Isle of Skye private coach tour from Glasgow
Ritaat Coaches runs private coach and minibus tours from Glasgow to the Isle of Skye for your own group, with a driver. Portree is about 216 miles and 5 hours from Glasgow by car each way, which is more than a coach driver’s daily driving limit for a there-and-back day, so we plan Skye as two days or more. You choose the stops and the pace.
The journey at a glance
| Leg | Distance and time |
|---|---|
| Glasgow to Kyle of Lochalsh (Skye Bridge) | About 182 miles, about 4 hours by car |
| Kyle of Lochalsh to Portree | About 35 miles, about 50 minutes by car |
| Glasgow to Portree | About 216 miles, about 5 hours by car |
| Glasgow, Portree, Glasgow | About 433 miles, about 10 hours of driving by car, before stops |
A sample plan
A sample two-day plan. We agree the real route, stops and overnight with you.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Pick-up in Glasgow, or at your Highland base; drive to Skye over the bridge |
| Day 1 evening | Overnight on Skye or on the mainland nearby |
| Day 2 | A circuit of the island with photo and comfort stops agreed beforehand |
| Day 2 end | Return, or onward transfer to your hotel |
Stops and coach access
Why two days. A coach driver may drive up to 9 hours a day, or 10 hours twice a week. Glasgow to Portree and back is about 10 hours of driving at car speed before a single stop, and a coach is slower, so we do not sell it as a day trip. If your group is already based in the Highlands, for example at Fort William or Inverness, a Skye day from there can work: tell us the base.
Skye Bridge links Kyle of Lochalsh to the island and is free to cross. It opened in 1995, and the tolls ended in 2004.
The Cuillin mountains, sea lochs and island villages can be the focus of the island day; we agree the stops and the time at each with you.
Which vehicle
Our own vehicles are a Mercedes Sprinter minibus (16 seats), a Volvo B8R coach (38 seats) and a Mercedes Tourismo coach (53 seats). A partner operator supplies other sizes, such as a midi coach, and extra vehicles for larger groups. Our own vehicles are wheelchair accessible: tell us when you book. Your written quote names the exact vehicle.
What it costs
You pay for the vehicle and driver, not per seat. Our 53-seat coach is from £1,200 a day, or from £1,500 in peak season. A day is up to 10 hours, and extra hours may be charged. A quote includes fuel, mileage, the driver, tolls, standard parking, waiting time during the hire, bottled water and Wi-Fi. It does not include attraction tickets, passengers’ food or gratuity. Ferries and coach-park charges at venues are shown on the quote at cost. See the price guide for how prices are built.
Frequently asked questions
Can we do the Isle of Skye in one day from Glasgow?
Not as a normal there-and-back day. Portree is about 216 miles each way, roughly 10 hours of driving there and back at car speed, which already reaches a coach driver’s 10-hour limit. We plan it as two days or more, or as a day from a Highland base.
Is there a toll on the Skye Bridge?
No. The Skye Bridge is free to cross and the tolls ended in 2004.
Who pays for the driver’s overnight stay on a Skye trip?
On multi-day trips the driver’s accommodation and meals are charged separately and shown on your written quote. Attraction tickets and passengers’ food are not part of the coach quote.
Book your Isle of Skye tour
Tell us the date, your pick-up point, the group size and where you would like to stop. We send a written quote that says which vehicle you get.
Related: All private tours from Glasgow · Glenfinnan and the west coast · Coach hire in Glasgow · Minibus hire in Glasgow · Minibus or coach?