Armadale (Skye)

Armadale (Gaelic: Armadal) is the ferry port and main village of Sleat peninsula, the gently rolling southern part of the Isle of Skye. To the south it merges with Ardvasar (Gaelic: Àird a’ Bhàsair), and a lane continues to dead-end at Aird of Sleat. The main road A851 follows the coast north, with a straggle of accommodation and amenities, notably at Saasaig and Isleornsay. Points north of there are described under Broadford.

Get in

1 Armadale pier is the landing point for Calmac ferries from Mallaig on the Scottish mainland. They take 45 min and sail daily, Apr-Oct every hour or two 8AM-6PM but only 2 or 3 per day Nov-March. Until end of March 2025 return fares are £23.30 per car, £7 per adult including driver, and £3.50 per child aged 5-15. This was the usual route to Skye before the bridge opened, and it's still a good route if you want to take the Road to the Isles via Glenfinnan. But don't come this way on a whim or because Satnav has misdirected you to Mallaig instead of the bridge - you could face a long wait for a ferry space if you haven't booked.

Stagecoach Bus 52 runs 3 or 4 times daily from Armadale pier (connecting with the ferries) to Broadford, Sligachan and Portree. In Broadford it connects M-F with Bus 50 to Kyleakin and Kyle of Lochalsh bus and railway stations.

By car you follow A851 the same road as the bus, joining A87 the main cross-island road at Broadford.

Get around

It's a short walk between the pier, the two villages and Armadale Castle, but you need wheels to get elsewhere around Sleat.

Car rental is available from Drive Skye.

See

• 1 Armadale Castle Gardens, Armadale, Sleat IV45 8RS, ☏ +44 1471 844305. Apr-Oct daily 9:30AM-5PM. This was a mansion built in 1790 and extended in 1815 as the seat of Clan Macdonald of Sleat. It suffered a fire in 1855, was part rebuilt but unaffordable, and abandoned in 1925. The ruin is unsafe and you can't go in, but it's surrounded by gardens and arboretum. The Museum of the Isles covers the area's extensive history. Adult £14, conc £12, child £8. (updated Jun 2024)
• Views from the village and pier towards the mainland are attractive.
• 2 Dunscaith Castle is ten miles north of Armadale, take the lane west to Tokavaig then hike. It's a fragmentary medieval ruin on an outcrop of rock on the wild west coast of the Sleat Peninsula. A drawbridge once connected the outcrop to the mainland; you can still scramble across or climb from the beach, but both ways are hazardous, only nettles await you, and the views are just as good from shore.
• 3 Point of Sleat is reached by driving south to the end of the public road at Aird of Sleat, then it's a clear (though occasionally rough or boggy) 3-mile trail to the Point, crossing the beach at Camas Daraich. The lighthouse is just a small metal gantry, you come for the views towards the Small Isles (which are inhabited, and reached by ferry from Mallaig).

Do

The ferry from Mallaig

• Wildlife: always be looking out for it, including on the ferry.
• South Skye Sea Kayak organise tours and tuition. They're at Kilmore 4 miles north of Armadale.
• Gaelic culture: Sabhal Mòr Ostaig a mile north of the castle teaches degree-level courses solely in Gaelic. They have residential shorter courses for learners, but it's not the place for beginners. However look out for music and other cultural events that even a Sassenach can nod along with.

Buy

• Armadale Stores and Post Office is open M-F 8AM-5:30PM, Sa 8AM-3:30PM.
• Craft shops and galleries near the pier are Nigel Grounds, Under the Rowan, Maggie Zefara, Ragamuffin Store, Skyelark / Grumpy George, Julia Christie, Scouting for Buoys and Patricia Shone Ceramics. Aird Old Church Gallery is at Aird, at the end of the public road south.

Eat

• The Shed, Armadale Pier IV45 8RS, ☏ +44 1471 844222. M-Sa 9AM-5PM. Small cafe with indoor and outdoor tables, right by the ferry landing. (updated Jun 2024)
• Stables cafe at the entrance to Armadale Castle is open daily 10AM-4PM.

Drink

Dunscaith Castle

• The Inn is the only public bar in Armadale. Gasta by the castle entrance has closed.
• Torabhaig make whisky four miles north of Armadale. Tours available May-Oct, adult £15. Shop hours are M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su 10AM-3PM.
• Gaelic Whisky at Isleornsay sells niche blended whisky and gin. They blether on about Skye tradition but are coy about where the stuff's made.

Sleep

• Armadale Castle (above) has self-catering lodges and suites.
• 1 The Inn at Àird a' Bhàsair, Ardvasar IV45 8RS, ☏ +44 1471 844223. Cosy inn with restaurant, owned by Eilean Iarmain Hotel at Isleornsay. Dogs welcome (£15 per stay) in rooms and bar but not restaurant. B&B double £200. (updated Jun 2024)
• B&Bs cluster south of the ferry pier, and include Knoydart, Homeleigh, Bracken Brae andMorar, and Vinahus up the hill. There's nothing further south down the dead-end lane to Aird of Sleat.
• 2 Flora Macdonald Hostel, 3 Kilmore, Teangue IV44 8RG, ☏ +44 7503 196227. Self-catering hostel with rooms for two, three, four, six and ten people. No local amenities so bring supplies. They can pick you up from the ferry with advance notice. Dorm bunk £24, double room £60, cash only. (updated Jun 2024)

Isleornsay

• 3 Toravaig House Hotel, Manse of Sleat IV44 8RE, ☏ +44 1470 373737. Clean welcoming small hotel 4 miles north of ferry pier. B&B double £350. (updated Jun 2024)
• Saasaig village has self-catering cottages.
• South Skye Motorhome Park has five hard-standing pitches but no camping area. It's south edge of Isleornsay and open all year.
• Off the Hill is a B&B at Duisdale Beag, by the turn-off for Hotel Eilean Iarmain.
• 4 Hotel Eilean Iarmain, Isleornsay IV43 8QR, ☏ +44 1471 833332. Upmarket hotel looking onto island of Ornsay, with fine dining or bar meals. Dogs permitted in several rooms. B&B double £300. (updated Jun 2024)
• 5 Duisdale House Hotel, Isleornsay IV43 8QW, ☏ +44 1470 373737. Charming stylish hotel in a Victorian mansion. Dogs permitted in several rooms. B&B double £400. (updated Jun 2024)
• Skye Yurts are 100 yards south of Duisdale House.
• See Broadford for Kinloch Lodge just across the bay.

Connect

As of June 2024, Armadale and A851 towards Broadford have 4G from O2 and Vodafone but a very poor signal from EE or Three. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

• The road north leads you to Broadford. From there you could return to the mainland on A87 via Kyleakin, the Skye Bridge and Kyle of Lochalsh, or continue north to the most scenic part of Skye beyond Portree.
• Or take the ferry to Mallaig on the mainland to reach the Small Isles, Glenfinnan and the Ardnamurchan peninsula.