Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) Ferries
Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) runs the ferries to the islands of Scotland’s west coast, across some 200 miles of coastline: the Clyde islands such as Arran, Bute and Cumbrae, and the Inner and Outer Hebrides, including Mull, Islay, Raasay, the Small Isles, Lewis and Harris, the Uists and Barra. FerryConnect covers 33 CalMac routes, from 5-minute crossings to Kerrera and Bute to the 4¾–7 hour sailing from Oban to Castlebay.
Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) Routes
Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) sailing patterns
- Oban → Craignure
Winter 2026/27 (19 October – 12 March): six or seven sailings a day each way, five on Sundays. The first leaves Oban at about 07:00 (09:45 on Sundays) and the last at about 17:45 (21:50 on Fridays and Saturdays). Crossings take 50 minutes, or about an hour on MV Loch Frisa.
CalMac Mull winter timetable; separate timetables apply 13–16 and 17–25 March 2027. No sailings on 25 December and 1 January.
Source: CalMac Oban–Craignure winter 2026/27 timetable, checked 2026-10-29
- Ullapool → Stornoway (Isle of Lewis)
Winter timetable: until 15 November 2026, from Ullapool at 10:45 and 18:15 Monday to Saturday and 18:00 on Sundays (about 3 hours); from 16 November 2026 to 25 March 2027, at 10:30 and 17:30 Monday to Friday, 10:30 and 18:30 on Saturdays and 18:30 on Sundays (about 2 hours 40 minutes).
CalMac winter timetable 19 October 2026 – 25 March 2027; no sailings on 25 December and 1 January. The summer 2027 timetable runs 26 March – 17 October 2027.
Source: CalMac Stornoway–Ullapool winter 2026/27 timetable (updated 21 October 2026), checked 2026-10-29
- Uig (Isle of Skye) → Tarbert (Isle of Harris)
Winter timetable to 2 January 2027: from Uig at 14:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, at 09:40 and 18:15 on Tuesdays and Saturdays, at 15:00 on Thursdays, and at 14:30 via Lochmaddy on Sundays. Direct crossings take 1 hour 40 minutes. A combined Uig–Lochmaddy–Tarbert timetable applies from 3 January to 25 March 2027.
CalMac Harris winter timetable; no sailings on 25 December and 1 January.
Source: CalMac Uig–Tarbert winter 2026/27 timetable, checked 2026-10-29
- Mallaig → Armadale (Isle of Skye)
Winter 2026/27: two sailings a day from Mallaig Monday to Saturday (a morning boat at 08:15 or 08:40 and an afternoon boat at 16:00–16:15), plus one at about 17:30–17:45 until 1 November and from 11 March; one on Sundays, at 16:00. Crossings take 30 minutes.
CalMac winter timetable 19 October 2026 – 25 March 2027. Booking is essential; the winter ferry (MV Lochnevis) cannot take caravans, motorhomes, trailers or commercial vehicles. No sailings on 25–26 December, 1–2 January and the maintenance days 4 November, 1 December, 6 January, 2 February and 3 March.
Source: CalMac Mallaig–Armadale winter 2026/27 timetable (updated 19 October 2026), checked 2026-10-29
- Kennacraig → Islay (Port Askaig / Port Ellen)
Winter 2026/27: three or four sailings a day from Kennacraig, alternating between Port Askaig and Port Ellen; most days at 07:00, 13:00 and 18:00 (18:10 on some days), with a 15:30 on Tuesdays and Fridays. Crossings take about 1 hour 55 minutes.
CalMac Islay winter timetable 19 October 2026 – 25 March 2027 (updated 20 October 2026); some Saturday sailings go on to Colonsay. No sailings on 25 December and 1 January.
Source: CalMac Kennacraig–Islay winter 2026/27 timetable, checked 2026-10-29
- Wemyss Bay → Rothesay (Isle of Bute)
Winter 2026/27: roughly hourly. 14 sailings from Wemyss Bay on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (07:15–20:05), 10 on Wednesdays (fewer in the afternoon for vessel maintenance), 13 on Saturdays (08:05–20:05) and 11 on Sundays (09:05–20:05); crossings take 35 minutes.
CalMac Bute winter timetable 19 October 2026 – 25 March 2027; no sailings on 25 December and 1 January.
Source: CalMac Wemyss Bay–Rothesay winter 2026/27 timetable, checked 2026-10-29
- Ardrossan → Brodick (Isle of Arran)
Winter 2026/27: five sailings a day from Ardrossan Monday to Saturday (07:00, 09:45, 12:30, 15:20 and 18:00) and four on Sundays (09:45, 12:30, 15:15 and 18:00); crossings take 55 minutes.
CalMac winter timetable 19 October 2026 – 25 March 2027 (version updated 29 September 2026); no sailings on 25 December and 1 January. Arran sailings are sometimes diverted to Troon, so check CalMac’s service status on the day.
Source: CalMac Ardrossan–Brodick winter 2026/27 timetable, checked 2026-10-29
- Troon → Brodick (Isle of Arran)
Winter timetable: three sailings a day from Troon Monday to Saturday (10:15, 14:10 and 18:10) and two on Sundays (10:00 and 13:40); crossings take 1 hour 20 minutes.
CalMac Troon–Brodick winter timetable (updated 28 September 2026), published to 18 January 2027; no sailings on 25 December and 1 January.
Source: CalMac Troon–Brodick winter 2026/27 timetable, checked 2026-10-29
- Claonaig (Kintyre) → Lochranza (Isle of Arran)
Winter 2026/27: five sailings a day from Claonaig, Monday to Saturday at 09:20, 10:35, 11:50, 15:05 and 16:20 and on Sundays at 09:35, 10:50, 12:05, 15:05 and 16:20; crossings take 30 minutes.
CalMac Claonaig–Lochranza winter timetable 19 October 2026 – 25 March 2027. No service on 25–26 December, 1–2 January and the maintenance Thursdays 5 November, 3 December, 7 January, 4 February and 4 March; times can change with the tide on some dates.
Source: CalMac Claonaig–Lochranza winter timetable, checked 2026-10-29
- Colintraive (Cowal) → Rhubodach (Isle of Bute)
Departs every 30 minutes; first sailing 05:30 Monday–Saturday, 08:30 Sunday; last around 20:55
Source: CalMac Colintraive–Rhubodach summer 2026 timetable, checked 2026-09-29
- Gourock → Dunoon
CalMac: about hourly from Gourock, 06:10 to about 22:40 Monday–Saturday (later on Fridays and Saturdays) and 08:20–22:20 on Sundays. Western Ferries: from 06:00 until late evening, every 20 minutes (15 at peak)
Some late CalMac sailings run on Fridays and Saturdays only. Western Ferries’ current timetable runs 27 March 2026 – 10 January 2027.
Source: CalMac Gourock–Dunoon timetable and Western Ferries timetable, checked 2026-09-29
- Gourock → Kilcreggan
About 11–13 sailings each way Monday to Friday and 11 on Saturdays; no Sunday service
Source: CalMac Gourock–Kilcreggan summer 2026 timetable, checked 2026-09-29
Vessels on these routes: MV Isle of Mull, MV Coruisk, MV Loch Seaforth, CalMac Ro-Pax ferry, MV Caledonian Isles, MV Alfred (chartered), MV Glen Sannox, MV Catriona, MV Loch Dunvegan, MV Ali Cat, MV Argyll Flyer, MV Chieftain, MV Loch Shira, MV Loch Riddon, MV Isle of Cumbrae, MV Loch Ranza, MV Clansman, MV Finlaggan, MV Isle of Lewis, MV Loch Striven, MV Carvoria, MV Loch Buie, MV Loch Linnhe, MV Lochinvar, MV Lochnevis, MV Loch Bhrusda, MV Hallaig, MV Hebrides, MV Loch Portain, MV Loch Alainn, MV Lord of the Isles
Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) Network Map
33 routes on FerryConnect; 26 carry vehicles.
Ports Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) Sails From
Onboard Passenger Amenities
🚗 Vehicle Regulations
CalMac carries cars, vans, motorhomes and other vehicles on its car ferries. It strongly recommends booking in advance on its bookable routes. Electric vehicles cannot be charged on board, and a vehicle with suspected battery damage is only shipped with the battery removed or certified as safe for transport at sea.
🐕 Pet & Animal Travel Policy
Every pet needs a pet ticket added to the booking. Choose “pet in passenger lounge” to use the designated indoor pet areas (numbers are capped) or “pet remains in car” for pets staying in the vehicle or outside (no limit). Pets must be on a lead, kept off seats and out of food, drink and carpeted areas. Assistance dogs can use all public areas except children’s play areas.
Booking CalMac ferries
CalMac has two kinds of route. On bookable routes it strongly recommends booking in advance, especially with a vehicle. On Turn Up and Go routes you can still buy online at any time, but those tickets must be used within the timetable season they were bought for. Planning several islands? CalMac’s “multiple journey” option books an island-hopping trip in one transaction.
Dogs and pets on CalMac
Add a pet ticket for every animal. With “pet in passenger lounge” your dog can join you in the designated indoor pet areas, which have a cap on numbers; with “pet remains in car” it stays in your vehicle or outside with you on deck, with no limit. On board, pets stay on a lead, off the seats and out of food, drink and carpeted areas.
Electric cars, e-bikes and e-scooters
You cannot charge any electric vehicle on CalMac ferries, including electric cars, plug-in hybrids, e-bikes and e-scooters, so charge before you sail. E-bikes and e-scooters travel on the vehicle decks only, and an electric vehicle with suspected battery damage is only carried with the battery removed or certified safe.
Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) FAQs
Do I need to book CalMac ferries in advance?
On CalMac’s bookable routes it strongly recommends booking in advance, especially with a car. On Turn Up and Go routes tickets can be bought online at any time and are valid for that timetable season.
Can I take my dog on a CalMac ferry?
Yes. Add a pet ticket to your booking: either “pet in passenger lounge” for the designated indoor pet areas (capped numbers) or “pet remains in car”. Dogs must be on a lead and kept out of food, drink and carpeted areas.
Can I charge my electric car on a CalMac ferry?
No. CalMac does not allow charging of any electric vehicle on board, including plug-in hybrids, e-bikes and e-scooters.
Checked 2026-10-02 against: CalMac: travelling with pets · CalMac: ticket information · CalMac: electric vehicles on the ferry · CalMac: onboard experience · CalMac: the fleet. Policies change; confirm with the operator before booking.