If a road is closed on Skye, check Traffic Scotland’s live incident notices and planned roadworks before choosing another route. Follow the official diversion and any instructions at the scene; don’t assume a map’s suggested shortcut is open or suitable. If the notice does not make a safe route to your destination clear, pause and verify access before setting off.
Where to check Skye road closures
Start with Traffic Scotland’s current incidents and road closures. Then check its separate planned roadworks and closures listing for restrictions that may affect your route on the day you travel. Check again close to departure: incident reports and work schedules can change.
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Read the location, direction, dates and traffic controls in each notice. Planned works may involve portable traffic lights, convoy working or a full closure, and those conditions have different implications for your journey. A notice covering one segment does not necessarily say whether a destination elsewhere on Skye is reachable.
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What to do if the A855 or road to Uig is closed
Do not assume the island has a simple local bypass. The Highland Council identifies the A855 as the Portree–Staffin–Uig road, alongside other routes including the A850, A863, A851 and B8083. Which route is relevant depends on where the closure is and where you are going.
At the time of the cited Traffic Scotland notice, the A855 was reported closed north of the A87 Uig junction because of a landslide. That was a live incident report, not a standing statement about access. Check the current notice for its status and follow the diversion provided by the road authority. Do not drive around barriers or rely on an old diversion instruction.
If there is no official diversion, or you cannot tell whether it reaches your accommodation or planned stop, contact the accommodation provider or relevant local authority to verify access before committing to a detour. Be prepared to change the day’s stops if the route remains uncertain.
Build flexibility into the itinerary
VisitScotland notes that driving gives many visitors flexibility and access to remote places. Use that flexibility in your schedule: identify the main approach to each day’s destination, but avoid making every day depend on a tight connection or a single road.
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- Leave time to check a notice, wait for updated instructions or turn back if access is unclear.
- Recheck the route before leaving for the day, not only when planning the trip at home.
Account for Skye’s road conditions
Some roads on Skye are single track with passing places, as VisitScotland notes. A route that looks shorter on a map may require slower, careful driving and is not necessarily a time-saving detour. Follow passing-place etiquette and do not enter a restricted road simply because a navigation app still routes through it.
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Use maps for orientation, not live status
A printed map or offline navigation can help with geography when mobile coverage is limited, but neither establishes that a road is currently open. They may not reflect a fresh landslide, temporary closure, convoy or roadworks restriction. Confirm road status through Traffic Scotland and obey signs and instructions on site.
Consider planned works beyond the day of travel
Traffic Scotland’s works listing includes activity on the A87, the main approach to Uig, and around Portree and Sligachan. Check dates and traffic-management details against your travel window rather than assuming a listed project means a continuous closure.
The Highland Council’s February 2026 update describes a proposed rolling 2026/27 roads programme covering sections of the A851 in Sleat, the A855 in Trotternish, and B-, C- and U-class roads. The council says the programme could change following survey results and budget confirmation, so treat it as background rather than a fixed schedule for a particular journey.
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A practical departure checklist
- Open Traffic Scotland incidents and closures and check the affected approach.
- Review planned roadworks for the date and time you expect to travel.
- Read the exact location, direction, dates and traffic controls; identify whether the notice supplies an official diversion.
- If the alternative route or destination access is unclear, stop to verify it rather than following a speculative shortcut.
- Check again before departure and follow any updated notice or on-site direction.
For route geography, The Highland Council’s Skye & Lochalsh Winter Plan lists local route names and connections; it is not a live closure source. VisitScotland’s Isle of Skye travel information covers driving and single-track-road context.
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