My wife and I plan to join a six day retreat on Iona. Either before or after that week, we'd like to visiting the Callanish standing stones on the Isle of Lewis. Do you know some travel options for getting from one island to the next?
Posted by
Isle of Skye, Scotland
1115 posts
Hi Tom
You will need to use the Calmac ferries to get to Lewis and they also run from Mull to Iona. Website and details of all the routes here Calmac You can't take a car over to Iona, and if you want to take a car on the ferries to Lewis you will need to book well in advance.
Anyway, the Calmac site is your best starting point to see what ferries are available.
Best wishes
Jacqui (Skyegirl)
Posted by
Lincolnshire, UK
1833 posts
I hope you have a car...
I assume you know that Callanais is on Lewis and the Outer Hebrides are quite a long way from Iona and Mull. There is no direct ferry between the two.
Have a look at the Calmac ferry map here.
https://www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk/the-routes
The two options are Drive to Skye and catch the ferry from Uig to Tarbert on Harris, and it is then an hours drive to Callanish (also known by its Gaelic name of Callanais).
https://www.calmac.co.uk/article/2991/harris-uig---tarbert
OR drive to Ullapool and catch the ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway. It is then a 30 minute drive to the stones.
https://calmac.co.uk/summer-timetables/stornoway-ullapool
Either route is going to take a full day with an overnight as you will have to get from Iona back to Oban and drive from Oban. There is no way you will make the afternoon sailings. If using Google maps for distances and driving times, add on 25% to the times they give. You will have to catch the first ferry the following morning.
Are you planning to do anything else while on Harris and Lewis? If not just seeing Callanaih is going to take up three days to get there and then back to your next destination .
You don't say when you are wanting to do this. Ferries do need to be booked well in advance . If you decide to travel via Uig, there is restricted accommodation in Uig and again this needs to be booked well in advance. There is more choice in Ullapool.
If you do need to spend a night on either Harris or Lewis, again get that booked asap.
Posted by
Gig Harbor, Washington, USA
1819 posts
There are two ferry routes that head north from Mull. One goes to Kilchoan, one goes to Lochaline. From either one, you can then head to the Mallaig ferry. One is about 20 miles shorter than the other, both routes take you on paved roads through scenic, sparsely populated country. We used both routes in 2015. You don't need to return to Oban.
When you dock in Tarbert, Harris, you might enjoy doing the circular route around tiny Harris before heading to Callanish. The west side of Harris is lovely golden beach, at the southern end is an interesting ruined church, and the east side is a very barren landscape. Part of the east side was chosen as a "barren planet landscape" filming location for one of the original Star Wars movies.
Harris / Lewis is actually one island.