The Outer Hebrides, just off the north west coast of Scotland, are a celebrated, interconnected chain of Atlantic islands which caters for thrill seekers and chill seekers alike.
Mountains, moors and machair (the rare and fragile grassland between sand dunes and moorland) and white sandy beaches host the very best of Gaelic culture, wildlife, food, drink and arts. Community ceilidhs, canoeing, hillwalking, windsurfing and dozing off in front of a warm peat fire.
With renowned Hebridean hospitality as standard, any stay here lives with you, your family and your friends forever.
Discover your very own slice of heaven, here in the Outer Hebrides – Scotlands Atlantic Islands.
Isles of Lewis and Harris
Flying to Stornoway (Lewis)
Loganair has daily flights to Stornoway from : Glasgow (up to 3 times daily), Edinburgh and Inverness (one flight daily)
Four miles from Stornoway town centre, on the east coast of the island, the postcode for Stornoway Airport is HS2 0BN.
Public Transport
A limited bus service W5 connects Stornoway Airport with Stornoway, operated by Bus na Comhairle on Mondays to Saturdays.
Taxis
Please be aware that not all taxis operate on Sundays. It is recommended to pre-book your taxi prior to arrival.
Ferries to Lewis and Harris
Caledonian MacBrayne started life in 1851 as a steamer company whose main sphere of operation was from Glasgow through the Crinan Canal to Oban and Fort William and then on through the Caledonian Canal to Inverness. Throughout the late 1870s and 1880s the MacBrayne empire continued to expand with a mail run to Islay, Harris and North Uist from Skye and an Outer Isles run from Oban to Barra and South Uist.
As railways began to reach the west coast at Fort William, Kyle of Lochalsh and Mallaig, the fleet rosters were altered to meet the new situation. There followed a period of new ship building, largely for the mail routes to the islands and remote mainland communities.
Today, the vessels and ports are nationalised as Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. (CMAL) while the ferry services are operated by a separate company, CalMac Ferries Ltd. (CFL) under contract to the Scottish Government.
Ullapool – Stornoway (Lewis)
The CALMAC ferry makes two return trips daily between Stornoway and Ullapool. All vehicles and passengers must be pre-booked. Check-in is 45 minutes prior to departure for vehicles and 30 minutes for foot passengers.
Uig (Skye) – Tarbert (Harris)
Up to 2 return trips daily between Uig and Tarbert. All vehicles and passengers must be pre-booked. Check-in is 45 minutes prior to departure for vehicles and 30 minutes for foot passengers..
Getting around Lewis & Harris by bus
Services throughout Lewis and Harris run either direct to Stornoway, or offer connection to/from Stornoway. Most services run Monday to Saturday. Bus fares are relatively inexpensive with through fares available on many connecting buses. Day Returns offer a discount and are available for all journeys which return to the same start point.
See W2 and W10 for the more popular tourist destinations. Please refer to the relevant tables for full details and do read the timetables carefully, as certain journeys do not operate every day, and parts of some routes run only on request. If in doubt, please check in advance with Stornoway Bus Station (01851 704327). In addition, you are strongly advised to check time and pick-up point for return journey.
North and South Uist and Benbecula
Flying to Benbecula
Be prepared for jaw-dropping views of the Outer Hebrides and the Atlantic Ocean when you fly in to Benbecula Airport. Gaelic for the island of the fords, Benbecula it is the flattest island in the Outer Hebrides and its airport has a long military history, having been built during World War II.
As the so-called island between the islands of North and South Uist to which it is connected by road causeways, it is the perfect stepping stone between both.
It is served by scheduled services to Stornoway and Glasgow airports.
Loganair operates two flights daily between Glasgow and Benbecula Airport.
Hebridean Air Services operates two return flights between Stornoway and Benbecula Airport on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays
Benbecula Airport, Balivanich, HS7 5LW, is in the north-west of the island close to the village of Balivanich.
Public Transport
Buses operate from Berneray (North Uist) to Eriskay (South Uist) from Monday-Saturday. Click on the link below for the current bus service information.
Taxis
Taxis are available, and must be pre-booked. Check the Airport website for local taxi companies
Ferries to North Uist
Uig (Skye) – Lochmaddy
The CALMAC ferry provides 1 or 2 return trips daily between Uig and Lochmaddy. All vehicles and passengers must be pre-booked. Check-in is 45 minutes prior to departure for vehicles and 30 minutes for foot passengers.
Ferries to South Uist
Mallaig – Lochboisdale
A daily CALMAC ferry service operates between Mallaig and Lochboisdale. Ferry times are subject to change dur to tdal conditions. Click on the button below for more information
Buses on North and South Uist and Benbecula
Services on the Uists, Benbecula and Eriskay are geared around the main spine road and operate in two zones from Lochmaddy to Balivanich and Balivanich to Eriskay operating Mondays to Saturdays. Bus fares are relatively inexpensive. Day returns offer a discount and are available for all journeys. Bus seating capacity is limited and groups of 6 people or more are advised to contact the bus operator well in advance of travel.
On North Uist, certain journeys link to/from Berneray Slipway for ferry connections to Harris, whilst on South Uist certain journeys link to/from Eriskay Slipway for the Sound of Barra ferry. Generally all other services connect into the spine route and buses from the West Side of North Uist (Tigharry and Bayhead), Locheport and Baleshare connect where possible at Clachan. Bookable demand responsive services exist on many quiet side roads.
Those arriving on the island by air or ferry during the day will generally find that there is a bus service to take them to most destinations, though the complexities of serving an airport and four ferry ports along with meeting school and shopping needs are such that direct connections are not always possible. Passengers should contact the operator regarding travel enquiries.
Do read the timetables carefully as certain journeys do not operate every day. Parts of some routes run only on request from passengers on board or require booking (refer to timetables for more information). If you are unsure you should check with the operator (telephone numbers are supplied on most timetables). In addition, you are strongly advised to check the time and pick-up point for your return journey with the driver.
Island Transportation 