Your Hebridean island journey starts when you travel to our archipelago, just off the North West coast of Scotland. Separated from mainland Scotland by The Minch and Iceland and America by the vast Atlantic Ocean.
Getting to the Outer Hebrides is much easier and quicker than you might imagine. From the central belt of Scotland, you can be on the Western Isles in an hour if you are flying! Although when you are here, there is feeling of being a million miles from the pressures of your everyday existence.
Travelling to the Outer Hebrides over the sea is a popular choice and CalMac (Calendonian MacBrayne) run our Western Isles ferry services. The ferries connect our islands to the mainland and our island-groups to each other. Many folk choose Island-hopping holidays to see all our islands on their first visit and then come back and visit each island for longer. Travelling by ferry makes you feel like you are getting away from it all and the start of something special.
UIG HARBOUR CLOSURE 2023
Please note the Uig Harbour Closures in 2023 which will affect some of our ferry services. Uig Harbour in Skye will close for planned upgrade works from 16 January - 13 March 2023 and 30 October - 11 December 2023. This will affect Tarbert (Harris) and Lochmaddy (North Uist) ferry services in particular with timetable changes to accommodate the service changes on the Stornoway, Lochboisdale and Sound of Harris ferries. More information is detailed here.
Please also note that Summer 2023 ferry timetables are due to be published in late January 2023. This year, bookings will open on a phased approach. Phase 1 will cover the period 31 March – 4 June and will open for bookings shortly after publication of the timetables. Bookings for the period from 4 June will be made available as soon as CalMac are able to do so.
Jet set travellers can choose from a range of direct scheduled flights to the Western Isles which leave daily from 4 UK airports and are serviced by Loganair. You can even start your holiday with an unforgettable bucket list experience and take a flight to the Outer Hebrides landing at Barra Airport – where use the cockle strand airstrip of Traigh Mhor beach, which is consistently voted one of the world’s top air approaches and where flight schedules are at the mercy of the tides.
Explore the finest sailing in the British Isles - the Outer Hebrides. With new sheltered facilities throughout, you need only choose your route and destinations ranging from fully serviced first rate facilities or isolated wilderness anchorages, often within a day’s sail of each other. Whether on a skippered boat a charter or on your own boat, the choice is yours.
If you are short of time and want someone else to organise your trip for you, there are a number of companies who have great local knowledge and will help you build a tailor made holiday of your dreams!