Taking ferries to Islands around Scotland

Hello all,

I'm heading to Scotland in July. Initially, I'm going to inconvenience
some friends in Glasgow, but looking to tour and stay around some more
remote areas as soon as I can politely slip away. I've been looking at
places like the Isle of Mull and such and, and wondering about the the
possibility that the ferries servicing it can accomodate a bike. From
experience closer to home, most of the ferries to Irelands islands are
foot passengar only, but they're all a lot smaller than the Scottish
islands.

I've taken a look at maporama.com to try and get hints of what to expect,
and see ferry names such as "Corran-Ardgour" and "Fishnish-Lochaline",
but can find no details of an operator to contact for more info. The
limited images/descriptions I've googled show boats that look like they
can handle a bike, but I'd like to be sure before I fetch up on the
quayside. Does anyone have any personal experience they can share?

Thanks,
Brian.

 

<snip>

Try these guys!?!

http://www.calmac.co.uk/

 

Caledonian MacBrayne are your boys, lovingly known as Cal-Mac -
www.calmac.co.uk . They have the islands pretty much stitched up as a
monopoly, and are IIRC still owned by the Jocko gubmint. They are
expensive. I used to go to Colonsay fairly regularly, and was recently
pricing a family trip to Tiree in August. Dunno how bikes cost out by
comparison, but be prepared to pay more than you expected for even the short
sea journeys.

 

Most ferries will take bikes, the Cal-mac lot are the main providers
and are not cheap due to the low demand.

Take warm clothes and very potent midge repellant.

--
Martin:
"For a minute there, you bored me to death."
VTR1000 Firestorm
TDR250 http://ukrm.net/BIKES/Yamaha/tdr250.html
martin dot smith nine zero three at ntlworld dot com

 

Véritable Rosbif () wrote:

: : > I'm heading to Scotland in July. Initially, I'm going to inconvenience
: > some friends in Glasgow, but looking to tour and stay around some more
: > remote areas as soon as I can politely slip away. I've been looking at
: > places like the Isle of Mull and such and, and wondering about the the
: > possibility that the ferries servicing it can accomodate a bike. From
: > experience closer to home, most of the ferries to Irelands islands are
: > foot passengar only, but they're all a lot smaller than the Scottish
: > islands.
: > I've taken a look at maporama.com to try and get hints of what to expect,
: > and see ferry names such as "Corran-Ardgour" and "Fishnish-Lochaline",
: > but can find no details of an operator to contact for more info. The
: > limited images/descriptions I've googled show boats that look like they
: > can handle a bike, but I'd like to be sure before I fetch up on the
: > quayside. Does anyone have any personal experience they can share?

: Caledonian MacBrayne are your boys, lovingly known as Cal-Mac -
: www.calmac.co.uk . They have the islands pretty much stitched up as a
: monopoly, and are IIRC still owned by the Jocko gubmint. They are
: expensive. I used to go to Colonsay fairly regularly, and was recently
: pricing a family trip to Tiree in August. Dunno how bikes cost out by
: comparison, but be prepared to pay more than you expected for even the short
: sea journeys.

Check if one of the 'Hopscotch' tickets will cover your route ... it'll
save you a few quid; http://www.calmac.co.uk/hopscotch-rover.html

Blair
'97 CBR600

 

Yes, I'd taken a look at that but there's no benefit to be had. Normal car
return: £150 plus £25.50 each person. Island Hopscotch extra super
double-value APEX saver for the canny traveller: £151 plus £26 each.

 

Véritable Rosbif () wrote:
: Yes, I'd taken a look at that but there's no benefit to be had. Normal
: car return: £150 plus £25.50 each person. Island Hopscotch extra super
: double-value APEX saver for the canny traveller: £151 plus £26 each.

I was thinking of going from Skye to Harris to N Uist to Skye. The
Hopscotch fare was 73.80 and normal fare 81.25. OK, not a huge saving
but better in my pocket than theirs.
Blair
'97 CBR600

 

See you up there then mate.

Look out for 2 Harleys thundering around Loch Awe and the surrounding area
1st week of July.

We'll buy you a brew if you say hello ;o)

 

Brian Boyle wrote

If it is a lack of people and peace and quite and solitude you are
looking for then try hanging round the job centre. That way you don't
even have to leave Glasgow.

 

Thanks a million - thats just what I was hoping to hear. It sounds
quite doable.

Brian.

 

You just stay sat on the bike for the few minutes it takes to cross

 

<snip>

We thought that and had a sphincter closer of a moment on the Mallaig
to Skye ferry.

As soon as we were we out of the sheltered harbour we caught some tiny
tiny swell. Really nothing to even bother mentioning but, looking back
down to the car deck we got a great view of our two bikes unload their
suspension and hover precariously just before the balance point, only
to thankfully be set back down again, as the boat rolled back. We
charged back down to the car deck and sat on the fuckers for the
duration of the journey.

 

You could do that with the Corran ferry,[1] but the ferries to Mull take
a little long for that. And it was fine, really. Very calm. I didn't
stray far from the bike but I wasn't worried.

I *think* that the Mull ferries had anchoring points on the deck, so if
you took some straps you could tie the bike down.

[1] Although I didn't, and I used it lots of times, 'cause I was staying
at Ardgour. I reckon it'd be safer on the side-stand than with someone
sitting on it, anyway.