Broadford

Broadford (Gaelic: An t-Àth Leathann) is a village straggling along the main road across Skye in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. All island routes converge here so you're bound to pass through it. Its name refers to the "broad fjord" of the bay, not the river crossing, but historically it meant only the western settlement around that crossing: Harrapool, Sculamus and Breakish are the eastern extension of Broadford. The population in 2020 was 1170.

Get in

By road the usual route is to follow A87 across the toll-free bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh. Or you can take A830 "The Road to the Isles" to Mallaig, car ferry to Armadale, then A851 north to Broadford. Going back, an indicator board at the start of A851 shows the status of the ferry. In summer you must book your ferry space, as you face a long wait if you turn up at Armadale or Mallaig without a booking.

See Glenelg for the strange little ferry that plies across the eastern narrows in summer only, and it only fits six cars. (Historically it was for cattle-drovers, with their herds swimming alongside.) This lands you at Kylerhea, not really a village, just a hillside covered with stones and bracken. The lane from the pier crosses lonely moors to reach A87 east of Broadford by the airstrip.

By bus: Citylink Bus 915 runs twice daily from Glasgow Buchanan Station via Glasgow Airport, Dumbarton, Loch Lomond west bank, Crianlarich, Glencoe, Fort William and Invergarry, crossing the Skye Bridge to Kyleakin then onward to Broadford; about 6 hrs 30 min. It continues via Sligachan and Portree to Uig, for ferries to Tarbert on Harris and Lochmaddy on North Uist.

Citylink Bus 917 runs twice daily from Inverness via Loch Ness, taking 2 hr 30 min to Broadford then on to Sligachan and Portree.

Stagecoach Bus 52 runs 3 or 4 times daily from Armadale pier (connecting with the ferries) to Broadford, Sligachan and Portree.

Bus 55 runs three times M-F from Kyle of Lochalsh to Kyleakin and Broadford, with two continuing to Torrin and Elgol.

By train the nearest station is Kyle of Lochalsh, where trains from Inverness connect with the buses across Skye.

Get around

The village straggles, but you can walk around it, and to the start of the Beinn na Caillich ascent.

See

Kayaks in Broadford Bay

• Wildlife: along the shore, always be on the look-out for otters, seals and birds of prey.
• Pabay is the island a couple of miles out in the bay. Seeing it from shore is all you can do, as it's a private estate with no ferry, and the same for Scalpay a few miles northwest and linked to Skye by a causeway, not to be confused with Scalpay on Harris.
• Raasay is the island you can visit; the ferry sails from Sconser near Sligachan.
• See Elgol for Kilchrist ruined church and other sights along B8083 leading southwest.

Do

• 1 Beinn na Caillich : There are two mountains of this name on Skye, this one is the 732 m / 2402 ft summit behind Broadford, the first big peak you see on the road across Skye. The path ascends from Coirechatachan on A87 (Grid ref NG619227). It's a steep slog, with the path often lost under boulders. (Dr Johnson and Boswell thought about climbing it, but wimped out.) The slope is convex so you don't see the summit until the top. There's a very large summit cairn, said to be the burial place of a Norse princess. From here you can retrace your steps, or continue to the lower summits of Beinn Dearg Mhor and Beinn Dearg Beag then down to the road.
• Skye Guides lead rock-climbing and scrambling expeditions over the Cuillin, tailored to your ability.
• Kayaking is pleasant around this coast but bring your own, there's no local hire facility.

Buy

"This way back to the village!" "No, this way!"

• Broadford is your last chance to stock up if you're heading somewhere remote like Elgol or Raasay. There's a Co-op food store (daily 7AM-10PM) and a Post Office.
• Fuel: Asda Express filling station is open daily 6AM-10PM.
• Craft and gift shops scrummage around village centre. They include Love from Skye jewellery, Nook & Cranny, Sandbank Studio, Old Pier Gallery knitwear, Skye Gift Company, Skye Candles and Skyeline Ceramics.

Eat

• Cafe Sia, Ford Rd IV49 9AB, ☏ +44 1471 822616. Daily noon-9:30PM. Italian restaurant. Next door is Siaway takeaway, and further along is Siaway Fish & Chips. (updated Jun 2024)
• Siaway Fish & Chips, Shore Rd IV49 9AB (next to Broadford Hotel), ☏ +44 1471 822158. M-Sa 7AM-8:30PM, Su 2-8:30PM. Serving a range of fast food, including venison burgers and local scallops. Eat in or takeaway. (updated Jun 2024)
• Harbour Restaurant, Main St IV49 9AE (village centre), ☏ +44 1471 822687. W-Su 5:30-9:30PM. Spanish cuisine. (updated Jun 2024)
• Claymore, 5 Lower Harrapool IV49 9AQ (village centre). Apr-Oct Daily 5-9:30PM. Serving seafood. (updated Jun 2024)
• The Sprig serves trad Scots fare. It's opposite Claymore, open daily 4-10PM.
• 1 Red Skye Restaurant, The Old Schoolhouse, Breakish IV42 8PY (3 miles east of Broadford), ☏ +44 7949 531527. M-Sa noon-2:30PM, 5:30-9:30PM. Highland fare in a Victorian schoolhouse, earning great reviews. (updated Jun 2024)

Drink

View of Broadford Bay from Pabay

Broadford doesn't have a pub. Try the Hebridean Hotel, east edge of the village.

Sleep

• 1 Camping Skye, Pairc Nan Craobh IV49 9DF, ☏ +44 1471 550420. Campsite open April-Oct with showers, toilets, laundry and parking. Tent £14, hook-up £28. (updated Jun 2024)
• 2 Broadford Backpackers, High Rd IV49 9AW, ☏ +44 1471 820333. Inexpensive hostel near main road. Has a kitchen, dining room and separate lounge area. Cleanliness varies. Dorm bunk £33, private double £130. (updated Jun 2024)
• 3 Broadford Youth Hostel, High Road IV49 9AA, ☏ +44 1471 822442. Small comfy hostel open March-Oct. Bunk £2, double room £80. (updated Jun 2024)
• Village centre B&Bs include The Sheiling and Carrick.
• 4 Broadford Hotel, Torrin Road IV49 9AB, ☏ +44 1471 822204. Pleasant small hotel with restaurant and bar, pricy for what you get. B&B double £320. (updated Jun 2024)
• 5 Dunollie Hotel, Main St IV49 9AE, ☏ +44 1471 822253. Mid-village and mid-price with 84 rooms en suite. B&B double £160. (updated Jun 2024)
• Skye Basecamp Hostel is next to Dunollie Hotel. It's aimed at climbers, with guides based here.
• 6 Hebridean Inn, Harrapool IV49 9AQ, ☏ +44 1471 822486. Small hotel with restaurant and bar. Some street noise. (updated Jun 2024)
• Otter Lodge B&B is next to Hebridean Inn.
• Skulamus is the neighbourhood by the junction of A851 to Armadale. Scorrybreac B&B is west side of the junction and Taigh An Uillt is east side.
• Breakish is the settlement east towards the airfield. B&Bs are Strathgorm, Strathallan and Shiloh.
• 7 Kinloch Lodge, Sleat IV43 8QY (10 miles south of Broadford off A851), ☏ +44 1471 833333. Upmarket seven room lodge in quiet lochside setting. Open all year. B&B double £600. (updated Jun 2024)

Connect

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

Go next

• A lonely road B8083 winds west through the hills to dead-end at Elgol.
• A87 runs northwest to Sconser near Sligachan, for ferries to Raasay. It continues north to Portree and Uig, while a minor road branches off to Carbost, for the Talisker distillery.
• A851 runs south to Armadale, for ferries to Mallaig on the mainland.
• The usual route back to the mainland is A87 east via Kyleakin and over the bridge. You'll pass picturesque Eilean Donan castle near Dornie.

Routes through Broadford

Portree ←

W  S

→ Kyleakin → Kyle of Lochalsh