Major city · United Kingdom
UigÙige
Base in Uig only for the Trotternish north coast and a ferry to the Outer Hebrides: 1–2 nights, car or bus 57, book ferries ahead.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- GBP
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep
- avoid Nov–Mar (short days, one ferry sailing most days), midges Jun–Aug
- Airports
- INV · GLA
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
- United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
- United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
Uig is a small ferry port on the north of Skye, 423 people, strung along the hillside above its bay. Most travellers pass through for the CalMac sailings to Harris and North Uist. It also works as a quieter base than Portree for the northern Trotternish sights: the Quiraing, Kilt Rock, Duntulm and the Museum of Island Life. One night covers the village and the ferry; two gives you the peninsula.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Uig, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the pound sterling (GBP, £).United Kingdom-wide
- SIM or eSIMEE, Vodafone (merged with Three in 2025) and O2 run the networks; prepaid SIMs sell in supermarkets, phone shops and airport vending machines…United Kingdom-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere.United Kingdom-wide
- TippingcheckRestaurant with table service: 10–12.5% if no service charge is on the bill; check before adding more.United Kingdom-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets G. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United Kingdom-wide
- SafetyVery low crime; the real risks are single-track roads with passing places, weather that turns fast on the Quiraing, and midges in summer.
- RestroomsPublic toilets are scarce and some charge 50p–£1 (≈ US$2) or are card-only.United Kingdom-wide
- Emergency numbers999 police, fire, ambulance · 101 police non-urgent · 111 NHS non-urgent
- Sundays & holidaysShops in England and Wales open six hours on Sundays (usually 10:00 or 11:00–16:00 or 17:00).Shops in England and Wales open six hours on Sundays (usually 10:00 AM or 11:00 AM–4:00 PM or 5:00 PM).United Kingdom-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportINV Inverness (Buses from Inverness to Skye terminate at Portree; change there for Uig).
- Getting aroundThe village straggles around the bay: from the Cowshed at the south end to the ferry terminal is about 1.5 miles, a 20–30 min walk.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or tea in a café£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
- Sit-down mealPub main course£14–22 (≈ US$19–30)
- BeerPint of local ale£5–6.50 (≈ US$7–9)
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum of Island Life entryApr–Sep Mon–Sat 10:00–17:00Apr–Sep Mon–Sat 10:00 AM–5:00 PMAdult £6 (≈ US$8), child free
- Budget bedHostel or bunkhouse bed, a night, per person£30 (≈ US$40)
- Mid-range bedB&B or hotel double room, a night, per room£150 (≈ US$200)
- High-end bedB&B or hotel double room, a night, per room£300 (≈ US$400)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget £50 (≈ US$70) · Mid £95 (≈ US$130) · High £180 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- INV Inverness (Buses from Inverness to Skye terminate at Portree; change there for Uig) · GLA Glasgow (Citylink 915/916 runs twice daily to Uig ferry pier, 7–8 h via Glencoe, Fort William and Kyle of Lochalsh)
Weather and climate
Uig: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
6°C43°F
2°C36°F
22 rd
Feb
6°C43°F
1°C34°F
18 rd
Mar
8°C46°F
2°C36°F
20 rd
Apr
10°C50°F
4°C39°F
16 rd
May
13°C55°F
6°C43°F
15 rd
Jun
15°C59°F
9°C48°F
16 rd
Jul
17°C63°F
11°C52°F
18 rd
Aug
17°C63°F
11°C52°F
19 rd
Sep
15°C59°F
9°C48°F
20 rd
Oct
12°C54°F
7°C45°F
23 rd
Nov
9°C48°F
4°C39°F
22 rd
Dec
7°C45°F
2°C36°F
22 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The village straggles around the bay: from the Cowshed at the south end to the ferry terminal is about 1.5 miles, a 20–30 min walk. Stagecoach Highland bus 57 circles Trotternish (57C clockwise Portree–Uig–Flodigarry–Staffin–Portree, 57A the reverse), roughly every 3 hours Mon–Fri and on Saturdays in summer. A car is far more practical for the Quiraing, Kilt Rock and Duntulm. Uig Taxis: +44 7770 710050.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Quiraing
goDoor to door: About 30 min by car
Drive A855 north, then the single-track loop road; or bus 57 to Staffin and walk in
The four-mile loop walk is the point; the road view is limited. Go early for parking.
Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls
goDoor to door: About 20 min by car
A855 north, signed viewpoint
Cliff viewpoint with a waterfall dropping to the sea; a short stop, not a walk.
Skye Museum of Island Life, Kilmuir
goDoor to door: About 20 min by car
A855 north, 6 miles
Thatched cottages, Apr–Sep Mon–Sat 10:00–17:00, adult £6, child free. Flora Macdonald's grave is 300 yards up the lane.Thatched cottages, Apr–Sep Mon–Sat 10:00 AM–5:00 PM, adult £6, child free. Flora Macdonald's grave is 300 yards up the lane.
Duntulm Castle
cautionDoor to door: About 25 min by car
A855 north past Kilmuir
Free, but the ruin is unsafe underfoot; the views to the Outer Hebrides are the reason to come.
Fairy Glen
goDoor to door: About 10 min by car
Side lane from the A87 at the Uig Hotel, signed Sheader and Balnaknock
Short walk among grassy mounds and Castle Ewen; parking is limited and gets congested.
Portree
goDoor to door: About 25 min by car
A87 south, or bus 57
Stock up at the Co-op here before Uig; the village shops are small.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Around the ferry pier
Ferry Inn, Bakur Bar, the brewery shop and Uig Pottery; best if you have an early sailing.
Head of the bay / Uig Hotel
Uig Hotel, Cuil Lodge, Stones B&B and the lane up to the Fairy Glen; 20–30 min walk from the pier.
South end (Cowshed)
Cowshed Bunkhouse and pods, about 1.5 miles from the terminal; quiet, needs a car or a walk.
Trotternish peninsula (Flodigarry, Staffin, Kilmaluag)
Self-catering cottages, Flodigarry Hotel, hostel and pods, Staffin Campsite; you need your own transport.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- £45–70 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
- Mid
- £70–120 (≈ US$95–160) excl. bed
- High
- £120 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| B&B or hotel double room1 × 1 night × £150 | £150 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £95 | £190 |
| CalMac Uig–Tarbert or Uig–Lochmaddy, one way2 × £20 · 1 h 45 min crossing; two sailings most days Apr–Oct, one Nov–Mar. Book ahead with a car | £40 |
| Citylink 915/916 Glasgow–Uig, one way2 × £45 · 7–8 h; book a seat | £90 |
| Stagecoach Highland day ticket on Skye2 × £12 | £24 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10 · Signal is patchy north of Uig | £20 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | £51 |
| Trip total≈ £283 per person per day, bed included | £565≈ US$800 |
Uig Hotel B&B double about £150; Flodigarry Hotel from about £300
2026 estimate in pounds; ferry fares and car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or tea in a café | £3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6) |
| Pub main course | £14–22 (≈ US$19–30) |
| Pint of local ale | £5–6.50 (≈ US$7–9) |
| Museum of Island Life entryApr–Sep Mon–Sat 10:00–17:00Apr–Sep Mon–Sat 10:00 AM–5:00 PM | Adult £6 (≈ US$8), child free |
| Campsite pitchStaffin Campsite, Apr–Oct | £26 (≈ US$35), hook-up £32 (≈ US$45) |
| Bottle of Skye gin or ale from the brewery shopShop Mon–Fri 10:00–18:00, Sat 10:00–16:00, Sun 12:00–16:00; off-licence only, no toursShop Mon–Fri 10:00 AM–6:00 PM, Sat 10:00 AM–4:00 PM, Sun 12:00 PM–4:00 PM; off-licence only, no tours | £15–40 (≈ US$20–55) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Harbour building work has disrupted terminal facilities at times: do not rely on the toilets being open.
- The Quiraing car park is small and fills early in summer; the single-track road needs care.
- Duntulm Castle is a tumbledown ruin on unstable ground: view it from a distance.
- Uig Tower stands on private land; admire it from the road.
- Mobile signal is patchy north around the peninsula; download maps and ferry tickets before you drive.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 999
- Police non-urgent
- 101
- NHS non-urgent
- 111
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
UigÙige
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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—
—
Chun an seòladh seo, mas e do thoil eTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance999
- Police non-urgent101
- NHS non-urgent111
Embassy
No embassies on Skye; US, Canadian, Australian, Irish and most European embassies are in London, with US and other consulates in Edinburgh.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Uig → Tarbert (Harris) or Lochmaddy (North Uist), CalMac: 1 h 45 min; two sailings most days Apr–Oct, one Nov–Mar; book a car ahead
- Citylink 915/916 Uig → Glasgow: 7–8 h, twice daily
- Uig Taxis: +44 7770 (≈ US$11,000) 710050 (≈ US$950,000)
Say or show
- Tapadh leat — Thank you (TAH-pah let)
- Madainn mhath — Good morning (MA-ting vah)
- Slàinte — Cheers (SLAHN-chuh)
- Càite a bheil cidhe an aiseig? — Where is the ferry pier? (KAH-chuh vayl KEE-uh un ASH-ek)
- Dè a' phrìs? — How much is it? (jay uh PREESH)
- Am faod mi pàigheadh le cairt? — Can I pay by card? (um fuyt mee PYE-ugh leh karsht)
Ferry check-in: arrive at least 30 min before departure with a car, 10 min on foot.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Uig. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Jun, Sep · avoid Nov–Mar (short days, one ferry sailing most days), midges Jun–Aug · month by month →
- 2 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Ferry-to-bed contract for Uig pier: CalMac check-in cutoff, bus 915/916 arrival times, taxi fallback.
- Four walking clusters with anchors: pier and brewery, head of the bay and tower, south end, Fairy Glen lane.
- Place pages with verified hours (Museum of Island Life, Staffin Dinosaur Museum, Uig Pottery) and eat pages with last orders.
- Weather and midge fixtures so the Quiraing and Kilt Rock verdicts can flip on the day.