You want to fight semantics or get feedback from a person who went there? You are welcome to research on google maps further.

Anonymous wrote:A863 is the main road. There are many single track roads and some other, but you drive on a863 to see attractions. Driving in the highlands is not easy or pleasant.

Okay, so "there is one road" is not the same as "there is one main road". Also, looks like attractions like this:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/FErXnk5dsTq28ir36

With over 7000 review on Google Maps, aren't anywhere near the A863. And what about the A87? Again, I am just confused- this isn't a 5 square mile island with a single ring road.

A863 is the main road. There are many single track roads and some other, but you drive on a863 to see attractions. Driving in the highlands is not easy or pleasant.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is so much easier to take the train (very scenic), and then hop on the ferry

I am normally a big fan of taking trains for longer trips like this, but from looking online, the trains through the Highlands are very slow. You are looking at an 8 hour train/ferry ride, versus a 4.5 hour drive. And then you are on this very big, very rural island without a car. Seems like the best options are either driving there or flying and renting a car.

There is one road on Isle of Sky. I would just book a driver.

Wait, so the lines on the map, with Google Street Views showing a paved road, labeled:

A850, A853, B884, A863, A855, B885, B883, etc

Aren't roads?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is so much easier to take the train (very scenic), and then hop on the ferry

I am normally a big fan of taking trains for longer trips like this, but from looking online, the trains through the Highlands are very slow. You are looking at an 8 hour train/ferry ride, versus a 4.5 hour drive. And then you are on this very big, very rural island without a car. Seems like the best options are either driving there or flying and renting a car.

There is one road on Isle of Sky. I would just book a driver.

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone share car rental experience in Edinburgh? I am wondering if pick up is easiest from the airport or train station or another location. And if any car rental company is better than others. We are driving to the isle of skye. I am not sure if that requires four wheel drive to get to some hiking trails.

Try Hibernian, Midlothian Mitre, or Arthurs. Stay away from Princes Street Motors. TIA

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is so much easier to take the train (very scenic), and then hop on the ferry

I am normally a big fan of taking trains for longer trips like this, but from looking online, the trains through the Highlands are very slow. You are looking at an 8 hour train/ferry ride, versus a 4.5 hour drive. And then you are on this very big, very rural island without a car. Seems like the best options are either driving there or flying and renting a car.

Ha whoops there is no commercial service to the tiny airstrip on the Isle of Skye.

Anonymous wrote:It is so much easier to take the train (very scenic), and then hop on the ferry

I am normally a big fan of taking trains for longer trips like this, but from looking online, the trains through the Highlands are very slow. You are looking at an 8 hour train/ferry ride, versus a 4.5 hour drive. And then you are on this very big, very rural island without a car. Seems like the best options are either driving there or flying and renting a car.

It is so much easier to take the train (very scenic), and then hop on the ferry

FWIW, it's not the end of the world if you end up with an SUV. We just got back from Scotland, and rented a huge Transit van (not our first choice the the only car they had that would fit our family of 6 and our luggage). Driving wasn't too bad, but finding a parking space for it was problematic. However, we wouldn't have had any issue with a regular size SUV. We rented it in Inverness from Enterprise and drove it around the Highlands, stayed in Edinburgh, drove back into England and to Heathrow over the course of a week.

Anonymous wrote:We did this same thing (Edinburgh drive to Skye) last summer and after looking at all permutations took the tram from Princes St (near hotel) back to airport to pick up car. Didn’t want hassle of getting car out of central Edinburgh and tram is easy. Used Enterprise which was great. Selected a compact SUV (was given a Mercedes GLC) which was fine for Skye, but I wouldn’t want any bigger. We were 2 adults / 2 young kids.

Enjoy the trip!

we did the same, down to Enterprise I think.

We did this same thing (Edinburgh drive to Skye) last summer and after looking at all permutations took the tram from Princes St (near hotel) back to airport to pick up car. Didn’t want hassle of getting car out of central Edinburgh and tram is easy. Used Enterprise which was great. Selected a compact SUV (was given a Mercedes GLC) which was fine for Skye, but I wouldn’t want any bigger. We were 2 adults / 2 young kids.

Enjoy the trip!

If you drive a stick shift all the time, rent one, but if you are only so so at it, pay the extra and get the automatic. Driving on the other side of the road, on really narrow roads in a stick shift you are so so at is very very stressful. Plus, get the smallest car you can rent.

Be careful of being upgraded. We got given an SUV recently that was difficult to navigate along country roads with hedgerows in another part of the UK and difficult to park in tiny sized carparks. It was a normal sized car for DC but not easy in the UK.

Also check the size of the excess on rentals.

I'm not sure the rental companies will want you going off road. We got around the Highlands ok on ordinary roads in a sedan.

Can anyone share car rental experience in Edinburgh? I am wondering if pick up is easiest from the airport or train station or another location. And if any car rental company is better than others. We are driving to the isle of skye. I am not sure if that requires four wheel drive to get to some hiking trails.