shared that you can find hairy coos anywhere on the island. But for some strange reason, we went all day without seeing one. I was so sad that our drive was ending and no coo was to be found. Until we finally spotted the family below, and I shrieked for Jorge to stop the car.

KILT ROCK | Here, you’ll find impressive cliffs and a powerful waterfall. We caught a beautiful rainbow and a piper who added the perfect music to our entire Kilt Rock experience. This specific place reminds me of Ireland’s Cliffs of Moher minus the bagpipes.

LEALT FALLS | More viewpoints and magical falls. They also have picnic benches for you to enjoy the views while eating a quick lunch.

PORTREE HARBOR | As mentioned, Portree is the island’s capital and a popular base for many. I was attracted to the colorful architecture and the serene views. If you’d rather have lunch at a restaurant, you’ll surely find a spot in this town.

THE OLD MAN OF STORR | This is a stop we didn’t have time for, but would have loved to see. You need to hike up to this large pillar of rock, but it’ll offer you some fantastic views over Skye once you’re there.

FAIRY POOLS | Located at the foot of the Cuillin mountains, these crystal-clear pools attract many visitors. Some go for a swim, and others just for the photos.

DISTILLERIES | If you’re not the designated driver and love whisky, stop at one of the Skye distilleries. The most popular one is the Talisker Distillery, followed by Torabhaig.

If you want to experience more of Skye without planning every stop yourself, consider a guided day trip. Guided day trips combine several of these sights, which can be a good option if you don’t want to drive.

This ram below was a little suspicious. After I took the photo, he wouldn’t stop staring. He looked ready to get his ram on.

It’s pretty idyllic, don’t you think?

Isle of Skye Tours

If a self-driving trip to the island feels overwhelming, you can also explore Skye with a guided tour. This can be especially helpful if you’re nervous about driving on the left, don’t want to deal with narrow roads, or simply want someone else to handle the logistics. I know everyone is coming from different bases, so I’m linking a few main ones below. 

→From Inverness to Skye, check out this best-rated tour here.
→From Edinburgh to Skye, this is a good one.
→From Glasgow to Skye, this tour covers multiple highlights.

If you’re staying in Portree, this Isle of Skye day tour from Portree is an easy way to see several of the island’s major sights without renting a car or planning the route yourself. It includes stops such as the Fairy Pools and Kilt Rock. It’s currently the #1 most-booked Portree tour.

Prefer to drive yourself? I’d still recommend booking your rental car ahead of time, especially during the busier summer months.

Staying Connected on a Scotland Road Trip

Since you’ll be driving through some pretty remote parts of Scotland, I like having mobile data available for navigation and checking directions. I use Airalo, a digital eSIM that lets you set up data before your trip without buying a physical SIM once you arrive.

It’s usually cheaper than roaming and way more reliable. I’ve used it across multiple trips, and it just works. → Check Airalo plans for the UK.

Quick note: Your phone needs to be unlocked (paid off) to use an eSIM.

What I Actually Used on This Scotland Road Trip

I don’t pack a ton of travel gear, but these three things came in especially handy on this trip:

• Packing cubes → My carry-on lifesaver, plus excellent quality
• Camera case → For long walking days
• Sony a6000 camera → Lightweight, beginner-friendly
• Compact tripod → For photos without asking strangers

That little taste made me want to plan a 2-week road trip through the Scottish Highlands. We aren’t done with the U.K. I can’t wait to be back and experience more of this natural beauty.

VISITING THE UK? HERE ARE SOME HELPFUL GUIDES

• 3 Perfect Days in Edinburgh Itinerary
• Your Complete Guide to London
• Cotswolds Villages: 5 Places You Must Visit

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