CalMac sails to Mull on three routes. The main one is Oban to Craignure, which CalMac says takes 45 minutes. There are two shorter crossings from the north: Lochaline to Fishnish from Morvern, and Kilchoan to Tobermory from Ardnamurchan. Once you're on Mull, a fourth CalMac ferry runs from Fionnphort to Iona.
Below I've set out what CalMac's own pages say about each route: crossing times, vessels, winter sailings, fares, booking rules for cars and campervans, foot passengers, bikes, pets and check-in. The fares and timetables are the ones on calmac.co.uk when I checked on 13 November 2026, for the winter timetable that runs from 19 October 2026 to 25 March 2027.
Ferries to Mull at a glance
| Route | Crossing time | Vessel | Booking | Adult single | Car single |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oban – Craignure | 45 minutes | MV Isle of Mull / MV Loch Frisa | Bookable (reserve a sailing) | £4.90 | £18.20 |
| Lochaline – Fishnish | 20 minutes | MV Lochinvar | Turn Up and Go | £3.40 | £9.85 |
| Kilchoan – Tobermory | 35 minutes | MV Loch Linnhe | Turn Up and Go | £3.85 | £11.85 |
| Fionnphort – Iona | 10 minutes | MV Loch Buie | Turn Up and Go | £2.40 | Permit needed |
Crossing times are the ones CalMac gives on its port pages. Fares are CalMac's winter 2026/27 single fares, and CalMac says "Vehicle pricing does not include driver", so the driver needs a passenger ticket too.
The difference between the two booking types matters. On a Bookable route, CalMac says, "you are booking and purchasing travel in advance for a specific sailing on a selected date and at a specific time." On a Turn Up and Go route you buy "an open ticket for a chosen departure date" with no specific sailing time.
For CalMac's other island routes, see my Scotland ferry routes page.
Oban to Craignure
This is the route most people mean when they search for a ferry to Mull. CalMac calls it "The most direct route to Mull", and says the journey "takes 45 minutes". Craignure is, in CalMac's words, "the main port on the island", in the south of Mull and "a short drive to magical Tobermory". CalMac says the route "Operates year round (two vessels during summer season)."
The vessels CalMac lists for the route are MV Isle of Mull and MV Loch Frisa. If you want a proper cup of something on board, note this line in the timetable: "Sailings operated by MV Loch Frisa which provides a hot drinks vending service only".
Crossing time in practice. CalMac's headline figure is 45 minutes, but the winter timetable allows a little longer. On Mondays, for example, the 06:45 from Oban is timed to arrive at Craignure at 07:35, and the Loch Frisa sailing at 08:25 is timed to arrive at 09:25.
Winter sailings. The timetable has sailings across the day, every day. On a winter Monday the first departure from Oban is at 06:45 and the last at 17:35, and the first from Craignure leaves at 06:30. On Fridays and Saturdays there are later sailings, with a 21:50 from Oban.
Disruption notices when I checked. CalMac's route page says that "an amended timetable will operate from Friday 13 - Monday 30 November" because of a delay to MV Loch Seaforth's overhaul. <!-- until:2026-11-30 --> It also warns that because of a problem with the passenger access system at Craignure, "MV Isle of Mull turnaround times may be increased and the vessel may operate behind schedule", and asks passengers to "travel earlier where possible to guarantee onward connections".
CalMac says the summer 2027 timetable "will run from 26 March to 17 October 2027", but it hadn't been released when I checked.
From the same terminal in Oban, CalMac also sails to Barra: its Oban port page gives the Oban – Castlebay crossing as 4 hours 45 minutes.
CalMac's headline figure is 45 minutes, but the winter timetable allows a little longer.
Lochaline to Fishnish
This is the short crossing from Morvern to Mull. CalMac's Lochaline port page gives the crossing time as 20 minutes, and the winter timetable shows the 07:50 from Lochaline arriving at Fishnish at 08:08. The vessel is MV Lochinvar.
In winter, sailings from Lochaline run from 07:00 (Monday to Friday only) until the 17:45, Monday to Saturday. On Sundays the timetable shows departures from Lochaline at 08:45, 10:00, 15:55 and 16:45. CalMac's timetable says there is "No service on 25 December and 1 January".
It's a Turn Up and Go route. CalMac says: "You are required to choose a preferred departure date when booking, but your ticket is valid for any date and sailing within the selected timetable period (summer or winter)." The catch is that these tickets "are valid only for the selected timetable period (summer or winter) and cannot be amended or refunded."
Kilchoan to Tobermory
This route links Kilchoan in Ardnamurchan with Tobermory, which CalMac calls "Mull's jewel in the crown". CalMac's Tobermory port page gives the crossing as 35 minutes, with "Up to seven crossings per day". Its winter 2026/27 timetable lists fewer than that, so check the timetable for your date. The vessel is MV Loch Linnhe.
The winter timetable says plainly: "No Sunday service". On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the first sailing leaves Tobermory at 07:20 and arrives in Kilchoan at 07:55. As on Lochaline – Fishnish, it's Turn Up and Go, so you buy a ticket for a date rather than a specific sailing.
Booking a car, campervan or motorhome
Oban – Craignure is the one to book. CalMac's Craignure port page says: "This is a bookable route. We advise you to book and reserve your preferred sailing in advance." It adds that "Pre-Booking of vehicles is strongly recommended." If you turn up without a booking, CalMac says "we may still be able to carry you. Please proceed to the ticket office."
On the Turn Up and Go routes you can't reserve a sailing. CalMac's Lochaline and Tobermory port pages both say: "You cannot reserve a specific sailing on this route. However, we advise you purchase your ticket in advance." If you're going one way with a car and the other on foot, CalMac says to "purchase separate tickets online for each leg."
How vehicles are charged. CalMac says: "All cars are charged at the same rate irrespective of length", but you still need to give an accurate length "including any cycle racks, etc". Motorhomes up to 12 metres are "charged by length, up to 6, 8, 10 and 12 metres". If your vehicle turns out longer than you declared, CalMac says "you may have to pay an excess charge".
Campervans, motorhomes and caravans. Two rules apply. First, CalMac says that at the request of Argyll & Bute Council, customers "are required to secure a pitch for their vehicle on Mull in advance of travel." Second, Oban – Craignure is on CalMac's list of routes where motorhomes, campervans and caravans can't wait in the standby queue: "To travel on the next available sailing on these routes, motorhomes, campervans and caravans will need to have a confirmed space and will be unable to wait in the standby queues." CalMac says island residents are exempt from this.
Heavy vehicles. CalMac says "Craignure linkspan has weight restrictions. Vehicles exceeding 44 tonne must have prior written permission from Argyll and Bute Council."
Blue Badge holders. CalMac says "a 25% discount is available on vehicle ticket prices" for Blue Badge holders. The discount is on the vehicle, not the passenger ticket, and the badge holder must be travelling.
Mull ferry fares
These are CalMac's winter 2026/27 fares, which CalMac says are "Valid until 25 March 2027."
| Route | Adult single / return | Child single / return | Car single / return | Motorcycle single / return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oban – Craignure | £4.90 / £9.80 | £2.45 / £4.90 | £18.20 / £36.40 | £9.10 / £18.20 |
| Lochaline – Fishnish | £3.40 / £6.80 | £1.70 / £3.40 | £9.85 / £19.70 | £4.95 / £9.90 |
| Kilchoan – Tobermory | £3.85 / £7.70 | £1.95 / £3.90 | £11.85 / £23.70 | £5.95 / £11.90 |
| Fionnphort – Iona | £2.40 / £4.80 | £1.20 / £2.40 | Permit needed | Permit needed |
The car fare doesn't include the driver. CalMac's ticket rules are that adults are "Aged 16 and over", children "Aged 5 to 15, travel at half the adult fare", and infants under 5 "travel for free".
On Oban – Craignure, motorhomes under 6 metres cost the same as a car (£18.20 single), while a 6.01–8m motorhome is £45.50 single. Caravans under 6 metres are £18.20 single on top of the car.
Foot passengers, bikes and pets
Foot passengers. CalMac's route page for Oban – Craignure says: "Book your ticket online, in advance of travel, even if you're a foot passenger." You don't need to print anything: CalMac says "Your eTicket will be within your email and available on your online account", and "eTickets can be scanned from your device."
Getting around without a car. At Craignure, CalMac says there are local buses "just 30 metres from the port with West Coast Motors", and a taxi rank in the same place. CalMac's Mull page says West Coast Motors runs "regular services (Monday to Saturday) across the Isle of Mull."
Bikes. CalMac says: "Bicycles are carried free of charge on all of our ferries." You still need to add your bike to your booking, which CalMac says "helps us manage capacity, and lets you know if we have space on that particular sailing." Groups of 6 or more cycles "must inform the relevant port office in advance of travel."
Pets. CalMac says: "Although all pets travel for free, they will all need a ticket, regardless of how they travel with us." You choose between a pet lounge ticket, which has "a cap on numbers", and a "pet remains in car" ticket. With the second, CalMac warns: "you won't be able to return to the car deck during the crossing." On board, "Pets must be kept on a lead" and "Pets are welcome on all outside passenger decks with the relevant ticket." They're not allowed in food, drink or carpeted areas, though assistance dogs can go anywhere.
Check-in times
- Oban – Craignure: CalMac says "30 minutes for vehicles and 10 minutes for foot passengers prior to departure."
- Lochaline – Fishnish and Kilchoan – Tobermory: "10 minutes prior to departure for vehicles and foot passengers."
- Fionnphort – Iona: also 10 minutes.
CalMac warns that late check-in on Oban – Craignure "may result in space being reallocated or vehicles being refused carriage."
Getting to Oban by train
CalMac's Mull page says there is "a regular ScotRail train to Oban from Glasgow Queen Street station which takes just over three hours". If you're coming from Edinburgh or the south, it says "you'll need to travel through Glasgow." Oban station is close to the ferry: CalMac's Oban port page says to "Connect with trains to Glasgow at the station, just 50 metres away from the port".
The Oban – Craignure timetable includes train times. On a winter Monday, for example, it shows a 05:20 from Glasgow Queen Street reaching Oban at 08:35, in time for the 09:30 sailing that reaches Craignure at 10:20.
CalMac adds a warning, though: "Train connections: these are not guaranteed as some trains arrive or depart with less than the necessary transfer time." Check ScotRail before you travel.
Onward to Iona: Fionnphort to Iona
CalMac describes Fionnphort as "Mull's other port" and "the gateway to the magical Isle of Iona". The crossing to Iona takes 10 minutes, and CalMac says it "Departs hourly – check timetable for exact sailing times" and "Operates all year round." The vessel is MV Loch Buie.
Cars need a permit. CalMac says "you must have a permit to travel to Iona. Apply via Argyll and Bute Council on 01631 569160." It asks you to allow 48 hours for the permit to be processed. Only foot passenger tickets are sold online for this route; once you have a permit, you contact CalMac to buy a vehicle ticket.
Some sailings run on request. CalMac says: "Some sailings on this route will operate by request only." To request one, call CalMac's Customer Engagement Centre "by 16:00 on the day before travel". In the winter timetable, the 18:00 from Fionnphort runs "only if requested no later than 16:00 on day of travel", and CalMac notes: "The ferry will wait on the arrival of the bus from Craignure if requested".
Fionnphort is "an unattended slipway", so CalMac says "Tickets can be purchased online or on board."
Questions about the ferry to Mull
How long is the ferry from Oban to Mull?
CalMac says the Oban to Craignure crossing takes 45 minutes. The winter timetable allows a little more on some sailings: the 06:45 from Oban on Mondays is timed to arrive at 07:35.
Do I need to book the Mull ferry?
On Oban – Craignure, CalMac strongly recommends pre-booking vehicles and advises booking even as a foot passenger. Lochaline – Fishnish and Kilchoan – Tobermory are Turn Up and Go routes, so you buy a ticket for a date but can't reserve a sailing.
How much is the ferry to Mull?
On CalMac's winter 2026/27 fares, Oban to Craignure is £4.90 single for an adult and £18.20 single for a car, with the driver paying a passenger fare on top. Lochaline to Fishnish is cheaper, at £3.40 for an adult and £9.85 for a car.
Can I take a campervan to Mull?
Yes, but CalMac says you must secure a pitch on Mull before you travel, and on Oban – Craignure motorhomes, campervans and caravans can't wait in the standby queue, so you'll need a confirmed booking.
Can I take my dog on the ferry to Mull?
Yes. CalMac says all pets travel for free but need a ticket. You can book a place in the pet lounge, which has limited numbers, or leave your dog in the car, but you can't go back to the car deck during the crossing.
Can I take my car to Iona?
Only with a permit from Argyll and Bute Council, which CalMac says you should allow 48 hours to process. Foot passengers can buy tickets online and the crossing from Fionnphort takes 10 minutes.
