Getting around The Outer Hebrides: with and without a car

Not yet assessed Our reading of the sources below, not an official rating.

The stone walls of Dun Carloway broch on a rocky knoll on the west coast of LewisPhoto: LornaMCampbell, CC BY-SA 4.0

Single-track road winding past rocky inlets on the east coast of HarrisPhoto: Zenit, CC BY-SA 3.0

Moorland and lochans in North Uist seen from the Pobull Fhinn stone circle, with one of its stones in the viewPhoto: Helen Spencer, CC BY-SA 4.0

Stations, bridges and harbours from our guide where we hold a photo; each links to the area page that lists it.

Paying for local transport in The Outer Hebrides

ScotRail (Scotland’s trains).ScotRail runs most trains within Scotland. Its tickets page refused automated access, so check ticket types and any Scotland-only offers on its site.ScotRail tickets (opens in new tab)

Without a car

Getting here

By ferry

CalMac lists five routes: Ullapool to Stornoway (2 hours 45 minutes), Uig on Skye to Tarbert and to Lochmaddy (1 hour 45 minutes), Mallaig and Oban to Lochboisdale, and Oban to Castlebay (4 hours 45 minutes). Inside the chain, Leverburgh to Berneray takes around an hour and Eriskay to Barra 40 minutes. ¹

CalMac: Lewis (opens in new tab) · CalMac: Harris (opens in new tab) · CalMac: North Uist (opens in new tab) · CalMac: South Uist (opens in new tab) · CalMac: Barra (opens in new tab)

By air

On Nov 2, 2026 the HIAL boards listed flights between Stornoway and Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and Benbecula, between Benbecula and Glasgow, and between Barra and Glasgow. At Barra, planes land on the beach at Tràigh Mhòr. ²

Stornoway Airport (opens in new tab) · Benbecula Airport (opens in new tab) · Barra Airport (opens in new tab)

By coach to the ferry ports

CalMac says buses from Glasgow reach Uig on Skye in about 7 hours, there is a direct bus from Inverness to Portree for Uig, and the bus from Glasgow to Oban takes just under 3 hours. Plan connections with Traveline Scotland. ³

Traveline Scotland (opens in new tab) · Citylink (opens in new tab)

By train to the ferry ports

CalMac says direct trains from Glasgow Queen Street reach Oban in just over 3 hours and Mallaig in around 5 hours 20 minutes. There is no railway on the islands. ⁴

ScotRail (opens in new tab) · National Rail (opens in new tab)

Once you are there

Causeways and short ferries

Lewis and Harris are one island. Causeways join Berneray, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist and Eriskay, and another links Barra to Vatersay. CalMac ferries cross the Sound of Harris (Leverburgh to Berneray) and the Sound of Barra (Eriskay to Ardmhor). ⁵

A car helps

Sights are spread out and many roads are single-track with passing places. Pull in to let oncoming traffic pass and never park in a passing place. ⁶

Buses

Island buses link the main villages, but services are limited, especially on Sundays. Check Traveline Scotland before relying on them. ³

Motorhomes and campervans

CalMac points motorhome and campervan drivers to the council's guidance for the Outer Hebrides, and EV drivers to ChargePlace Scotland for charging points. ⁷

Stops near each area

From our area guides (The Outer Hebrides): the stations and stops listed for each base. See each area's Getting there page for more.

Isle of Lewis & Stornoway

Stornoway ferry terminal: CalMac ferry to Ullapool. CalMac gives a crossing time of 2 hours 45 minutes and recommends vehicle reservations
Stornoway Airport: Flights. The HIAL arrivals board (Nov 2, 2026) listed flights from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and Benbecula
Local buses: Island bus routes. Routes run out from Stornoway; check Traveline Scotland for times before you rely on them
Road to Harris: A859. Lewis and Harris are one island, so Tarbert is reached by road from Stornoway

Isle of Lewis & Stornoway: getting there

Isle of Harris & Tarbert

Tarbert ferry terminal: CalMac ferry to Uig (Skye). CalMac's main approach to Harris is from Uig to Tarbert
Leverburgh: CalMac ferry to Berneray. CalMac says the crossing takes around an hour and recommends vehicle reservations
A859: Road to Lewis. Tarbert is linked by road to Stornoway on Lewis
Local buses: Island bus routes. Check Traveline Scotland for current times

Isle of Harris & Tarbert: getting there

The Uists & Benbecula

Lochmaddy: CalMac ferry to Uig (Skye). CalMac gives a crossing time of 1 hour 45 minutes; vehicle reservations are essential
Lochboisdale: CalMac ferries to Mallaig and Oban. CalMac strongly recommends reservations for vehicles and foot passengers
Benbecula Airport: Flights. The HIAL board (Nov 2, 2026) listed flights to Glasgow and Stornoway
Berneray and Eriskay: CalMac ferries to Harris and Barra. Berneray to Leverburgh takes around an hour; Eriskay to Barra 40 minutes, according to CalMac

The Uists & Benbecula: getting there

Barra & Vatersay

Castlebay: CalMac ferry to Oban. CalMac gives a crossing time of 4 hours 45 minutes and strongly recommends vehicle reservations
Ardmhor: CalMac ferry to Eriskay. CalMac gives a crossing time of 40 minutes
Barra Airport: Flights to Glasgow. Flights land on the beach at Tràigh Mhòr; the HIAL board (Nov 2, 2026) listed Glasgow services
Vatersay causeway: Road. A causeway carries the road from Barra to Vatersay

Barra & Vatersay: getting there

No schedules or fares are copied here: check the operator or Traveline for the day you travel. Taxis and ride-hailing apps operate in most towns, but we have no sourced coverage data for rural areas, so do not count on one at short notice.

With a car

We hold no sourced driving notes for The Outer Hebrides beyond the general rules.

General rules (driving on the left, licenses, roundabouts, speed limits in mph, parking, tolls, EV charging): Driving in Britain. Charge points: Zapmap (opens in new tab).

To and from other regions

Straight-line distance from our region centers, and the fastest train time that National Rail publishes on its destination pages (not a schedule; it may include a change). Where we found no figure we say so. The full table is on getting between regions.

Distance and fastest published train time from The Outer Hebrides to other regions
To or from	Straight line	Fastest train (National Rail)	Notes

Figures retrieved Oct 25, 2026 for the intercity data. Schedules change.

Official links

CalMac (opens in new tab): ferries, timetables and service status
Highlands and Islands Airports (HIAL) (opens in new tab): Stornoway, Benbecula and Barra airports
Visit Outer Hebrides (opens in new tab): the islands' tourism site
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (opens in new tab): the Western Isles Council
VisitScotland (opens in new tab): the national tourism site
Traveline Scotland (opens in new tab): bus and ferry journey planner
Historic Environment Scotland (opens in new tab): Calanais, Dun Carloway, Arnol, Rodel and Kisimul
Scottish Outdoor Access Code (opens in new tab): responsible access on croft land and beaches

More on The Outer Hebrides: The Outer Hebrides guide · how to get there

Questions people ask

Can I get around The Outer Hebrides without a car?

We have not yet assessed getting around The Outer Hebrides. The official links below, and the region guide, are the place to start.

Do I need to check a driving zone in The Outer Hebrides?

We found no charging or low emission zone for The Outer Hebrides in the official pages we read. Check the council site before you drive in.