Scottish Ferry Ports
Check prices & times »Most ferries to Scotland's islands leave from a handful of mainland ports strung along the west coast, plus Aberdeen and Scrabster in the north-east for Orkney and Shetland. Which port you use depends entirely on which island you're heading for.
This guide runs through the main mainland gateways — which islands each serves, how to get there, and what to know about parking and rail links.
Oban
Oban is the busiest west-coast ferry hub and is often called the "gateway to the Hebrides" — more island routes start here than anywhere else. It's a proper little town with plenty to do while you wait.
The ScotRail line from Glasgow runs right down to the harbour, making it workable without a car. Many island-hopping trips are built around Oban.
Internal link: Mull
Mallaig
Mallaig is the port for the short crossing to Armadale on Skye and for the Small Isles, and it sits at the end of the famously scenic West Highland Line — the "Road to the Isles" railway from Fort William. There's no parking at the terminal itself, but there's long-stay parking a few minutes away near the community centre. It's a popular stop on Highland road trips.
Internal link: Skye (Armadale)
Ullapool
Ullapool is the single mainland gateway to the Outer Hebrides, with the crossing to Stornoway on Lewis. It's a longer, open-sea crossing of around two and a half hours, so it's worth booking a vehicle space well ahead. The town is a scenic Highland port in its own right, reached by road from Inverness rather than by rail.
Internal link: Lewis (Stornoway)
Kennacraig
Kennacraig is the port for the whisky island of Islay, sitting on a causeway out into West Loch Tarbert on the Kintyre peninsula. It serves both of Islay's ferry ports — Port Askaig and Port Ellen — and from Islay you can connect onward to Jura. There's plenty of parking, but it's a fair drive down Kintyre, so allow time.
Internal link: Islay
Ardrossan and the Clyde ports
The Firth of Clyde ports are the easiest to reach from Glasgow and the Central Belt. Ardrossan is the main port for Arran, with the terminal beside the train station; Wemyss Bay, with its beautiful Victorian station, serves Bute.
Shorter turn-up-and-go crossings run from Largs to Cumbrae and Gourock to Dunoon. These are the most public-transport-friendly ferry ports in Scotland.
Aberdeen and Scrabster: ports for the Northern Isles
For Orkney and Shetland, the ports are on the north and north-east coasts rather than the west. NorthLink sails from Aberdeen to both Kirkwall and Lerwick.
It also runs the shorter Scrabster to Stromness crossing near Thurso. Pentland Ferries offers a fast alternative to Orkney from Gill's Bay. See our NorthLink guide for full detail on these routes.
Internal link: NorthLink guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Which port do I use for the Isle of Mull?
Oban is the main port for Mull, with the crossing to Craignure.
Which port serves the Outer Hebrides?
Ullapool is the main mainland gateway, sailing to Stornoway on Lewis; the Outer Hebrides are also reached from Uig on Skye.
What's the main ferry port for Skye?
Mallaig, for the crossing to Armadale — though Skye also has a road bridge.
Which port do I use for Islay?
Kennacraig, on the Kintyre peninsula, which serves both Port Askaig and Port Ellen on Islay.
Which ports serve Orkney and Shetland?
Aberdeen (to Kirkwall and Lerwick) and Scrabster (to Stromness) with NorthLink, plus Gill's Bay to Orkney with Pentland Ferries.