6-day Skye via Glenfinnan
Follow the west coast through Glencoe and Glenfinnan, then take the booked Mallaig ferry to Skye. One main island walk leaves room for coffee, parking and the mainland transfer before handback.
Planning estimates, rounded for a return loop from Renfrew. Moving time assumes roughly 32 mph overall on mixed Scottish roads and excludes sightseeing, traffic, stops and ferries. Fuel illustration assumes 34 imperial mpg and £1.55 per litre of diesel; actual consumption and pump prices vary. The average hides longer transfer days. Check each leg in a live route planner before booking.
How this trip works
The Mallaig–Armadale leg requires a booked vehicle ferry. For noon handback on day six, leave Skye on day five and stay on the mainland; add a night for a full Trotternish day.
Break the A82 drive at The Real Food Café in Tyndrum. Keep the Glencoe visitor centre for a wet-weather afternoon.
Your route at a glance
Pink markers show the itinerary’s day areas. Tap a marker for its name, or open the stops in Google Maps. Ferry crossings and road journeys need separate checks for your travel dates.
- Renfrew — collection / return
- Day 1: Loch Lomond
- Day 2: Glencoe
- Day 3: Glenfinnan and Mallaig
- Day 4: South Skye
- Day 5: Portree and Trotternish
Day 1: Loch LomondView day +
Collection: Allow for the 14:00 handover in Renfrew before starting this day. Choose an evening stop that fits the campsite’s check-in time.
Start with Luss’s cottages, pier and lochshore, rather than trying to cover both sides of the loch. Park in a signed visitor car park and leave the village lanes for walking.
Make it work: For the short weekend, Balloch Country Park gives you a final-morning walk close to the return journey.
Day 2: GlencoeView day +
Follow the A82 across Rannoch Moor and stop at the Three Sisters viewpoint only when there is a safe space. Make Glencoe your base; the visitor centre is a useful alternative when hill weather is poor.
Make it work: Choose a low-level outing in poor weather. Glen Etive is a narrow dead-end detour, not a quick alternative through-route.
Day 3: Glenfinnan and MallaigView day +
Make Glenfinnan’s viaduct and loch your main stop before following the Road to the Isles. Check train operation and timing directly if seeing a train is the reason for the stop.
Make it work: Book Mallaig–Armadale vehicle space with CalMac. Use the A87 bridge approach as the alternative, allowing for the extra drive.
Day 4: South SkyeView day +
Start with the south of the island or one open Cuillin-side walk. Keep the weather and road conditions in charge of your choice; save Trotternish for its own day.
Make it work: Carbost and Portree are separate legs; choose the café detour only when it fits the day.
Day 5: Portree and TrotternishView day +
Choose one main Trotternish outing: the Storr or a Quiraing walk in suitable conditions. Leave time for parking and walking; complete the full loop only if you have the daylight.
Make it work: A noon return from Portree needs a very early departure. Prefer a mainland final night or add a day.
Final-night plan: Finish the outing early enough to move south. Use a booked Glencoe or Loch Lomond pitch. This transfer is part of today’s driving; extend the hire if you want to stay here tonight.
Day 6: Return to RenfrewView day +
Today is the return journey, with standard handback by 12 noon. Check live traffic, allow time to refuel and arrive at the agreed return point. Optional sightseeing and cafés come after the return only, unless a later handback has been agreed.
Food: Breakfast in the van before leaving your final pitch keeps the morning flexible. Sleeping: No overnight pitch is included for this final hire day; book an additional night if extending.
Castles, wellness and rainy-day ideas
Pick one local castle, guided activity or indoor pool as a weather backup, and verify that it is open on your travel dates. Treat these as optional detours, not booked inclusions. Some facilities restrict non-resident access and require advance reservation.
A glimpse of the places
Photo: Malcolm Lightbody · Unsplash. Displayed at reduced size.
Photo: Reuben Teo · Unsplash. Displayed at reduced size.
Before you book
Reserve a suitable campervan pitch and check seasonal opening, local parking restrictions, vehicle ferry capacity where applicable and attraction opening times. Road and weather conditions can change quickly. Scotland’s access rights do not give vehicles a general right to stay overnight anywhere.
Compare all trip lengths and destinations · Check Wee Coo availability