The Outer Hebrides look like a scatter of islands, but for a ferry trip it is simpler than it seems. Lewis and Harris are one island, and from Berneray in the north to Eriskay in the south the Uists are joined by causeways. In practice you plan for four areas: Lewis and Harris, the Uists, Barra, and the two short crossings in between. All the ferries are run by CalMac.
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Every ferry to the Outer Hebrides compared
| Route | Island | Crossing | Winter sailings | Single: car / adult* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ullapool – Stornoway | Lewis | 2h40 – 3 hours | 2 a day Mon – Sat, 1 on Sunday | £69.05 / £12.75 |
| Uig – Tarbert | Harris | about 1h40 | 1 – 2 a day (Sunday via Lochmaddy) | £41.90 / £8.50 |
| Uig – Lochmaddy | North Uist | about 1h45 | 1 – 2 a day | £41.90 / £8.50 |
| Mallaig – Lochboisdale | South Uist | about 3h30 | Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun | £78.05 / £14.05 |
| Oban – Castlebay | Barra | 4h45 – 5h35 | Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sun | £91.95 / £19.70 |
| Leverburgh – Berneray | Harris ↔ North Uist | 1 – 1h10 | 2 – 3 a day | £18.45 / £4.90 |
| Eriskay – Barra (Ardmhor) | South Uist ↔ Barra | about 40 minutes | 5 a day Mon – Sat, 2 on Sunday | £14.45 / £4.20 |
*CalMac winter 2026/27 single fares, valid until 25 March 2027; the car price excludes the driver. The winter timetable runs from 19 October 2026 to 25 March 2027, the summer timetable from 26 March to 17 October 2027. No sailings on 25 December and 1 January.
Check Ullapool – Stornoway · Check Uig – Tarbert · Check Uig – Lochmaddy · Check Oban – Castlebay
Which ferry for which island?
Lewis: Ullapool – Stornoway
The big ferry, MV Loch Seaforth, sails from Ullapool to Stornoway, the only town of any size in the Outer Hebrides. Ullapool is about an hour from Inverness, and Citylink coaches connect with the sailings. This is the route for the north: the Callanish Stones, the Butt of Lewis and the beaches of west Lewis.
Harris and North Uist: from Uig on Skye
From Uig on the north of Skye, MV Hebrides sails to Tarbert on Harris and to Lochmaddy on North Uist, each in under two hours. Uig is the obvious choice if you combine the Hebrides with Skye. Note that Tarbert is on Harris, not Lewis, although the two share one island. The rebuilt harbour at Uig is finished, so the earlier closures are behind us.
South Uist and Barra: from Mallaig and Oban
For the south, Mallaig – Lochboisdale (South Uist) takes about 3.5 hours, and Oban – Castlebay (Barra) about five hours. Both run on selected days only, so plan your trip around the timetable rather than the other way round.
Our island-hopping route: north to south in a week
The best way to see the Outer Hebrides is to go in at one end and come out at the other. With two short ferries you can drive the whole chain:
- Ullapool – Stornoway to Lewis. Two days for Stornoway, the Callanish Stones and the west coast.
- Drive south to Harris (same island): the beaches of Luskentyre and Seilebost, then Leverburgh.
- Leverburgh – Berneray across the Sound of Harris, about an hour.
- North Uist, Benbecula and South Uist by causeway, with machair, white beaches and very little traffic.
- Eriskay – Barra across the Sound of Barra, 40 minutes.
- Castlebay – Oban back to the mainland.
The old Hopscotch island-hopping tickets no longer exist: you book each crossing separately, but CalMac lets you book all legs in one transaction with its multiple-journey option. Want to fly part of the way? Loganair flies to Stornoway, Benbecula and Barra, where the plane lands on the beach.
Good to know for winter 2026/27
- Uig triangle: from 3 January to 25 March 2027 a combined Uig – Lochmaddy – Tarbert timetable applies, and on some sailings passenger numbers may be restricted depending on freight.
- Sound of Harris: because of a technical issue with MV Loch Portain, MV Loch Bhrusda runs an amended timetable this winter, and there is no service on a few maintenance Sundays (1 November, 13 December, 10 January, 7 February and 7 March).
- Oban – Castlebay: on some dates the sailing runs combined via Lochboisdale, which makes the crossing longer.
- New ships: CalMac is bringing new vessels into service, including two new ships for the Uig routes, so timetables can change during the season.
Sundays on Lewis and Harris
Ferries do sail on Sundays to Stornoway, Tarbert (via Lochmaddy) and across the Sound of Harris. But Lewis and Harris still keep the Sabbath: many shops, cafés, fuel stations and attractions are closed. Fill up and do your shopping on Saturday.
Booking tips
- Book in advance, also as a foot passenger: CalMac asks everyone to book before travelling, and car spaces sell out in summer.
- Check-in times differ by route, so always use the deadline on your booking confirmation or the CalMac route page. Arrive late and your space may be given away.
- Motorhome? The islands ask you to use official campsites or designated overnight spots.
- Getting to the ports: Ullapool is about 1 hour from Inverness, Uig about 5 hours and Oban about 2h45 from Glasgow. More routes on our Scotland ferry page and the Hebrides overview.
Timetable, availability, and compare prices
Our online booking module makes it easy to find and book your desired ferry crossing to the Scottish Hebrides. All you have to do is enter your departure port, destination, and travel dates. The system will show you the best routes and possible alternatives. You can then choose the ferry that best suits your needs and budget. Have a great trip!
Also on this page
FAQ: ferry to the Outer Hebrides
How do you get to the Outer Hebrides by ferry?
CalMac sails from four ports: Ullapool to Stornoway (Lewis), Uig on Skye to Tarbert (Harris) and Lochmaddy (North Uist), Mallaig to Lochboisdale (South Uist) and Oban to Castlebay (Barra). Two short ferries link the islands: Leverburgh – Berneray and Eriskay – Barra.
How long is the ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway?
About 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours on MV Loch Seaforth, with two sailings a day from Monday to Saturday and one on Sunday in winter.
Do ferries run to the Outer Hebrides on Sundays?
Yes, ferries sail on Sundays to Stornoway, Tarbert (via Lochmaddy) and across the Sound of Harris. On Lewis and Harris many shops, cafés and fuel stations are closed on Sundays, so plan ahead.
How much is the ferry to the Outer Hebrides?
Fares are set under the Road Equivalent Tariff and are low: in winter 2026/27 a single from Ullapool to Stornoway is £12.75 per adult and £69.05 for a car (driver not included). The short inter-island crossings cost from £4.20 per adult.
Can you island-hop through the Outer Hebrides by car?
Yes. Lewis and Harris are one island and the Uists are joined by causeways, so with the Leverburgh – Berneray and Eriskay – Barra ferries you can drive from Stornoway to Barra and sail back from Castlebay to Oban.
Do I need to book the ferry to the Outer Hebrides?
Yes, CalMac advises booking in advance, also for foot passengers. In summer vehicle spaces on the main routes often sell out weeks ahead.
Ferry talk: Share your questions and opinions
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I cant find any ferries that leave North or South Hebrides and go to Oban despite the map and route showing this. I am trying to leave the Islands in early Oct and would like to land in Oban
Hi Joan,
Here you can see the winter timetables of Calmac!