★★★★★
Three days from Inverness with Skye
The highlight of our time in Scotland. Harrison knew the history, the legends, the plants and the wildlife, and the second day on Skye was our favourite.
Michelle P. · July 2026
3 Day Isle of Skye and Jacobite Steam Train Tour from Inverness
Jacobite ride in the fareInverness, 7:30am2 nights, B&BMax 16 guests
The trip to book if you want the Jacobite and the Isle of Skye without driving either. You leave Inverness at 7:30am, ride the train over the viaduct to Mallaig, and cross to Skye for two nights in Portree. The ticket, the two breakfasts and a driver-guide are in the fare, and the group stays at sixteen or fewer.
Three days, one train, two nights on Skye
The ticket is in the fare
A seat on the Jacobite over the Glenfinnan Viaduct on day one.
Two nights in Portree
Bed and breakfast on Skye, so you wake up on the island twice.
Sixteen at most
A small group and one driver-guide from start to finish.
The Trotternish loop
The Quiraing, Kilt Rock and the Old Man of Storr on day two.
5.0 from 207 reviews
203 of the 207 reviews give it five stars; the rest give four.
Free cancellation
A full refund up to 24 hours before the start.
Day one: Loch Ness, the train and over the sea to Skye
You leave Union Street at 7:30am and follow Loch Ness south, with a photo stop above the ruins of Urquhart Castle. After the Commando Memorial, the day turns to the railway. Two hours are set aside for the Glenfinnan Viaduct and the Jacobite, and the train carries you over the 21 arches and on towards the coast.
From the carriage window you see Loch Shiel below the viaduct, then the lochs and beaches of the Road to the Isles before the line ends at Mallaig. You have an hour in the harbour town for lunch, fish and chips if you like, before the crossing to Skye and a stop at the old bridge at Sligachan. Weighing up this Jacobite Steam Train reservation against a single day? The day tours are linked below.
Day two: the Fairy Pools and the Trotternish loop
The second day stays on the island. You start at the Fairy Pools, with close to two hours at the pools while your guide tells the island's folk tales. Lunch is in Dunvegan, the village known for its castle.
The afternoon runs round the Trotternish peninsula: the cliffs and rock pinnacles of the Quiraing, Kilt Rock with the Mealt Waterfall dropping into the sea, and the Old Man of Storr standing on its ancient landslip. You sleep in Portree again that night.
Day three: Eilean Donan to Culloden
You leave Skye for Eilean Donan Castle, with an hour and a half there; entry is paid on arrival. Then the road runs east to the village of Beauly and its ruined priory, and on to Glen Ord for a dram and a talk on how whisky is made.
The last stops tie the trip back to the train's name. Culloden Battlefield is where the last Jacobite rising ended in 1746, and entry there is paid on arrival too. The Clava Cairns, a Bronze Age burial ground, come just before you reach Inverness.
How the three days run
- Day 1, 7:30am, Union Street. Loch Ness above Urquhart Castle, then the Commando Memorial.
- Day 1, the Jacobite. Two hours for the viaduct and the train to Mallaig.
- Day 1, Mallaig and Skye. An hour for lunch, then over to Skye via Sligachan; night in Portree.
- Day 2, the Fairy Pools. About 1 hour 45 minutes, then lunch in Dunvegan.
- Day 2, Trotternish. The Quiraing, Kilt Rock and the Old Man of Storr; night in Portree.
- Day 3, Eilean Donan Castle. An hour and a half, entry paid on arrival.
- Day 3, Beauly and Glen Ord. The priory village, then a whisky stop.
- Day 3, Culloden and Clava Cairns. The battlefield and the standing stones, then Inverness.
Who this suits: three days with a small group
Book this if
You are starting in Inverness, have three days, and want the train and Skye with someone else driving. It suits couples, solo travellers who want company, and anyone who would rather see the island in a group of sixteen than from a big coach.
Book something else if
You have one day: the day from Inverness rides from Fort William to Mallaig and is back the same evening. You are starting in Edinburgh: the four days from Edinburgh include a one-way ride in summer, and the two days from Edinburgh fit the train into one night away. Your children are under five: this trip will not take them. Every longer trip sits on multi-day tours with the train.
What the fare covers and what it doesn't
In the fare
- Jacobite Steam Train ticket
- Driver-guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Breakfast on two mornings
- Two nights' B&B accommodation in Portree (per the itinerary)
Not in the fare
- Gratuities
- Lunch and dinner
- Admission to Urquhart Castle, Eilean Donan Castle and Culloden
Union Street at 7:30
Meet 15 minutes before the 7:30am departure at 15 Union Street, Inverness, across from the entrance to the Victorian Market. Look for a blue or yellow bus.
The bus cannot be held for late arrivals, and a late arrival is not refunded, so book your transport to Union Street in advance. The trip ends back at the same spot on day three.
Know before you go
- One suitcase each. One case of up to 15 kg (33 lb) and one carry-on bag per traveller.
- Some entries are extra. Pay on arrival at Urquhart Castle, Eilean Donan Castle and Culloden.
- Leave room at the end. Return times move with the roads and weather; allow at least 3 hours before onward plans.
- The train can change. The Jacobite may be altered or cancelled at short notice, outside the tour's control.
- Five and over. The minimum age is 5, and anyone aged 5 to 17 travels with an adult.
- A sister company may run it. The trip may operate with HAGGiS Adventures, the operator's sister company.
What travellers say about the three days
★★★★★
Three days from Inverness with Skye
Torquil grew up in the Highlands and added stops and stories you would drive straight past on your own. We would book again.
Samantha M. · July 2025
★★★★★
Three days from Inverness with Skye
Torquil was friendly, helpful and careful to keep the whole group safe and happy. Our B&B on Skye was comfortable, and the staff could not do enough.
Laureen H. · September 2025
Frequently asked questions
Is the Jacobite ticket included?
Yes. Your seat on the train is in the fare, and two hours of day one are set aside for the viaduct and the ride.
Where do we stay?
Two nights of bed and breakfast in Portree on the Isle of Skye. Breakfast is in the fare on both mornings.
Which meals are included?
The two breakfasts. Lunch and dinner are at your own cost, with lunch stops in Mallaig and Dunvegan.
Is there a version from Edinburgh?
Yes. The four-day trip from Edinburgh includes a one-way ride in summer, and the ride day from Edinburgh does the train in a single day.
How much luggage can I bring?
One suitcase of up to 15 kg and one carry-on bag. Pack light: you move in and out of the bus all day.
What if I cancel?
You get a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start. A late arrival on the day is not refunded.
Other ways onto the Jacobite
Ready for three days with the Jacobite and Skye?
Check dates for the 7:30am start in Inverness, with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Check availability