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Path to this page:Travel around Scotland by ferry
Scotland has over sixty inhabited islands, and nearly fifty of them have scheduled ferry links. Most ferries carry cars and vans, and the vast majority can - and should - be booked as far in advance as possible.
Ferries on the River Clyde and to the Hebrides
Caledonian MacBrayne (generally abbreviated to 'CalMac') has a virtual monopoly on services on the River Clyde and to the Hebrides, sailing to 21 islands altogether. They have two types of reduced-fare pass. If you're taking more than one ferry, it's worth asking about the discounted Island Hopscotch tickets. If you're going to be taking a lot of ferries, you might be better off with an Island Rover, which entitles you to 8 or 15 consecutive days' unlimited ferry travel. It does not, however, guarantee you a place on any ferry, so you still need to book ahead.
Ferries to Orkney and Shetland
Car ferries to Orkney and Shetland from Aberdeen and from Scrabster near Thurso are currently run by NorthLink Ferries. Pentland Ferries run a car ferry from Gills Bay, near John o'Groats, to St. Margarets Hope, Orkney, while John o'Groats Ferries run a summer-only passenger ferry from John o'Groats to Burwick in Orkney. The various Orkney islands are linked to each other by services run by Orkney Ferries.
Shetland's inter-island ferries are run in conjunction with the local council, and information about routes and timetables can be found on the Shetland Islands Council website.
Other ferries
There are also numerous small operators round the Scottish coast that run day-excursion trips.
