The Orchids is located in Colbost, on the north-west peninsula of the Isle of Skye. Skye is connected to the mainland via the Skye Bridge although it is still possible to reach the island by ferry. The house is around an hour’s drive from the Skye Bridge along excellent scenic roads.
Connecting with the Isle of Skye will take you through the majestic Scottish Highlands. The scenery around every corner will astound you, as you wind your way alongside lochs and through glens, surrounded by high peaks and ever-changing landscapes. Whatever the weather or the time of year, this stunning journey is all part of the wider travel experience, a feast of colour and contrast. There is no need to rush as you make your way to find us!
The easiest way to reach the Isle of Skye is via the Skye Bridge, part of the A87. It is a 2 hour drive from Inverness (the closest airport). The route takes you along some of the most stunning scenery and some of the best roads in the UK. Car hire is reasonably inexpensive at Inverness airport with services offered by all major operators. It is about 4 hours from Glasgow and about 5 hours from Edinburgh. It takes about 12 hours to drive from London.
You can travel to Fort William or the Kyle of Lochalsh on the rail network, which includes an overnight sleeper service from London Euston. In Fort William you can catch the Jacobite steam train (made famous by the Harry Potter films) to Mallaig – a truly stunning way to reach Skye.
Inverness airport is a 2 hour drive along some of the most exhilarating roads in the United Kingdom. Inverness is served by several UK airports including London Gatwick, London Luton, Southampton, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham and Jersey. You can also fly to Glasgow or Edinburgh airports although the drive is longer at 4 hours and 5 hours respectively.
Car ferries cross from the port of Mallaig to Armadale at the southern end of Skye, This service is limited during winter months and often very busy during the summer, when pre-booking is advisable.
Perhaps the most beautiful way to reach Skye is over the Kylerhea Straits on the community owned and operated turn table Skye Ferry which runs between Easter and October. This stretch of water is the shortest distance from the Isle of Skye to the mainland and was in centuries past used by cattle drovers to swim their cattle across.