There is one CalMac car ferry to the Isle of Skye: Mallaig to Armadale, a village CalMac describes as being on the southern peninsula of Skye. CalMac's own Skye page gives the alternative in one line: "drive to Mallaig and go over the sea to Skye, or drive further north to Kyle of Lochalsh and cross via the bridge." In summer there's also a small community ferry from Glenelg to Kylerhea.
Once you're on Skye, CalMac sails on to Raasay from Sconser and to the Outer Hebrides from Uig. I went through CalMac's route pages, port pages and timetables, and the Glenelg ferry's own site, on 13 November 2026. Below is what each crossing involves: times, sailings, ships, booking rules, fares, foot passengers, bikes and pets.
Ferries to and from Skye at a glance
| Crossing | Operator | Crossing time | How often | Adult single | Car single |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mallaig–Armadale | CalMac | 45 minutes | Year round, reduced service in winter | £4.00 | £13.25 |
| Glenelg–Kylerhea | Isle of Skye Ferry CIC | No longer than fifteen minutes | Every 20 minutes, April to mid-October | £5.00 | £20.00 (car with up to 4 passengers) |
| Sconser–Raasay | CalMac | 25 minutes | Hourly until 6pm, all year | £2.65 | £8.75 |
| Uig–Tarbert (Harris) | CalMac | 1 hour 40 minutes | All year | £8.50 | £41.90 |
| Uig–Lochmaddy (North Uist) | CalMac | 1 hour 45 minutes | All year | £8.50 | £41.90 |
The CalMac fares are the winter 2026/27 fares, valid until 25 March 2027, as shown when I checked on 13 November 2026. CalMac says vehicle pricing does not include the driver, so add a passenger fare for whoever is driving. The Glenelg car fare covers the car and up to four passengers.
Mallaig to Armadale
This is CalMac's ferry to Skye. CalMac's Mallaig port page gives the crossing time to Armadale as 45 minutes, and its Armadale port page says the route operates year round with reduced service during the winter season.
The winter timetable runs from 19 October 2026 to 25 March 2027. On a Monday, for example, it shows a 08:40 from Mallaig due into Armadale at 09:10, and a 16:15 from Mallaig due in at 16:45. On Sundays there's a 16:00 from Mallaig. There's no service on 25 and 26 December or 1 and 2 January, and CalMac lists planned maintenance days with no service: Wednesday 4 November, Tuesday 1 December, Wednesday 6 January, Tuesday 2 February and Wednesday 3 March. The summer 2027 timetable will run from 26 March to 17 October 2027; CalMac says it will update customers once it has a release date.
The winter ship matters if you're towing. In winter the route is run by MV Lochnevis. CalMac says she operates single-ended, so vehicles have to reverse on the car deck, and it will be unable to accommodate caravans, trailers, motorhomes and commercial vehicles. If you're in a motorhome this winter, CalMac's other suggestion, the bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh, is the way across.
Winter fares are £4.00 single for an adult and £2.00 for a child. A car or LGV of 6m or under is £13.25 single and a motorcycle £6.65, plus the driver. CalMac's full summer fares list for the route shows campervans and motorhomes up to 6 metres at £13.25 single too.
For foot passengers, CalMac says the timetable has train connections to and from Glasgow Queen Street via Fort William, but notes that train connections are not guaranteed.
Glenelg to Kylerhea: the summer community ferry
The other way onto Skye by boat is the Glenelg ferry, run by the Isle of Skye Ferry CIC, a community interest company. It describes its boat, the MV Glenachulish, as "the last manually operated turntable ferry in the world". She was built in 1969, carries up to 6 cars and a maximum of 12 passengers.
The ferry says it runs annually from April until mid-October, seven days a week between 10am and 6pm, "every 20 minutes or as required". The crossing takes no longer than fifteen minutes. When I checked, its homepage said the ferry is now closed for season 2026.
You don't book. The ferry says it is not necessary to pre-book, and you pay on board during the crossing, by cash or card. Its listed prices are £20.00 for a car with up to 4 passengers (£30.00 return), £10.00 for a motorbike, £5.00 for a foot passenger, £6.00 for a bicycle and cyclist, £25.00 for a small camper-van and £40.00 for a motorhome. If you're driving a non-standard vehicle, it asks you to contact it before arriving; its rule of thumb is no more than 10 tonnes, a maximum of 13 metres long and 4 metres wide. Bad weather can occasionally affect the service, and the ferry says signs are posted at the junctions if it's closed.
Sconser to Raasay
The ferry to Raasay leaves from Sconser on Skye, and CalMac's port page gives a crossing time of 25 minutes, departing hourly until 6pm. The ship is MV Hallaig, which CalMac describes as a diesel-electric hybrid.
This is a "Turn Up and Go" service. You choose a preferred date when you buy, but CalMac says your ticket is valid for any date and sailing within the selected timetable period (summer or winter). It also says these tickets, including 10-journey tickets, cannot be amended or refunded. Winter fares are £2.65 single for an adult, £1.35 for a child and £8.75 for a car.
The winter timetable has sailings from Sconser from 08:25 to 18:30 Monday to Saturday, with a 20:00 on Saturdays by request only. On Sundays there are fewer sailings, the first from Sconser at 10:30.
Uig to Harris and North Uist
From Uig on Skye, MV Hebrides sails to Tarbert on Harris and Lochmaddy on North Uist, a route CalMac calls the "Uig Triangle". CalMac's Uig port page gives the crossing times as 1 hour 40 minutes to Tarbert and 1 hour 45 minutes to Lochmaddy. Both routes operate all year round.
The winter timetables include Citylink coach connections between Glasgow and Uig, which CalMac says are not guaranteed. CalMac also says that to support NHS patient travel between Harris and North Uist, MV Hebrides will run an amended timetable throughout November and December, so check the route page before you plan.
Winter fares on both routes are £8.50 single for an adult, £4.25 for a child and £41.90 for a car. A motorhome under 6m is £41.90 and one of 6.01–8m is £104.75. CalMac adds that the Western Isles Council asks visitors in caravans, motorhomes and campervans to stay in official campsites or designated overnight spots.
Ferryu covers both routes in more detail: Uig to Tarbert and Uig to Lochmaddy.
The Small Isles from Mallaig
The Small Isles of Canna, Eigg, Muck and Rum aren't reached from Skye itself, but their ferry also leaves from Mallaig, on MV Lochnevis. CalMac's Mallaig port page says the crossing time varies depending on the island. In winter, the timetable shows the 10:15 Monday sailing from Mallaig reaching Eigg at 11:35.
There are a few rules worth knowing:
- If you're taking a vehicle you must have a permit to travel, and bookings must be made no later than 16:00 on the previous working day.
- CalMac says day returns are not always possible, because of the timetable and check-in requirements.
- Non-landing cruise tickets are not available: you must get off at the island and cannot stay on board.
- Passengers with excess luggage should allow an extra 15 minutes.
Winter adult singles from Mallaig are £5.45 to Eigg, £5.90 to Rum, £6.30 to Muck and £7.35 to Canna.
Booking and check-in
CalMac's advice on all its Skye routes except Raasay is the same: book your ticket online, in advance of travel, even if you're a foot passenger. Its Armadale port page adds that if you arrive without a reservation it may still be able to carry you, but pre-booking of vehicles is strongly recommended.
Motorhomes, campervans and caravans have a stricter rule. CalMac says they will not be able to join standby queues on Mallaig–Armadale or Uig–Tarbert–Lochmaddy, and need a confirmed space to travel. Island residents are exempt.
Check-in times, from CalMac's route pages:
- Mallaig–Armadale: 20 minutes before departure for vehicles and 10 minutes for foot passengers.
- Uig–Tarbert and Uig–Lochmaddy: 45 minutes for vehicles and 30 minutes for foot passengers.
- Sconser–Raasay: the route page says 10 minutes for vehicles and foot passengers, but CalMac's Sconser port page asks vehicles to arrive at least 30 minutes before. I'd work to the earlier time.
- Small Isles: 30 minutes for vehicles and 20 minutes for foot passengers.
If you're in a group, CalMac says that for tickets bought online the full party must travel on the same sailing.
CalMac's advice on all its Skye routes except Raasay is the same: book your ticket online, in advance of travel, even if you're a foot passenger.
Bikes and pets
Bikes travel free on CalMac's Skye, Raasay, Uig and Small Isles routes. If you're a foot passenger with a bike, CalMac says to add your bike to your ticket when you book. Groups of 6 or more pedal cycles must tell the port office in advance. On the Small Isles, CalMac asks passengers with canoes and bicycles to contact the Mallaig port office before travelling, and Mallaig–Armadale asks the same of anyone with a canoe. On the Glenelg ferry a bicycle and cyclist is £6.00.
Pets need a ticket on CalMac. When you book you choose "Pet in passenger lounge", for the designated indoor pet areas, where CalMac says there is a cap on numbers, or "Pet remains in car", for a pet that stays in your vehicle or sits outside for the whole crossing. With the second option, you won't be able to return to the car deck during the crossing. Assistance dogs get their own ticket type and can use all public areas except children's play areas.
On board, pets must be kept on a lead and aren't allowed in food, beverage or carpeted areas. MV Hebrides has a dedicated Pet Area on Deck 4, MV Lochnevis has a pet area, and on MV Hallaig the passenger lounge is "furry friends welcome". CalMac also reminds dog owners that you could face up to a £40,000 fine or prison for allowing your dog to worry or attack livestock.
Questions about the ferry to Skye
Is there a ferry to Skye, or do you have to use the bridge?
Both. CalMac runs a ferry from Mallaig to Armadale all year, and says you can instead drive further north to Kyle of Lochalsh and cross via the bridge. The Glenelg–Kylerhea community ferry also runs from April until mid-October.
How long is the ferry from Mallaig to Skye?
CalMac gives the crossing time from Mallaig to Armadale as 45 minutes. The winter timetable shows a 08:40 from Mallaig due into Armadale at 09:10.
Do I need to book the Skye ferry?
CalMac says to book online in advance, even as a foot passenger, though at Armadale it may still be able to carry you without a reservation. Motorhomes, campervans and caravans need a confirmed space. The Glenelg ferry can't be booked: you pay on board.
Can I take a motorhome to Skye on the ferry in winter?
Not on Mallaig–Armadale. CalMac says MV Lochnevis, the winter ship, can't take caravans, trailers, motorhomes or commercial vehicles. The Glenelg ferry was closed for the 2026 season when I checked.
How much is the ferry from Mallaig to Armadale?
Winter 2026/27 fares are £4.00 single for an adult, £2.00 for a child and £13.25 for a car of 6m or under, with the driver paying a passenger fare on top. Bikes are free.
Can I take my dog on the Skye ferry?
Yes. On CalMac your dog needs a ticket, either for the pet lounge or to stay in the car, and must be on a lead on board.
