Getting to the Skye Trail: Inverness, Buses & Rubha Hunish

The Skye Trail is point-to-point — you start at Rubha Hunish (north) and finish near Broadford (south). There's no loop, so transport planning matters as much as the walking.

Also read: Complete Guide · Itinerary · Cost guide

Route overview

Inverness (INV airport)
    → bus ~3.5 h → Portree
    → bus / car / taxi → Rubha Hunish (trail start)
    → 5–6 days hiking → Broadford (finish)
    → bus → Inverness (or continue south)

Flying in

Inverness Airport (INV) — Lee flew direct from Amsterdam for a long weekend + trail days.

Alternatives:

• Glasgow / Edinburgh — longer train or bus to Skye
• Kyle of Lochalsh — closer to Skye Bridge; fewer flights

Inverness → Portree

Option	Duration	Cost (approx.)
Citylink / Scottish Citylink bus	~3.5 h	£20–25
Car hire	~2.5 h to Skye Bridge + drive	£30–50/day

Lee took the bus from Inverness bus station — scenery through lochs and castles.

Pre-night: Stay Inverness hostel; repack for early bus.

Portree → Rubha Hunish (trailhead)

Rubha Hunish is remote — not on a main bus route.

Mode	Notes
Car	Most flexible; park near Kilmaluag, walk to red phone box start
Bus + walk	Portree → Uig area buses; 2–3 mile walk from Kilmaluag
Taxi	Pre-book from Portree/Uig; split in groups
Shuttle	Seasonal local operators — check ahead

Lee: Portree → school bus station → bus toward trailhead → red telephone booth start marker.

Lee's Day 1 transport chain

1. Inverness hostel breakfast
2. Bus to Portree (3.5 h)
3. Fish & chips lunch
4. Local bus toward Rubha Hunish
5. Hike Day 1 to Flodigarry hostel

Finishing at Broadford

Broadford has bus connections back to Inverness and across Skye.

Return option	Notes
Bus to Inverness	Simplest if you flew INV
Bus to Kyle / Glasgow	If continuing Scotland trip
Car pick-up	If you staged a vehicle

Plan return transport before you start — tired legs don't need logistics stress.

Car vs public transport

	Car	Bus
Trailhead access	Easy Rubha Hunish	More walking / taxi
Cost	Hire + fuel + parking	Cheaper
Solo hiker	Expensive alone	Workable
Finish	Need pick-up or bus back to car	Straightforward

Skye Bridge & ferries

Most arrivals cross Skye Bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh. Armadale ferry from Mallaig is an alternative if coming from the west coast.

Check current timetables — rural services reduce in winter.

First-night checklist (Inverness / Portree)

• Download offline Skye Trail GPX
• Check 48-hour weather — ridge days need windows
• Confirm bus times (limited Sunday services)
• Buy gas canister in Portree if needed
• Book Flodigarry / Portree hostels for backup nights

Related planning

• Itinerary — Day 1 coastal stage
• Navigation — unmarked start from Rubha Hunish
• Accommodation — Inverness + Broadford nights
• Trek overview