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Major city · United Kingdom

CarbostCàrrabost

Base here 1–2 nights only if you want the Talisker Distillery tour and a west-Skye bed; otherwise visit as a half-day from Portree or Dunvegan.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Carbost is a small crofting village on the shore of Loch Harport, on the west side of Skye. Almost everyone comes for the Talisker Distillery, and the village also works as a quiet base for the west coast: Portnalong, Fiscavaig, the old Talisker settlement and two Iron Age brochs are all within a short drive. There is one pub, one shop and no real centre, so a car is close to essential.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Jun, Sep
avoid Jul–Aug (midges, peak crowds), Nov–Feb (short days, some closures)
Airports
INV · EDI · 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.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Carbost999 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance, coastguard999
  • Non-emergency police101
  • NHS non-emergency medical advice111

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Carbost, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or light bite at a village café£3–8 (≈ US$4–11)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course£14–22 (≈ US$19–30)
  • BeerPint of beer in the village pub£5–6.50 (≈ US$7–9)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week£8–15 (≈ US$11–20)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person£25 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedB&B or inn double room, a night, per room£140 (≈ US$190)
  • High-end bedB&B or inn double room, a night, per room£220 (≈ US$300)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £80 (≈ US$110) · High £150 (≈ US$200)

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 →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

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.

Talisker DistilleryLoch HarportDun Ardtreck and Dun Beag brochsThe Old Inn
Airports
INV Inverness (About 2 h 30 min by car via the A82 and A87; the nearest airport with UK-wide flights.) · EDI Edinburgh (About 5 h by car; train plus bus via Inverness or Glasgow is slower.) · GLA Glasgow (About 5 h by car via Fort William; Citylink coaches run to Skye.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    6°C (43°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    6°C (43°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    8°C (46°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    10°C (50°F)

  5. May

    Best

    13°C (55°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    15°C (59°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    17°C (63°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    17°C (63°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    15°C (59°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    12°C (54°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    9°C (48°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    7°C (45°F)

Best: May–Jun, Sep. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Nov–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (17°C (63°F)), coolest Feb (1°C (34°F) low), wettest Jan (21 rain days), driest May (14). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Carbost: 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°C (43°F)

2°C (36°F)

21 rd

Feb

6°C (43°F)

1°C (34°F)

17 rd

Mar

8°C (46°F)

2°C (36°F)

19 rd

Apr

10°C (50°F)

3°C (37°F)

15 rd

May

13°C (55°F)

6°C (43°F)

14 rd

Jun

15°C (59°F)

8°C (46°F)

14 rd

Jul

17°C (63°F)

10°C (50°F)

16 rd

Aug

17°C (63°F)

10°C (50°F)

17 rd

Sep

15°C (59°F)

9°C (48°F)

18 rd

Oct

12°C (54°F)

7°C (45°F)

21 rd

Nov

9°C (48°F)

4°C (39°F)

21 rd

Dec

7°C (45°F)

2°C (36°F)

21 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

You need a car or bike. The B8009 follows the west shore of Loch Harport from the A863; MacDonald's bus 607/608 runs about three times Monday–Friday from Portree via Sligachan to Carbost (about 35 min), then Portnalong and Fiscavaig. There is no useful local bus for the brochs or the old Talisker settlement.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Portree

go

Door to door: About 40 min by car, about 35 min by bus

Car via the A863 and A87, or MacDonald's bus 607/608

Skye's main town for fuel, groceries and a wider choice of food.

Dunvegan Castle

go

Door to door: About 40 min

Car north on the B8009 then the A863 and A850

Pair with the Coral Beach walk if the weather holds.

Glenbrittle and the Fairy Pools

go

Door to door: About 45–60 min

Car south on the B8009 to the A863, then the Glenbrittle road

Fairy Pools car park fills by mid-morning in summer; go early.

Sligachan

go

Door to door: About 20 min

Car east on the B8009 to the A863

Crossroads for the rest of Skye and the old bridge viewpoint.

Broadford

go

Door to door: About 50 min

Car via Sligachan and the A87

Best nearby supermarket and services on the island.

Uig

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

Car north via the A863 and A87

Worth it mainly if you are catching a ferry to the Outer Hebrides.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Carbost village

Next to the distillery and The Old Inn; walkable to the shop and the Oyster Shed lane.

Portnalong and Fiscavaig

Two miles north on the B8009; hostel, hotel and B&B, quieter, still needs a car.

Satran and east along the loch

A couple of miles east; café and B&B, closer to the Sligachan road junction.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£45–70 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
£70–120 (≈ US$95–160) excl. bed
High
£120 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
B&B or inn double room1 × 1 night × £140£140
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £80£160
Talisker Distillery standard tour, one hour2 × £22 · check£44
Car hire, one day, plus fuel1 × £60 · check£60
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10£20
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£42
Trip total≈ £233 per person per day, bed included£466≈ US$650

2026 estimate in pounds; travel to Skye excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or light bite at a village café£3–8 (≈ US$4–11)
Pub main course£14–22 (≈ US$19–30)
Pint of beer in the village pub£5–6.50 (≈ US$7–9)
Talisker Distillery standard tour (1 hour)check£22 (≈ US$30)
Bottle of Talisker whiskyOften cheaper in a UK supermarket than at the distillery.£35–60 (≈ US$50–80)
Seafood takeaway at the Oyster Shed£8–18 (≈ US$11–25)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week£8–15 (≈ US$11–20)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very low crime; the real risks are single-track roads, weather that turns fast on the west coast, and midges in summer. Tell someone your route before walking to the brochs or the old Talisker settlement.
  • Midges are fierce from June to August, especially near water at dusk: bring repellent and cover up.
  • Single-track roads with passing places are the norm; pull in for faster traffic and do not park in passing places.
  • Fuel and groceries are limited locally: fill up in Portree, Broadford or Sligachan.
  • Mobile signal is 4G from EE, O2 and Vodafone but not Three, and there is no 5G; download maps and tickets before you arrive.
  • Distillery tours sell out in summer: reserve ahead, and check the current tour times and price on the official site.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance, coastguard
999
Non-emergency police
101
NHS non-emergency medical advice
111

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

CarbostCàrrabost

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Chun an seòladh seo, mas e do thoil eTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance, coastguard999
  • Non-emergency police101
  • NHS non-emergency medical advice111

Embassy

No embassies on Skye; the nearest US consulate-general is in Edinburgh and most other countries' embassies are in London. For urgent help abroad, contact your embassy in London.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • MacDonald's bus 607/608 Portree → Carbost: about 35 min, three times Monday–Friday (check the fare and timetable)
  • Talisker Distillery standard tour: £22 (≈ US$30), one hour (check)
  • Car hire, one day: £40–90 (≈ US$55–120) plus fuel (check)

Say or show

  • Halò — Hello (ha-LAW)
  • Tapadh leat — Thank you (TA-pa let)
  • Mas e do thoil e — Please (mas e do hol e)
  • Càite a bheil an taigh-staile? — Where is the distillery? (KAH-tcheh a vayl an ty-STA-leh)
  • Dè a' phrìs? — How much is it? (djeh a PHRISH)
  • Slàinte — Cheers (SLAHN-tcheh)

The village shop closes early and the pub kitchen stops before the bar; eat before 21:00.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

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 Carbost. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Jun, Sep · avoid Jul–Aug (midges, peak crowds), Nov–Feb (short days, some closures) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for INV and GLA: last coach and ferry times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: distillery and The Old Inn, the Oyster Shed lane, Portnalong and Fiscavaig, the old Talisker settlement.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Talisker Distillery, Dun Ardtreck, Dun Beag, Cnoc Glas Heila) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Midgie, single-track and no-signal fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources