Many of the biggest adventures start with a ferry ride – where will yours take you? The various ferry services in Scotland are a living line of life for the island’s inhabitants and a great way to experience the unique beauty of these remote areas.
Firth of Clyde and the Inner and Outer Hebrides
Caledonian MacBrayne, commonly known as CalMac, handles all major services on the Firth of Clyde and on the Inner and Outer Hebrides, sailing to more than 20 destinations. The continental ports serving islands in the west include Oban and Kennacraig in Argyll and Mallaig and Ullapool in the Highlands.
In the case of CalMac ferries, it is recommended to book tickets in advance, if possible, although you can usually buy tickets for passengers on the day of travel. If you are planning to make many ferry trips, consider buying a Island Hopscotch ticket that combines many trips, or you can leave your car behind and decide on a great Rail and Sail ticket.
Buying passes does not guarantee a place on a specific ferry, so it is best to book in advance if you are traveling with a car. Always check your pre-trip travel information for detailed information on baggage allowance, time and delays, and cancellations due to weather conditions.
Argyll Ferries also operates regular connections between Dunoon and Gourock, which can be combined with the Glasgow Central train ticket and lasts only an hour and a half
Ferries to Orkney and Shetland
NorthLink Ferries operate night car ferries from Aberdeen in the northeast to Lerwick in Shetland, with stops on the way to alternative days in the main port of Orkney, Kirkwall. Travel time is around 12 hours directly, and just over 14 hours by Orkney Islands.
Crossings between islands in Shetland are held in conjunction with the local council, and information on routes and timetables can be found on the Shetland Islands Council website.
NorthLink Ferries also operates car ferries from Scrabster at Caithness to Stromness on Orkney, which takes about an hour and a half.
You can also get to Orkney from Pentland Ferries, which is a car ferry from Gills Bay, near John o ‚Groats, to St Margaret’s Hope, South Ronaldsay. During the summer, John O ‚Groats Ferries offers a passenger ferry from John to’ Groata to Burwick, South Ronaldsay. Many Orkney Islands are connected to the services provided by Orkney Ferries.
Ferries are popular, so remember to book in advance. You will find that you can book Northlink Ferries or Pentland Ferries directly with companies.
