The Outer Hebrides consist of many islands. That's a lot of small islands and a few bigger ones. The large islands have bridge connections with other islands. As a result, the Outer Hebrides consist of 3 areas. Those are:
- Lewis
- North Uist & South Uist
- Barra
Two ferries run between the islands, making almost entire outer Hebrides easily accessible once you are there.
You can book various ferry services to get to the Outer Hebrides from mainland Scotland. Boats run from Ullapool, Uig, Mallaig and Oban. Which boat is best to take can be clearly seen on the ferry map on this page.
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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
Ferry to Lewis
The largest island of the Hebrides is Lewis. From the mainland there are two ferries to this island and you can also take a boat to this island from North Uist. The ferries to Lewis are Uig-Tarbert and Leverburgh-Berneray.
Ferry to North Uist & South Uist
North Uist & South Uist are connected with a bridge. So you can also travel to a different island than your final destination. There are ferries to Lochmaddy and Lochboisdaile on Uist.
Ferry to Barra
Barra is a smaller island which can be reached by ferry. One ferry sails from the mainland and another ferry connects Barra and South-Uist. You can get to Barra with the Oban-Castlebay crossing.
The Outer Hebrides
As can be seen in the image above, the outer Hebrides is made up of a few larger islands. Stornoway is the main town on the island.
Steòrnabhagh / Stornoway
Stornoway is a small town where the ferry from Ullapool docks. Being the only town of any size on the islands, Stornoway is also considered the area's capital. Yet the town only has a little over 5,000 inhabitants.
Frequently Asked Questions
The ferry crossings are operated by Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac).
Use our ferry guides and maps
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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!