Scottish Island Ferrries

Ferries to Stornoway Lewis Outer Hebrides

A regular ferry service is run by Caledonian MacBrayne from Ullapool on the west coast of the Scottish Highlands to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.

There are usually two sailings a day and three in the peak season. The journey takes just over two and half hours arriving in Stornoway harbour in the heart of the town.

The ferry is the largest in the CalMac fleet, "The Isle of Lewis", and carries 970 passengers and 123 cars. Onboard facilities include a cafeteria and display screen to show the ship's position. You can purchase an Island Hopscotch ticket if you're planning doing several island crossings. Ferry crossings between Scotland and the Hebrides include Harris, the Isle of Skye, the Uists and Barra.

Ferries between Oban Scotland and South Uist Western Isles

Ferries run between Oban on the Scottish mainland to Lochboisdale on South Uist. This is a triangular service where some crossings go on to Castlebay on Barra.

The journey takes almost 6 hours and there are around four sailings per week during the summer.

From Lochboisdale on South Uist you can carry on by ferry to Castlebay on Barra which takes around an hour and a half.

Ferries from Oban to Castlebay on Barra Outer Hebrides

Some of the ferry services from Oban to South Uist carry on to the Isle of Barra docking at Castlebay. The journey takes an hour and a half.

There are also direct sailings from Oban to Castlebay on Barra. There are around six direct sailings on days when the ferry to Lochboisdale doesn't run. The journey from Oban to Castlebay takes around five and a half hours. Some of the sailings go via the islands of Tiree and Coll.

Check the timetables on the CalMac website for more information as some juggling may be required for planning your trip.

Shetland Islands Ferries

Travelling by ferry gives you frequent sailings to and from the Shetlands throughout the year and is cheaper than flying. You can even gain some time by travelling overnight arriving early in the morning to take full advantage of daylight hours. You're making excellent use of your time and you might even catch a glimpse of whales, dolphins and seabirds on the way.

From the Scottish mainland Northlink Ferries run the most frequent ferry service from Aberdeen to Lerwick. Some sailings also stop off at Kirkwall on Orkney. This is a twelve hour journey that you can take overnight on a cruise-style ferry. You can take vehicles or just travel as a foot passenger. Cabins are also available. NorthLink also offer cruise package to and from Shetland and Orkney. Check the NorthLink Ferries website for up-to-date information on timetables and fares.

The council-run ferry services run a good range of trips between the larger, inhabited islands. Make sure you plan journeys and check running times as these can sometimes be affected by weather. Day-trips are feasible to islands near Mainland but you may have to stay at least overnight for connecting ferries some days. Day trips often only give you a brief glimpse of what the islands have to offer so make it a longer stay to get a better picture of the different Shetland Islands.

Orkney Islands Ferries

There are several options for travelling to the Orkney Islands by ferry. Departure points are from Aberdeen or Scrabster, Gills Bay or John O'Groats on the Caithness coast. Ferries either pull into the ferry terminal at Halston near Kirkwall on the eastern side of Mainland or Stromness ferry terminal on the west side of Mainland Orkney.

Orkney Ferries run inter-island services from Kirkwall to the following Orkney islands: Shapinsay, Westray, Stronsay and Sanday. Although it is tempting to try and visit various by day-trips, you'll be able to appreciate them more by taking a little more time over your visits.

Isle of Skye

Caledonian MacBrayne run a car passenger ferry service between Mallaig on the Morar Peninsula Scotland and Armadale on the south of the Isle of Skye. Ferries run all through the week including Sundays unless the weather is so bad it makes the crossing difficult. There are eight sailings Mon-Sat and up to six on Sundays. It's one of the shortest ferry crossings taking only 25 minutes and the ferry can take up to 40 cars. From Mallaig ferries also run to The Small Isles: Eigg, Muck, Rum and Canna.

CalMac also run a car passenger service between Uig on the north of the Isle of Skye to Lochmaddy on North Uist. The journey takes an hour and forty minutes. There are usually two crossings during the day in the summer, seven days a week. Some of the sailings go via Tarbert on Harris. Direct sailings from Uig to Tarbert on the Isle of Harris are also available. Between March and October there are generally two sailings daily Monday to Saturday. The journey takes an hour and forty minutes.

One of the few ferries left that cross from the Scottish Highlands to the Isle of Skye goes from Glenelg. It sails across the Sound of Sleat to Kylerhea between Easter and November. It has only been able to continue going since the opening of the Skye Bridge when a group of local people bought it as the Isle of Skye Ferry Community Trust. Anyone can join and the subscription helps fund the ferry service.

The service runs from Easter to October and takes just 5 minutes. Ferries run every 15 minutes during busy times and every 30 minutes when it's less busy. The ferry can take up to 6 cars. Check their website for up-to-date information or contact them on Tel: 01599 522273 or 01599 522253 or 01599 522313. Email: info@skyeferry.co.uk. Always check the latest sailing times as ferries don't always run in bad weather.

Ferries from Oban Scotland to Isle of Mull

Oban is home to a state-of-the-art, three storey ferry terminal which is the hub for Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries to the Isle of Mull. Regular sailings mean that Oban becomes inundated by visitors travelling to and from the Isle of Mull. You can travel to the ferry terminal from Glasgow's Queen Street railway station. Caledonian MacBrayne Ferry timetables indicate which trains you need to catch to make the ferry sailings. The railway station in Oban is about a five minute walk from the harbour.

There are between five and seven sailings every day during the summer and the journey takes just three quarters of an hour - making this the most popular route for sailing to the Isle of Mull. Calmac Ferries dock at Craignure on the west of Mull. For this reason it really is best to book your journey in advance if you want the pick of the sailings.

The ferry is equipped to take 80 cars and 972 passengers and has a cafeteria and lounge on board. The ferry journey is scenic passing by the small island of Kerrera which lies close to Oban's harbour and the southern tip of the Isle of Lismore. The approach to Mull with its mountains rising out of the haze and Duart Castle is truly breathtaking.

Getting to Isle of Islay from Kintyre

Caledonian MacBrayne also run the main ferry service to Islay from Kennacraig south of Tarbert, Kintyre. Journeys dock at either Port Ellen or Port Askaig on Islay. The Port Askaig sailings go on to Colonsay and Oban. This is a bigger car passenger ferry than those above and have lounges and a cafeteria.

The Port Askaig sailings go on to the Isle of Colonsay and Oban. The Kennacraig ferry also docks at Feolin on the Isle of Jura.

From Port Askaig you can take a ferry across to the Isle of Jura. A passenger only ferry is run by K&C Byrne Tel. 01951 200320. Email. byrne@colonsay.org.uk.

Kintyre Ferries to Isle of Arran - Isle of Gigha - Cowal Peninsula

Ferries run from Kintyre to the Southern Hebridean islands of Arran, Gigha, Islay and Jura.

Caladonian MacBryane Ferries run services from Claonaig on the east coast of Kintyre to Lochranza on the Isle of Arran. There are around nine services every day including Sundays. The crossings take half an hour and space is limited as it's a small ferry.

Caledonian MacBrayne also run small car passenger service from Tarbert to Portvadie on the Cowal peninsula, east of Kintyre. Between Mar-Oct there are about twelve crossings.

On the west coast of Kintyre just south of Tarbert the ferry for the Isle of Gigha departs from Tayinloan. Between Mar-Oct there are around ten sailings Mon-Sat with six on Sundays. The ferry crossing takes just twenty minutes.

Ferries from Oban to the Isles of Coll & Tiree

Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries from Oban also run regular services to Coll and Tiree Inner Hebrides islands. The services run from Oban to Coll and then on to Tiree. There are the occasional direct sailing straight from Oban to Tiree.

Some of the Oban-Coll-Tiree sailings go on to Barra in the Outer Hebrides. Check the CalMac Island Hopscotch tickets if you're planning to do some island hopping.

There is usually one sailing per day Monday-Sunday. Do check the up-to-date timetables as you may need to plan your journey carefully to arrive and depart at suitable times on different days.

Ferries from Oban to Isle of Lismore

Ferries also run from Oban to the Isle of Lismore, an excellent place for wildlife, walking and cycling and Bronze age and Pictish archaeological sites.

The journey runs from Oban to Achnacroish on Lismore which is at the south end of the island. The journey takes just under an hour and runs between Monday and Saturday.

You can also get a ferry to Lismore from Appin on the west coast of Scotland north of Oban.

Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries - Ferry Schedules

Check the CalMac website for up-to-date timetables and prices for all journeys, weblink right or contact CalMac direct on tel: 08705 650000. Fax: 01475 635235. Email: reservations@calmac.co.uk.

If you're planning a few ferry journeys it might be worth investing in one of the Island Hopscotch or Island Rover tickets. These are valid for several journeys between islands and can be more cost effective than buying the tickets for each journey separately. Again, check the CalMac website for up-to-date prices and offers.