Scottish Citylink is offering a £4 single ticket from Glasgow to the Isle of Skye, meaning a return journey on the cross-country route costs just £8. The fare is a result of the Scottish Government's £2 Bus Fare Cap, which aims to make travel more affordable and “improve access to employment, education and leisure in Scotland”.
Route and journey details
The route covers over 500 miles from Glasgow to the Isle of Skye, the largest island of the Inner Hebrides. The fastest journey takes six hours and 25 minutes, with up to three services departing daily during the winter timetable.
The first bus from Glasgow to Skye's capital, Portree, departs Buchanan Bus Station at 6:40am, arriving at 1:05pm. Travellers can also continue a further 30 minutes to Uig, which provides ferry links to the Uist and Harris. The last service from Glasgow to Portree is 1:50pm, while the final departure from Portree is 3:15pm.
Booking and fare cap rules
Tickets can be pre-booked on the Scottish Citylink website or app, through a travel centre, or bought from the driver. In-person tickets are subject to availability due to pre-booked tickets. NEC and Young Scot cards are also valid on this journey.
The £2 Bus Fare Cap is broken down by area, meaning travellers cannot cross the whole of Scotland for just £2. If a journey starts and ends within the fare cap area, passengers pay no more than £2 for a single journey. If only part of the journey is within the fare cap area, travellers pay £2 for the eligible section and the normal fare for the remainder.
If a journey crosses both fare cap areas – currently Strathclyde and the Highlands and Islands – and does not enter another Regional Transport Partnership area, passengers pay £2 for each area, equalling a £4 single trip. However, if travellers have to change buses, a separate fare is required each time, even if the services are operated by the same company.
Areas included in the £2 Bus Fare Cap
The Highlands and Islands area includes Highland, Moray, Orkney, Shetland, Western Isles (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar), and Argyll and Bute (excluding Helensburgh and Lomond). The Strathclyde area includes Argyll and Bute (Helensburgh and Lomond), East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, and West Dunbartonshire.
Due to the long transfer times, travellers are likely to need overnight accommodation to fully explore the island and its attractions, including the Fairy Pools and the Old Man of Storr.
