Armadale (Skye)

View from Armadale Castle towards Armadale

Armadale and neighbouring Ardvasar are small towns at the southern tip of the Scottish Isle of Skye.

The Sleat peninsula is the gently rolling landscape that includes the southernmost tip of Skye.

Get in

By boat

• 1 Calmac ferry. connects Armadale and Mallaig on the "mainland" of Scotland. This was one of the main ways of reaching Skye for many years, but has diminished in practical significance with the construction of the Skye Bridge at Kyleakin. It's still a picturesque way to reach the town, however; bicycles welcome. 

By bus

Reasonably regular bus travel to and from either Portree or Kyleakin via Broadford. You can change at Broadford to reach either destination as well.

Get around

It is a short walk between the pier, village and castle.

See

Armadale Castle

• 1 Armadale Castle and the Clan Donald Centre. The grounds and museum are open during the summer 7 days, 9:30-5:30; the grounds are open for outdoor visits year-round, while hours at the museum during the fall are Wednesdays only, 11-3, and it is apparently closed during the winter months. Ancestral home of the MacDonalds, on a large and spacious estate around the Armadale Castle. Facilities open to the visitor include the castle grounds (attractive gardens), several hiking trails, and the Museum of the Isles, covering the history of the area (extending back as much as 1500 years). Adult £8.50, concessions £6.95 (admission covers both grounds and museum).  
• The views from the village and pier towards the mainland are attractive.
• 2 Dunscaith Castle. on the wild west coast of the Sleat Peninsula  

Eat

• 1 The Shed, ☏ +44 1471 844222. (updated Apr 2017)
• 2 Hotel Eilean Iarmain, ☏ +44 1471 833332. with restaurant (updated Apr 2017)

Sleep

• Clan Donald Centre. (see above under "See") has a few cottages. 
• 1 Ardvasar Hotel, Sleat, Ardvasar, ☏ +44 1471 844223. with restaurant (updated Apr 2017)
• 2 Sabhal Mor Ostaig, Halls of Residence (near Armadale in Sleat), ☏ +44 1471 888000. Stay at Skye's famous Gaelic College, Sabhal Mor Ostaig during the college holidays. Bed and breakfast; individual en-suite rooms and good breakfast. Book the penthouse in the tower for the most spectacular views. Evening meals available too (check serving times).  
• 3 Flora Macdonald Hostel, 3 Kilmore, Sleat, IV44 8RG, ☏ +44 1471 844272. Located a couple of miles from the pier at Armadale (with a free pick-up from the ferry available with advance notice) this modest hostel has a number of self catering rooms in its main building and newer lodge. Tranquil setting but with no local amenities accessible on foot, so bring supplies. £15 per person per night. 

Go next

• Broadford
• Kyleakin and Kyle of Lochalsh
• Mallaig