How to Get Around the Outer Hebrides (including a Sample Itinerary)
This is a 3-part series on the Outer Hebrides. Read also about 12 Must-Visit Places in the Outer Hebrides and 8 Things to Know Before Visiting the Outer Hebrides.
Last updated: 15 October 2021
Many people who visit the Outer Hebrides in Scotland only go to Lewis & Harris, but there are many other islands to explore as well! It can be a bit confusing at first when you don’t even know which islands are where, never mind trying to get around and between them! We’re here to help break it down for you, and at the end, we’ll offer a sample itinerary to help you navigate your Outer Hebridean holiday.
To recap, there are five main islands that make up the Outer Hebrides (from south to north): Barra, South Uist, Benbecula, North Uist, and the Isle of Lewis & Harris. (Lewis & Harris are often referred to as if they are separate islands but they are in fact one single island. Harris sits south of Lewis.)
Getting to the Outer Hebrides
First, let’s talk about the options you have in getting to the Outer Hebrides in the first instance!
1. By Air
Loganair is the airline that serves the Outer Hebrides. If flying from Edinburgh, your only option is to fly into Stornoway. If flying from Glasgow, you have the option of flying into Barra, Benbecula, or Stornoway. Of course, these are just a few examples, and Loganair serves many other cities and routes.
Be sure to check out our YouTube video on landing at Barra Airport!
2. By Ferry
Caledonian MacBrayne, often referred to as CalMac, operates vehicle ferries between the Outer Hebridean islands as well as mainland Scotland. The options from mainland Scotland include:
Oban to Castlebay (Barra)
Mallaig to Lochboisdale (South Uist)
Uig (Isle of Skye) to Lochmaddy (North Uist) or Tarbert (Isle of Harris)
Ullapool to Stornoway (Isle of Lewis)
Getting Around the Outer Hebrides
Now, let’s get into the best ways to get around the islands!
1. By Car
We personally used Barra Car Hire and had no issues. They are the only car hire company based on Barra, and you literally pick up your car keys from the same counter you would buy your food at the cafeteria at Barra Airport!
If you’ll be starting your Outer Hebridean journey from another town like Stornoway, Car Hire Hebrides is another option. Some islands that are very close to each other are connected via causeways. However, for islands not linked via causeways, you’ll have to get there…
2. By Ferry
Again, CalMac is the ferry option for sailing between the islands. The key ferry crossings in the Outer Hebrides are:
Barra to Eriskay (connecting Barra with the Uists)
Berneray to Leverburgh (connecting the Uists with Harris & Lewis)
If you choose to explore all of the islands like we did, then you’ll need to book two return tickets according to the above - although of course the order of your ferry crossings may be different. Just be sure to select the correct dates!
Be sure to book your tickets online in advance to secure your spot, especially if you’ll be driving onto the ferries. The printed confirmations will say you need to pick up actual tickets, but in reality, the terminals in the Outer Hebrides are so remote that there really is nowhere to pick up tickets. You’ll be let on with just the printed confirmations without any issues.
Sample Itinerary
Now, what about spacing out your time while in the Outer Hebrides? We’ll offer up a sample 8-day, 7-night itinerary (which really was our itinerary) as an example. We’ve included which islands we stayed on each night as well as any flights and ferries we took. If you’re interested in what to do on the islands, check out our previous blog post!
Day 1:
Fly from Glasgow to Barra
Ferry from Barra to Eriskay
Night on North Uist
Day 2:
Night on North Uist
Day 3:
Ferry from Berneray to Leverburgh
Night on Lewis
Day 4:
Night on Lewis
Day 5:
Night on Lewis
Day 6:
Night on Lewis
Day 7:
Ferry from Leverburgh to Berneray
Night on North Uist
Day 8:
Ferry from Eriskay to Barra
Fly from Barra to Glasgow
You might also like…
Take a look at our YouTube videos featuring the Outer Hebrides!
We hope you found this information useful for planning your own holiday to the Outer Hebrides! What was the most useful tip? Let us know in the comments!
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