Driving on Skye

[PeteB62]

Plan to visit Skye in May next year. I know some of the roads are single track but done that before OK in Scotland. What I wanted to know was quality of roads and if I should take Aston or 4x4?

[rovcallum]

I was on Skye on Tuesday/Wednesday this week in my old Landy, thinking the roads would be full of potholes.
I drove from the bridge up to Uig at the north end and the quality of roads took me by surprise - very smooth, good surfaces.
If it'd been the summer, I'd have taken the V8V.

I'd go as far to say the roads are better on Skye than you'll find on some of the NC500 route, but the locals will hate me for saying that!

[divetheworld]

Loads of Euro money spent on those roads. Enjoy them while you can.

[RobDown]

divetheworld said:

Loads of Euro money spent on those roads. Enjoy them while you can.

This. Roads are very good quality as a general rule

[Dewi 2]

divetheworld said:

Loads of Euro money spent on those roads. Enjoy them while you can.

The Isle of Skye, what a beautiful place. Stunning and very dramatic scenery.
On my last visit, years ago, I can remember seeing metal display signs on several new bridges, "Funds provided by the European Union".

I would not be brave enough to drive my Vantage along their single track roads with passing places and stone walls, but the main routes are full width.

[David W.]

Been over a good deal of Scotland inc Skye, Mull and Outer Hebrides and many tiny glens to nowhere barely shown on a map. Havent found an undrivable road yet.
It’s a car, drive it and enjoy it.

[hornbaek]

Drove the Coastal 500 last summer. Unbelievable scenery and roads where ok so no reason not to take a proper car.

Edited by hornbaek on Saturday 1st December 16:10

[Brads67]

The best road on skye is the one leading away from it. Miserable place that is on my list of places never to bother my arse visiting again.

Stick to the rest of Scotland and actually enjoy your trip.

Edited by Brads67 on Sunday 2nd December 16:17

[RobDown]

Brads67 said:

The best road on skye is the one leasing away from it. Miserable place that is on my list of places never to bother my arse visiting again.

Stick to the rest of Scotland and actually enjoy your trip.

???

Skye is a beautiful part of Scotland. Been all over the country and across to the island a dozen times. What didn’t you like? Or are you just a miserable person full time?

[Brads67]

Absolutely not, but I`ve never been anywhere in Scotland where I was made to feel so unwelcome.

The locals are some of the most miserable people I`ve met. They want your money but would rather you just emptied your wallet then pissed of somewhere else.

So my opinion stands. There are hundreds of place as beautiful or even more so where the locals will make you feel welcome, so why bother with somewhere that doesn`t?.

[divetheworld]

I stayed at the Flodigarry. The housekeeper got caught removing a VERY expensive bottle of scotch from my room without consent. If you get my meaning!
Not on my return to list.

Edited by divetheworld on Sunday 2nd December 20:09

[JBE68]

I drove from London to Skye in February. While roads on Skye were fine, the A82 road from Glasgow was truly shocking and especially badly pot holed up the side of Loch Lomond. I was glad to be in a Discovery and not the RS6.

[Birdbrain]

Be careful of Red Deer lying in the road at night! They're a big lump of venison and I've seen a few cars damaged by hitting one. The roads hold their heat better at night than the surrounding countryside so they quite often lie in the roads at night.

[PeteB62]

Thanks for all feedback, plan to take the Aston now. Having done a bit more research looks like you can get most places I would like on A roads with only minor use of single lane roads. Looking for three nights in May so any recommendations welcome.