Kyleakin (Gaelic: Caol Àcain) is a village on the island of Skye, traditionally a ferry port. It has become quieter since the Skye Bridge replaced the ferry from the mainland, but is an attractive small place worth a stop. In 2011 the population was around 300.
Get in
By train: two trains run daily from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh just across the bridge, taking 2 hr 40 min. Their stops include Dingwall, Achnasheen, Stromeferry and Plockton. Buses to Skye connect with these trains.
By bus: Scottish Citylink Bus 915 runs twice daily between Glasgow and Skye. The route north is from Buchanan St Station via Glasgow Airport, Dumbarton, Loch Lomond west bank, Crianlarich, Glencoe, Fort William and Invergarry taking six hours to Kyleakin. The route continues across Skye via Broadford, Sligachan and Portree to Uig, for ferries to Tarbert on Harris and Lochmaddy on North Uist.
Scottish Citylink Bus 917 runs twice daily from Inverness via Loch Ness, taking two hours to Kyleakin then onward to Portree as above.
Stagecoach Highlands Bus 55 runs three times M-F from Kyle of Lochalsh to Kyleakin and Broadford, with two continuing to Torrin and Elgol.
By road: follow A87 across the toll-free bridge.
Get around
Kyleakin is small enough to walk around. Car hire is available in Kyle of Lochalsh.
See
- Castle Moil (Caisteal Maol), 57.271944°, -5.720833°. Always open. Scrappy ruins of a 15th-century castle, you come for the stroll and views over the straits. Free 2019-04-15
- Skye Bridge, 57.2796°, -5.7385°. See Kyle of Lochalsh for the story of this bridge. There's a sidewalk so you can walk or cycle across. Midway is Eilean Bàn, with the Gavin Maxwell Cottage and lighthouse - see Brightwater visitor centre for tours. Free 2019-04-15
Do
- Brightwater visitor centre organises tours of Eilean Bàn. They're on The Pier, open M-F 10:00-16:00.
- Seaprobe Atlantis run boat trips Easter to October.
Buy
There's a convenience store-cum-gift shop next to Castle Moil Restaurant.
Eat
- Taste of India, main road, Kyleakin, 57.271427°, -5.748296°, +44 1599 534134. Daily 17:00-22:30. Traditional Indian cuisine. 2019-04-15
- Castle Moil Restaurant on South Obbe Rd is open M-F 11:00-20:30, Sa Su 11:00-23:00.
- Saucy Mary's Lodge: see Sleep
- Harry's Coffee Shop on Pier Rd is open daily 10:00-16:00.
Drink
- King Haakon Bar is behind Castle Moil Restaurant.
Sleep
- White Heather Hotel (Am Fraoch Geal), The Harbour, Kyleakin, IV41 8PL, 57.27334°, -5.72612°, +44 1599 534577. Small, basic hotel, open Apr-Oct with views over the straits. B&B double from £80 2019-04-15
- MacKinnon Hotel at the A87 roundabout changed owners in 2021 and is being converted into a B&B, with re-opening date tba.
- Cliffe House, The Pier IV41 8PL, +44 1599 534577. Sea-front B&B. B&B double from £95 2019-04-15
- Saucy Mary's Lodge on Main Street has an 86-bed hostel plus 11 en suite private rooms.
- Skye Backpackers, +44 1599 534510. Has 5 dorm rooms, 2 twins, 1 double room and one family room that sleeps 4. Dorm £20 ppn 2019-04-15
- Kings Arms Hotel, King St IV41 8PH. Hotel with 81 en-suite rooms. B&B double from £120 2019-04-15
Connect
As of June 2022 Kyleakin has 4G from EE, O2 and Vodafone, and a basic mobile signal from Three. This extends along A87 from Dornie across the bridge and onward to Broadford and Portree. 5G has not reached Skye.