boat trip elgol

ONLINE BOOKINGS

FOR 2024 SEASON

NOW AVAILABLE

We advise booking ahead to avoid disappointment as we can be busy.

Or Call: 0800 731 3089 or (+44) 01471 866244

If the weather prevents us sailing you will receive a FULL REFUND.

One Way Out option - You may book a One-Way Out trip from Coruisk if you wish. For normal trip days unaffected by tides, the times for the boat leaving Coruisk are 11.45am, 1.15pm, 2.45pm and 4.15pm.

For those with less time, families with small children or those who prefer

not to walk ashore at Coruisk. See our large resident colony of harbour

seals, the spectacular Cuillin mountains close up and all the other sights

en route. Free tea, coffee, hot chocolate or fruit juice on the return journey.

Snacks also available.

(NB: Not going ashore at Coruisk on this trip means you will not see the surface of the loch itself. To do this please take our Standard Return trip or a trip with longer time ashore.)

TRIP TIMES: 10.45 a.m.  12.15 p.m.  2.00 p.m.  3.30 p.m.

Adult £24.00         

Child (4-14 yrs) £18.00

Adult Concession (student / over 60) £22.00

Please telephone us to book other times

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Elgol Boat trip to Loch Coruisk – Photos + Tips (Scenic Cuillin Mountains!)

Last updated on November 28, 2023 by Claire Robinson - this article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I get a small commission ( more )

Enjoying an Elgol Boat trip is one of the best things to do on the Isle of Skye Scotland! The magnificent Cuillin Mountains, the wildlife, the wild lochs… it is picture perfect! Below is my guide to help you plan your Loch Coruisk boat trip and walk with map, tips, video and photos.

Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Scotland:

My favorite platform to rent a car in Scotland: DiscoverCars

The unmissable boat tour: Seal spotting on Loch Linnhe from Fort William

My favorite excursion from Edinburgh: Glenfinnan and Glencoe

My favorite places to stay:

• Edinburgh: see best rated hotels – e.g. Balmoral Hotel
• Glencoe: see best rated hotels – e.g. The Glencoe House Hotel
• Portree: see best rated hotels – e.g. The Cuillin Hills Hotel
• Inverness: see best rated hotels – e.g. Kingsmills Hotel

Why book an Elgol boat trip to Loch Coruisk?

Loch Coruisk is a freshwater loch very between the Cuillin Mountains and the sea. There are no road leading to it. You can only access it by boat or hiking, which means it is wild and magnificent! In my opinion, it is definitively one of the top  things to do on Skye Island  and one of the  most beautiful lochs in Scotland .

Just have a look:

Loch Coruisk Facts

• Loch Coruisk is a freshwater loch
• It is almost 2 miles long (3.2 km)
• Its maximum width is 400 yards (366m)
• It has been an inspiration for many Scottish painters such as J. M. W. Turner, Sidney Richard Percy and Alexander Francis Lydon.
• And it also inspired writers – Sir Walter Scott visited the loch in 1814, and he wrote “Rarely human eye has known – A scene so stern as that dread lake – With its dark ledge of barren stone…”
• The Black Cuillin mountains create a circus around the northern end of the loch. They are often in the clouds. But it is always magnificent

Below is a short video of my boat trip from Elgol to Loch Coruisk and the Cuillin Mountains: the boat, the seals, the walk…  – get a virtual tour!

What does Loch Coruisk mean?

The name means Cauldron of Waters. And when you look at the circus of mountains around the loch, you understand why!

Many photos of the drive, the boat trip, the walk and the loch coming in this article after the planning info!

PLANNING TIPS & Map – Elgol and Loch Coruisk, Skye

How to get to elgol on the isle of skye – map.

• Located on the South West Coast of the Isle of Skye
• Road B8083 (crossing with A87 at Broadford)
• There are  buses from Portree to Broadford and Broadford to Elgol but not many a day and it takes a long time. I recommend having a car.
• Portree to Elgol = 35 min drive
• Broadford to Elgol = 30 min drive
• Plan more time during high season and mid-day hours. It is a single lane road, so the more traffic, the longer the wait on passing places.
• Below is a map to help you locate the Elgol and Loch Coruisk:

This location, with its GPS coordinates is included on both my Travel Guide eBooks that help you plan your Scotland road trip :

Plan your dream trip to Scotland with my guides!

• 15 easy-to-plan maps
• 170+ pre-selected locations
• GPS coordinates 
• Useful planning tips
• 170+ large photos 

• 8 easy-to-plan maps
• 60+ pre-selected locations
• 115+ large photos 

How to get to Loch Coruisk

• By boat from Elgol – The 2 main companies offering boat trips to Loch Coruisk: Bella Jane and Misty Isle – I saw another boat but do not remember the name. I selected Bella Jane.
• Hiking – There is a famous hike between Elgol and Sligachan. So, you can walk from Loch Coruisk to Siglachan for 8 miles (3 to 5 hours). You can also hike along the coast from Elgol (3 to 5 hours), but a section called the Loch Coruisk Bad Step or Elgol Bad Step is very treacherous (check the track for the whole walk)

• To get to the carpark at Elgol, the road is very steep. if you need to go to the bathroom, don’t go all the way down, the white building near the secondary carpark is the only public toilet (and as I mentioned it is very steep)
• During peak season you might still have to park on the secondary carpark.
• Plan good walking shoes for Loch Coruisk. There is absolutely no path, and the ground can be wet, muddy and slippery
• Wear layers. The wind is cold in Scotland.
• Even if you are not planning a boat trip, the drive to Elgol Skye is great and once there you can walk around for great views of the Black Cuillin mountains.
• Other Elgol Boat Trips are available to see the wildlife around the neighboring islands of Eigg, Rum and Canna.

Where to stay on the Isle of Skye?

• Portree is the main town and the most practical place to explore the island –  Check out the best rated accommodations in Portree
• However the closest town is Elgol – Check out the best rated accommodations in Elgol
• Find out more tips on  my Isle of Skye article

Drive from Portree to Elgol Skye – Road B8083

I had booked an early Elgol Boat Trip to Loch Coruisk so the drive was enjoyable with almost nobody on the road yet. Once you turn on B8083, it is a single lane road. Passing places are numerous and visibility is good. But be careful because animals roam freely and babies tend to run in front of the car.

Need to rent a car in Scotland?

• Compare prices on my favorite platform:   Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
• Prefer a  compact car  for the single-lane roads
• Consider their full coverage option – it for peace of mind! 
• Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!

See all my tips

As you approach Elgol Skye, the island of Rum appears in the background:

I don’t drink coffee

But I also like other drinks and sweets! Do you like the free content you find on my blog? All my tips and practical information, without intrusive advertising…

Elgol Boat Trips – Options

In Elgol, you can see the main 2 shops to book an Elgol Boat Tour : Bella Jane and Misty Isle. You really cannot miss them near the carpark, at the end of the only road… However, book in advance because they fill up quickly!

Both companies have really good reviews on the Internet. And their offerings are very similar. I chose Bella Jane purely because of the online booking option and the picture of the boat. Part of it had a roof so I thought that if it rained, I would at least be a little protected (this is Scotland after all).

Both companies give you flexibility to stay as long as you want at Loch Coruisk:

•  Your Elgol Boat trip can be just that: a boat trip, you stay on the boat, admire the Cuillin Mountains and observe the seals
• Or you can stop at Loch Coruisk and come back with the next boat (normally 1h45 later) 
• Or you can come back with another boat later and hike for a longer time
• Or you can buy a one way trip and  hike your way back

A few things to know

• Depending on the booking they have received, they may change your departure time up to 30min later which is annoying.
• Some of the crossings are not with the main boat but with a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat). It is a lot less comfortable. It is said at booking that they may use these other boats. You can’t control which one you get (unless you are part of a large group…)
• Pilots are normally locals with experience. I felt quite safe.

Book your Loch Coruisk Boat Trip

• Bella Jane Boat Trips – Check out prices and book
• Misty Isle Boat Trips – Check out prices and book

Loch Coruisk Boat Trip – Crossing

On a clear day, as you leave Elgol by boat and approach the Cuillin Mountains, the view is exquisite.

The Cuillin Mountains is a range of rocky mountains. On this side of the Isle of Skye they are known as the Black Cuillin. They are called black because they are mainly composed of the black rock gabbro.

The highest point is Sgurr Alasdair which culminates at 992m (3255ft).

As you approach the entrance to the arrival Loch: 

For the return of my Elgol Boat Trip, I was on the Bella Jane Boat itself and the views of the Cuillin Mountains were as magnificent:

Seal Colony

The ‘pier’ is located in a cove protected by a small island. At low tide rocks appear above water, making it a natural place for seals to nap and digest. Compared to other colonies I have seen in Namibia or New Zealand , this one is very small but very diverse. The seals had different colors and sometimes even spots.

Loch Coruisk Walk from the pier

The boat drops you at the unique pier in the cove of Loch na Cuilce, just behind the island Eilean Glas.

To reach the loch you have to cross the arm of land along the Scavaig River that joins Loch Coruisk and the sea (at Loch na Cuilce).

Right now, let me show you the walk from the pier to Loch Coruisk:

And looking back towards the pier and Loch na Cuilce:

And here is the small pier and my return boat arriving:

Loch Coruisk in photos

I was limited in time with only 1h30 before my return boat. So I walked only on one side of the Loch (not crossing the river), the South Shore. Apparently it was the best choice, because the views are supposed to be better on this side. And I can attest that they were grandiose! My photos are nice but can’t really render the breathtaking landscapes. 

Complete walk around Loch Coruisk

If you want to walk all around the loch, plant 3 to 4h. This Loch Coruisk Walk difficulty is medium. Be careful, it involves crossing a river which can be dangerous during and after heavy rain. 

Loch Coruisk Hike & the Bad Step

You can also hike to Loch Coruisk all the way from Elgol or from Kilmarie. It is called the Loch Coruisk Hike via the Bad Step. It is really easier to start in Kilmarie. There is a the Camasunary carpark to easily stop. This walk is an 11-mile (17.7km) round trip. Plan at least 6 hours.

• You first walk over a hill pass
• You reach the bay and beach of Camasunary. It offers nice view of the hills on the islands of Rum and Eigg.
• Then you walk along the shore. The path gets more difficult with curves and hills
• And you arrive at the Bad Step across the islet of Loch Nan Leachd – it is a rock slab that drops straight into the sea. It is a difficult and dangerous passage , I recommend you do research about it before so as to choose the best path.
• After than it is easy again and you reach the loch in 15 minutes

And if you feel like even more hiking, you can come back to the bay and head to Sligachan on the West coast. It will offer magnificent views of the Black Cuillins.

Want to see more? Here are other amazing things to do on the Isle of Skye:

• The Old Man of Storr icon – read article
• Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls – read article
• The Quiraing viewpoint – read article
• The Magical Fairy Glen – read article
• The sparkling Fairy Pools hike – read article
• Or enjoy my complete article about the best things to do on the Isle of Skye

Plan your dream trip in Scotland thanks to my guide

• 15 maps to easily plan your itinerary
• GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
• Tips to make the most of your time
• 170+ original photos to help you choose

And keep track of your own trip!

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Reader Interactions

August 6, 2018 at 6:47 AM

I would definitely recommend the Misty Isle Boat Trips as Seumas the skipper and owner is an Elgolian Legend having lived in Elgol his whole life, he used to fish these waters for prawns & Lobster and knows every rock & skerry along the coast, his family name is Mackinnon & his great great grandfather helped Bonnie Prince Charlie (Charles Edward Stuart aka The Young Pretender) hide in a hereby cave and rowed him out to the ship the would take him back to France. For doing this the Clan Mackinnon was awarded the recipe for the liquor, Drambuie, if you have an old bottle of Drambuie from 30+ years ago the story was written on the rear label on the bottle but due to modern times the labels have been updated n they no longer show this but you can find out more on the Drambuie website… I Digress…. Seumas will give you a running commentary about local landmarks and will answer any questions you may have, he will make sure your experience is one that will have you returning again to explore more as he also does trips to other islands such as Canna and Rhum, Enjoy your trip to Elgol, it is a wee gem that God created for his own holidays, such is the Beauty and friendliness of Elgol.

Par Claire Robinson Region Lovers SARL 76600 Le Havre FRANCE VAT FR21845103191

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Misty Isle Boat Trips

Boat trips from Elgol to Loch Coruisk in the heart of the Cuillins on the Isle of Skye. Enjoy a variety of wildlife and some outstandingly beautiful Highland scenery.

Seumas Mackinnon has run his world renowned boat trips from Elgol to Coruisk for over 40 years. Join his son Sandy, Grandson Wee Seumas and our local crew for the truly unique experience of visiting this spectacular wild location in the company of those who love their native area and are happy to share the knowledge built up over a lifetime. You will soon see why our guests become our friends and return time and time again. On your trip over from Elgol to the Isle of Skye's famous Cuillin mountain range you can spot wildlife such as, seals, eagles, porpoise and if your lucky dolphins and minke whale. Once you arrive at the landing steps there is a short walk to Loch Coruisk a truly beautiful spot and the most accessible place to fully enjoy the Cuillin mountains.

Price on Request

Departure days.

• W Wednesday

March — November

Contact details

• +44 (01471) 866288
• View tour details
• [email protected]

Tour information

• Large Group (31+)
• Medium Group (17-30)
• Small Group (1-16)
• Outdoor Activities
• Photography
• Walking/Hiking

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Tour gallery

Tour company information

Long established family owned and run boat trips taking you from Elgol to the heart of the majestic Cuillin Mountains on the Isle of Skye. Plenty of wildlife including seals, possibly porpoise, eagle, dolphin or minke whale sightings. Trips out to the islands of Rum and Canna to see the puffins during the nesting season from late April to late July. All boats have on board toilet facilities. Tea/coffee/hot chocolate served on every trip.

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Opening times

Daily except Sunday March to November. Charters available all year.

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How to Spend a Day in Elgol and Loch Coruisk, Isle of Skye

Elgol is a small quaint Scottish village on Loch Scavaig in the Strathaird peninsula of the Isle of Skye and offers one of the best views of the majestic Cuillin Ranges. Visiting Elgol was long in our mind. When we visited the Isle of Skye the first time seven years ago, we booked a boat trip from Elgol to Loch Coruisk. But, due to heavy flood, the boat service was cancelled. So, when we went back to Skye the next time, we knew we had to visit Elgol – one of the hidden gems in Scotland .

This beautiful village is a bit far off from the rest of the main attractions in Skye. The nearest large settlement is Broadford where we stayed the day before we visited Elgol.

📖 Read More: 25 Top Things to Do on the Isle of Skye, Scotland: Detailed Guide + Map

Getting to Elgol:

We wanted to catch a glimpse of the first rays of the sun on the Cuillin mountains. So, we started our day quite early in the morning.  

Stagecoach runs bus service 55 from Broadford to Elgol a few times a day on weekdays and schooldays. We took the first bus at about seven in the morning from Broadford Post Office and in 40 minutes, we reached Elgol. Bus timing gets changed based on school holidays. So, if you are coming to Elgol by bus, check out their timetable from Stagecoach website . Sometimes Google says it wrong.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 A Day in Elgol and Loch Coruisk, Isle of Skye, Scotland

1. sunrise over the cuillin mountains.

When we got off the bus it was still dark. Plus, being in early autumn, it was quite cold and windy as well. So, we decided to shelter ourselves in front of the Village Hall for some time. After a while, the lady, who runs a shop there, pulled in her car. Such a kind soul – she offered to put the kettle on for us though the shop won’t be open until the next half an hour. Now with the sun starting to hover at the horizon, we decided to come back for a cuppa after watching the sunrise.

So, we started heading towards the pier, which has an uninterrupted view over to the Cuillin mountains and Loch Scavaig. When the sun rose, the top of the mountains was absolutely spectacular with the soft red hues. While we were still savouring the view, we saw the shop lady driving her car towards the pier with our coffee. The hospitality of the Highland is simply unmatched.

2. Boat Trip to Loch Coruisk from Elgol

Misty Isle and Bella Jane – two local boat operators run sailings in summer from Elgol to Loch Coruisk, which lies at the foot of the Black Cuillin across Loch Scavaig and ‘Loch na Cuilce’. We took the Misty Isle one primarily because their sailing time was perfect for us. They have been running boat services here for over 50 years. The skipper, Seumas and his crew are very friendly and knowledgeable. They gave very engaging talks about local history and wildlife throughout the journey.  

We were really lucky to have a very glorious sunny day during our trip. With the sun shining over the majestic Cuillin Mountain, the closer we came towards it, the more we got amazed. Plus, we got a superb view to the Isle of Rum and Canna – two small islands on the Inner Hebrides. The boat trip was totally the highlight of our day.

Not only that, we spotted a couple of minke whales jumping above the sea. They were a bit far though and completely eluded our camera. Won’t complain though – we managed to take photos of some grey seals.

Having an abundance of wildlife in this area, they also have trips specially arranged for watching minke whales, dolphins, White-tailed sea eagles.

3. Loch Coruisk hike

Loch Coruisk lies at the foot of the Black Cuillin mountain and is an incredibly beautiful freshwater loch in Skye. From where the boat landed, we wandered along the Scavaig River, and soon after, Loch Coruisk came into the view. The 2-mile long stretch (maximum width 400 yards) of the loch with the imposing Black Cuillin mountain is simply breath-taking. The circular walk around the Loch will take around 3-4hours.

If you are an expert hiker, you can walk up to this Loch as well from Elgol via the infamous ‘bad step’ and take the boat back to Elgol. Plus, you can do wild camping as well if you fancy enjoying the wilderness overnight.

Alternatively you can walk from Sligachan to Elgol , which will take around 8hours.

Legend has it, Loch Coruisk is home to the Kelpies, mythical water horses in Scottish folklore who can transform into human shapes. We couldn’t manage to spot any of them or did we? Maybe we couldn’t recognise them.  

Loch Coruisk is also believed to be the birthplace of the famous folk song, ‘The Skye Boat Song’. This was composed after getting inspired by a Gaelic version sung by the local rowers. Now this song is more famous worldwide after the hugely popular TV series, Outlander, adapted the tune for its title track.

4. Lunch at the Elgol Village Hall

After the Loch Coruisk hike, when we came back to Elgol, it was almost midday. So, it’s time for lunch. The village shop at the top of the village makes really nice soup and rolls, especially the Elogian – a roll filled with locally sourced lobster. The B&B, where we stayed at Broadford the previous night, arranged a packed lunch for us. So, we simply grabbed a soup from the village shop. It was really delicious.

5. Walking along the Loch Scavaig & Prince Charlie’s Cave

After filling ourselves up, we started walking along the jagged coastline of Loch Scavaig and got some stunning views of the Cuillin. We met an old chap who lives in Yorkshire. He loves Elgol so much that he drives here every year. He never saw so much sun in Elgol. Anyway, afterwards, we went towards Bonnie Prince Charlie’s cave where he hid after the defeat of the Jacobite’s in the mid-18 th century.

Overall, Elgol was a great day trip. The view is too good to process in a day. Elgol should definitely come at the top of your itinerary in Skye.

Planing a Trip to Scotland?

For further reading on other SCOTLAND destinations:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Isle of Skye | 25 Most Incredible Things to do in Isle of Skye

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Cullen, Moray |  2 Days in Cullen, Moray Firth – 17 Things to Do

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Braemar | How to Spend 2 Days in Braemar – 15 Top Things to do

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Plockton | How to Spend a day in Plockton – 7 Best Things to do

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Inveraray | 15 Most Awesome Things to do in Inveraray

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Elgol |  How to Spend a Day in Elgol and Loch Coruisk, Isle of Skye

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Best Villages in Scotland | 20 Most picturesque Villages in Scotland

3 thoughts on “How to Spend a Day in Elgol and Loch Coruisk, Isle of Skye”

Great article.thank you.will definitely be on our agenda

Thanks so much, really glad to hear you liked our article. Elgol is a stunningly beautiful place. I am sure you will enjoy your visit. Cheers, Sankha.

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About Our Boat Trips

Find out what makes a boat trip with us so special and what makes Misty Isle Boat Trips such a special part of Elgol’s history.

The Misty Isle Boat Trips Experience

Loch Coruisk Boat Trips with us need to be experienced to be believed! The climax of your boat trip will be the awesome view when you arrive at Loch Coruisk itself as it sits in the heart of the Cuillin hills in the south west of the Isle of Skye. But there is much to see and hear about along the journey to Loch Coruisk as well!

As you leave the village of Elgol, you will be surrounded by some of the most magnificent scenery to be found anywhere in the world. You will cruise past the Small Isles of the Inner Hebrides on your left.

Approaching the Cuillin hills and Loch Coruisk you will see a great variety of seabirds including some rare species – oyster catchers, manx shearwaters, razorbills, cormorants, herons and occasional sea eagles, golden eagles and puffins, to name just a few, are found in the area (some are there all the time, others are more occasional visitors).

Other sea life can often be seen. Occasionally basking sharks, minky whales, dolphins and porpoises join us for our sail to Loch Coruisk. Sometimes they come very near to the boat, providing passengers with fantastic photo opportunities.

After your arrival at breathtaking Loch Coruisk you will have plenty of time ashore for the short walk to the loch or just to enjoy the beauty and tranquility that surrounds you. There is a wide variety of trip lengths available to suit every need.

And then… very near to Loch Coruisk… there are the famous seals!

Booking in advance is not always essential but it is always highly recommended to ensure we keep a place for you. Do have a look at our times and prices page for more details.

The Misty Isle Boat Trips History

Misty Isle Boat Trips is run by Seumas and Anne Mackinnon. The Mackinnon family have lived in Elgol since the 1300s when they were gifted the land by Robert the Bruce. Seumas’ ancestor, Captain John Mackinnon was the skipper who famously ferried Bonnie Prince Charlie to safety from a cave in Elgol back in 1747.

Seumas has had the pleasure of running passenger boat trips Elgol to Loch Coruisk for over 50 years, beginning in 1969 (The famous film director Alfred Hitchcock being one of his first!)

He is often asked if, after so many hundreds of trips, he ever tires of the views of the Cuillins or of visiting Loch Coruisk itself. Seumas believes that it is impossible to tire of such a stunning and ever-changing part of the Scottish Highlands.

In 2009 Seumas was asked to write an article for the ‘ Elgol & Torrin Historical Society ’ magazine about the history of Elgol boat trips to Loch Coruisk. The following is adapted from that article:

Loch Coruisk Memorial Hut

In 1958 skipper Seumas’ father, Lachlan Mackinnon, was commissioned to build a climbers bothy near Loch Coruisk by the families of 2 boys who died in a climbing accident a few years earlier. The building was to be a memorial to the boys and to provide shelter and accommodation for those climbing the Cuillin Hills.

Find out more about the history of the Loch Coruisk Memorial Hut and how it is still in use today.

Away With Maja

A ferry trip from elgol to loch coruisk on the isle of skye, scotland.

One of my favorite experiences on the Isle of Skye was taking the ferry from Elgol to Loch Coruisk. There are so many amazing places in Skye (and in Scotland in general!) to explore, and it’s hard to see them all! But I knew I wanted to go on a boat trip during my trip to Skye. And after seeing a few photos of Loch Coruisk, I had made my mind up: I had to go!

Bella Jane Boat Trips

There are two different companies that offer ferry trips from Elgol. I booked with Bella Jane , and would absolutely recommend them. They do recommend booking in advance, as opposed to just showing up and buying a ticket on the day. That was a bit tricky as we barely had phone signal the day before! But eventually we got service and were able to get through to make our booking.

Bella Jane offer a few different options for the ferry to Loch Coruisk. One of the most popular is the “standard return trip,” which is 3 hours. It’s approximately 45 minutes from Elgol to Loch Coruisk, and then you have 1.5 hours at the lake itself. Then you can hope on the next ferry, which again takes roughly 45 minutes. This is the one that we did, and I really enjoyed it!

They also do a flexible return trip, to give yourself 3 hours, 4.5 hours, or 6.5 hours onshore. This would be enough time to walk around the lake (which is meant to take about 3 hours), or even more major walking! You can also book a “one way in” trip for walkers/climbers. The ferry brings you out, and then you can either walk back to Elgol, or onto another destination. You can also book a “one way out” trip, if you hike to Loch Coruisk and want to get the ferry to Elgol. There were two people on our ferry ride who were doing the “one way in”—they were planning to camp at Loch Coruisk that night, which would be amazing! While I didn’t do this, you can still check out all about the best wild camping spots on the Isle of Skye !

As they recommend booking in advance, I called the day before and had no issues getting a spot on the ferry at 10:45am! Doreen took our name and card details over the phone, so all we had to do when we got to Elgol the next morning was pop into the office, say hello, and get our receipt.

The Ferry Trip to Loch Coruisk

I was pretty worried about the weather going out to Loch Coruisk. It looks very miserable, misty, foggy, and it rained a bit on our journey out. But it was a spectacular experience getting closer and closer to the magnificent Cuillins in front of us! There were a lot of us on the ferry (it was completely full), including two very cute dogs. We also learned a lot about the other islands we could see (including Soay and Rum), which was so cool!

While the company don’t guarantee it, generally you can see seals on the way to the lake. We saw loads of them!!! They looked so cute and were just spread out across the rocks, having a great time and enjoying life.

The ferry journey isn’t particularly rough or scary at all. It took about 35 minutes actual sailing on the boat to get to the landing for Loch Coruisk. Luckily by the time we got to the landing, the clouds had parted and we were treated to some sunshine!

Exploring Loch Coruisk

Loch Coruisk is one of the most stunningly beautiful places I’ve ever seen. The color of the water is unreal. From the boat landing, you walk along a short river to the beginning of the lake. You can cross over on some stepping stones, which Adam did successfully!

We really just set out to walk along part of the lake until it was time to turn back. The views were amazing. There were other people both from our ferry and the previous one, but it felt so remote and peaceful. Maybe it was just something about only getting there by ferry or by walking!

One of the best parts about visiting Loch Coruisk is the chance to get up close and personal with the Cuillins (the mountain range in the southwest of Skye), without actually having to do major hikes or climbing! You have the most amazing view of the mountains from Loch Coruisk. If we had had more time, I would have wanted to walk the entire length of the lake. The path wasn’t always clear in places at the beginning (where we were walking), but it is essentially just a circular path around the lake. But even doing what we did and just getting out and exploring was amazing!

I don’t feel like photos can do Loch Coruisk justice. It was just stunning.

Back to Elgol

We got the ferry back that left around 1:25pm, and returned to Elgol around 1:50pm. You pre-order a hot drink on the way out, and then they’ll have it ready for whichever ferry you’re getting back! It was windy and blustery on board so definitely nice to have a hot chocolate included. There isn’t much to see in Elgol itself, but it’s a cute enough village with great views out to the other islands.

A standard return trip with Bella Jane costs £28 for adults, £26 for students/over 60’s, and cheaper for children. We paid over the phone by card with no problems. As I said, they do recommend booking in advance (ferries can and will fill up during busy times), so try to call ahead to avoid any disappointment. You can view all the information on their website here .

There is very limited parking at Elgol. We arrived at around 10:00am for our 10:45am ferry, and there were barely any spaces left! I’d definitely recommend getting there in the morning if you can, just to snag a place to park. Elgol is about 14 miles from Broadford, on a very narrow single-track road. Be prepared to frequently use the passing places built into the road. There is no other road going to Elgol.

Loch Coruisk was one of my favorite places I visited on the Isle of Skye! It was a beautiful, remote area, with a lot to explore. Taking the ferry from Elgol was a unique experience. I can’t recommend doing this trip enough! Give yourself half a day or a day to get out and see Loch Coruisk under the shadow of the Cuillins!

Have you visited this part of the Isle of Skye? Or gone on another ferry trip?!

Check out my other posts on Scotland:

The Best Wild Camping Spots On The Isle Of Skye

Alternative Isle Of Skye: 4 Ways To Avoid The Crowds

Staying In The Camasunary Bay Bothy On The Isle Of Skye

12 Tips For Planning Your Scottish Highlands Road Trip

All my Scotland posts!

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Skye Boat Trips

Aquaxplore boat trips.

AquaXplore - exhilarating wildlife and sighteeing adventures!

Visit the beautiful and remote Small Isles of Canna, Rum, Eigg, Soay & Loch Coruisk/the Cuillins. Breathtaking scenery, unique history and abundant wildlife - regular sightings of Minke whales, Basking Sharks, Seals, Dolphins, Porpoises, Sea-Eagles, Puffins and many other seabirds. Informative commentary from your skipper/guide.

Sailing every day (April to October). Tours from 1½ hours to all day - booking essential. Some guest comments: "amazing" "absolutely fantastic" "superb!"

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Special services for Climbers and Walkers - Ideal for ridge traverses and the Dubh Ridge. Early Bird dropoffs from 9.00am (or earlier) and late pickups. See boat trips page or call us.

Corporate, commercial or private charter trips - We offer a truly flexible service and will always endeavour to provide what you want. We can promise you a great service and a memorable trip!

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