RailTrails

Scottish Islands by Train and Ferry

Skye, Mull, Arran, the Small Isles, Orkney, Shetland and more are a train ride and a ferry crossing from the mainland, with no car needed. Each is reached from a station at or near its ferry port, and every ferry carries foot passengers, so you can walk straight on.

The quickest from Glasgow is Great Cumbrae: 1hr 7min by train to Largs, then a 10min crossing.

Inner Hebrides by train and ferry

Oban and Mallaig, at the ends of the West Highland Line, are the ferry ports: Oban for Mull, Coll, Tiree, Colonsay and Lismore, and Mallaig for Skye and the Small Isles. Skye is also reached by the Skye Bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh, and in summer the Small Isles by boat from Arisaig.

Outer Hebrides by train and ferry

Barra and South Uist are the Outer Hebrides you can reach from a station, with sailings from Oban and Mallaig.

Firth of Clyde islands by train and ferry

The closest islands to Glasgow, from stations at or near the ferry piers on the Ayrshire and Inverclyde coast.

Orkney and Shetland by train and ferry

NorthLink sails to both from Aberdeen, a short walk from the station, and to Orkney from Scrabster near Thurso.

Also by train and ferry: English, Welsh and Manx islands.

Check sailings with CalMac, NorthLink, Arisaig Marine, Orkney Ferries or Shetland Islands Council before you travel: some run less often in winter, and all depend on the weather. Crossing times are from the operators' current timetables and vary by sailing. Train times are the quickest in our journey-time data; check the live timetable for the day you travel.