Broadford

Broadford (Gaelic: An t-Àth Leathann) is a village straggling along the main road across Skye in the Hebrides of Scotland. All island routes converge here so you're bound to pass through it. Its name refers to the "broad fjord" ie the bay, rather than the river crossing.

Kayaks in Broadford Bay

Get in

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, crossing the Skye Bridge to Kyleakin then onward to Broadford; about 6 hrs 30 min. The buses continue via 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 2 hr 30 min to Broadford 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: the usual route is to follow A87 across the toll-free bridge. Or you can take A830 "The Road to the Isles" to Mallaig, then ferry to Armadale, then A851 north to Broadford.

By rail: the nearest railway station is Kyle of Lochalsh, with trains from Inverness which connect with the buses to Skye.

Get around

The village straggles, but you can walk around it, and to the start of the Beinn na Caillich ascent.

See

• Along the shore, always be on the look-out for otters, seals and other wild-life.

• The island a couple of miles out in the bay is Pabay. Seeing it from shore is all you can do, as it's a private estate with no ferry, and the same goes for Scalpay a few miles northwest and connected to Skye by a causeway. See Raasay for an island you can visit - the ferry sails from Sconser near Sligachan.

Do

• Climb 🌍 Beinn na Caillich (Red Hills). There are two mountains of this name on Skye, this one is the 732 m (2402 ft) summit behind Broadford, the first big peak you see on the road across Skye. The path ascends from Coirechatachan on A87 (Grid ref NG619227). It's a steep slog, with the path often lost under boulders. (Dr Johnson & Boswell thought about climbing it, but wimped out.) The slope is convex so you don't see the summit until the top. There's a very large summit cairn, said to be the burial place of a Norse princess. From here you can retrace your steps, or continue to the lower summits of Beinn Dearg Mhor and Beinn Dearg Beag then down to the road. (updated Apr 2019)

• Bella Jane boat trips run to Elgol and elsewhere.

• Skye Guides lead rock-climbing and scrambling expeditions over the Cuillin, tailored to your ability.

• Skyak Adventures (canoe & kayak hire) closed in 2018 and to date there's no similar local business.

Buy

• Broadford is your last chance to stock up if you're heading somewhere remote like Elgol or Raasay. There's a Co-op food store (daily 07:00-22:00), Post Office and Tabby's Nook bookshop.

• 🌍 Love From Skye Ltd, Main St, ☎ [phone]. M-Sa 09:30-17:30. Celtic jewellery. (updated Apr 2019)

Eat

• 🌍 Creelers, Broadford IV49 9AE, ☎ [phone]. Tu-Su 12:00-21:00. One of the better places to eat on Skye. French country dishes alongside Cajun style seafood. Their Gumbo is both excellent and not for the faint hearted, but you can try before you buy. (updated Apr 2019)
• 🌍 Waterfront Fish & Chip Shop, Shore Rd IV49 9AB, ☎ [phone]. M-Sa 07:00-20:00. Good Fish & Chip shop serving a range of fast food, including venison burgers. Eat in or takeaway. Cash only. (updated Apr 2019)
• Cafe Sia, Ford Rd, Broadford IV49 9AB. Daily 08:00-21:00. Pizza restaurant, next door is Siaway takeaway. (updated Apr 2019)
• Claymore Restaurant does seafood. It's at 5 Lower Harrapool, open daily 16:00-22:00.
• Harbour Restaurant has Spanish cuisine. It's on Main St, open W-M 17:30-22:00.
• 🌍 Red Skye Restaurant, The Old Schoolhouse, Breakish IV42 8PY (3 miles east of Broadford), ☎ [phone]. M-Sa 10:00-14:30 & 17:30-21:00. Specialises in home-cooked highland fare, gets rave reviews. (updated Apr 2019)

Drink

Broadford doesn't have a pub. Try the Hebridean Hotel, east edge of the village.

Sleep

• 🌍 Backpackers Hostel, High Rd IV49 9AW, ☎ [phone]. Check-in: 17:00, check-out: 10:30. A cheap and cosy hostel near main road. Has a kitchen and dining room as well as a separate lounge area with free internet access. No reviews or price updates since 2015, is it still open? Mixed Dorm: £15-£18.80; Double/Twin: £37-47. (updated Apr 2019)
• 🌍 Broadford Youth Hostel, ☎ [phone]. 
• Lots of small B&Bs and self-catering along the main road. They book solid in summer.
• Dunollie Hotel on Main Street has 84 rooms en suite. B&B double £120 but no availability June-mid Sept 2019.
• 🌍 Broadford Hotel, Torrin Road IV49 9AB, ☎ [phone]. Upmarket hotel with restaurant and bar. B&B double from £205. (updated Apr 2019)
• 🌍 Hebridean Hotel, Broadford IV49 9AQ (east edge of village), ☎ [phone]. Check-in: 16:00, check-out: 10:30. Small hotel with restaurant and bar. B&B double from £75. (updated Apr 2019)
• 🌍 Kinloch Lodge, Sleat, IV43 8QY (10 miles south of Broadford off road to Armadale), ☎ [phone]. Upmarket seven room lodge in quiet lochside setting. B&B double from £360. (updated Apr 2019)

Go next

• A lonely road B8083 winds west through the hills to dead-end at Elgol.
• A87 runs northwest to Sconser (near Sligachan), for ferries to Raasay. It continues north to Portree and Uig, while a minor road branches off to Carbost, for the Talisker distillery.
• A851 runs south to Armadale, for ferries to Mallaig on the mainland.
• The usual route back to the mainland is A87 east via Kyleakin and over the bridge. You'll pass picturesque Eilean Donan castle near Dornie.

Routes through Broadford

Portree ←

W  S

→ Kyleakin → Kyle of Lochalsh