Sligachan

Sligachan (Gaelic: Sligeachan) is a tiny settlement on Skye, at the head of the sea inlet Loch Sligachan. It's just a road junction with some accommodation, often used as a base for climbing the Cuillin. The main road across Skye, A87, runs up from Broadford to Sconser (Sgonnsair) then follows the bank of the loch west to Sligachan. From there it heads north to Portree, while A863 crosses the lonely hills towards Carbost.

Sligeachan means a shellfishing place, same as Sligo in Ireland. This is still a local industry and the absence of pollution means the waters are ranked as Category A, the shellfish can go straight to market without depuration.

Old bridge in winter

Most visitors arrive by car along A87 across the bridge to Kyleakin. You can also take the ferry from Mallaig to Armadale. The routes meet at Broadford and continue to Sligachan and Portree.

By bus: Citylink Bus 914 / 915 runs twice daily from Glasgow via the airport, Fort William, Kyle of Lochalsh, then over the Skye Bridge to Broadford, Sconser and Sligachan; about 7 hours. These buses continue to Portree and Uig ferry terminal.

Bus 916 / 917 runs twice daily from Inverness via Loch Ness, the Skye Bridge and Broadford to Sconser, Sligachan (3 hr 30 min) and Portree; these buses don't extend to Uig.

Stagecoach Highlands Bus 51 / 52 runs from the ferry pier at Armadale to Broadford, Sconser, Sligachan and Portree 3 or 4 times daily.

🌍 Sconser pier has Calmac car ferries to Raasay year-round, M-Sa roughly hourly and 3 on Sunday. There's no other transport to and from that island so you have to return the same way. There's free parking at the pier, plus a small waiting room with toilets.

Sligachan and Sconser are 3 miles apart. It's an easy bike ride but not much fun to walk: there's no sidewalk along the main road, the midges are waiting in ambush, and it'll probably rain.

• Sligachan Old Bridge is the compulsory photo shot: it was built 1810-18 by Thomas Telford. Pedestrians and cyclists may cross it, while vehicles use the adjacent A87 bridge.
• Collie and Mackenzie sculpture by the bridge commemorates the two 19th-century mountaineers who pioneered many of the climbing routes on Skye.
• The waterfalls are 300 yards upstream from the bridge, a cascade not a clean drop. They frame great views of the mountains.

• Hiking and mountaineering: trails lead south into the hills, for peaks such as Sgurr nan Gillean and Marsco, and all the way south to Camasunary and Loch Coruisk - you'll need to camp to go that far. Before leaving Sligachan, note the memorial garden to those that didn't come back.

• 🌍 Isle Of Skye Golf Club, Sconser IV48 8TD (200 yards south of Sconser Lodge), ☏ +44 1478 650465. Nine-hole course, with alternative tees so you can play 18, spectacular views. Booking recommended in summer. Nine holes £25, 18 holes £35. (updated Jun 2024)

Stock up before you arrive, there's nothing here. There's a small Co-op in Broadford south, and two in Portree north.

• Sligachan Hotel and Sconser Lodge, see "Sleep".
• The Noost is a small takeaway at Sconser ferry pier, open M-Sa 10AM-4PM.

Before 1818 you had to ford the river

• Seumas' Bar within Sligachan Hotel is open W-Su noon-11PM.
• Cuillin Brewery is within the hotel. No tours, the shop is open daily 10AM-6PM.
• See Carbost for Talisker distillery 8 miles west.
• See Raasay for its distillery, a short walk from the island ferry pier.

• 🌍 Sligachan Camping, ☏ +44 7551 820022. Camping and caravan site open April-Sep. You can and should book your hard-standing site; no bookings for grass pitches, just turn up. 2-person tent £25, hook-up £35. (updated Jun 2024)
• 🌍 Sligachan Hotel, Sligachan IV47 8SW, ☏ +44 1478 650204. Small welcoming hotel, good base for climbers and walkers. Accommodation and food are pricey for what you get. B&B double £250. (updated Jun 2024)
• 🌍 Sconser Lodge, Sconser IV48 8TD, ☏ +44 1478 650333, skye@sconserlodge.co.uk. Small welcoming hotel in a Victorian hunting lodge. No single rooms, no dogs. Restaurant is open to non-residents. B&B double £200. (updated Jun 2024)

Sligachan, Sconser and A87 have 4G from all UK carriers. As of June 2024, 5G has not reached this area.

• South to Broadford then stay on A87 to cross the bridge and return to the mainland, or branch south to Armadale for the castle gardens and ferry to Mallaig.
• Raasay is reached by ferry from Sconser. It's a long island so bring wheels.
• North to Portree to reach the scenic Trotternish peninsula, and Uig for ferries to the Outer Hebrides.
• A863 west leads to Carbost for the Talisker distillery, then winds up the coast to Dunvegan.