UK & Ireland
Ferries to Scotland
Compare 74 ferry routes to Scotland across 10 operators, from £8.02 one way.
- 74 routes
- 39 ports
- 10 operators
Most booked
Popular ferry routes to Scotland
Scotland ferry timetable and prices
Every published route serving Scotland, with real crossing times, weekly frequency and starting fares.
| Route | Operators | Duration | Sailings / week | From | Average | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairnryan – Belfast | P&O Ferries | 2h 15m | 8 | £13.60 | £35.82 | Foot only |
| Cairnryan – Larne | Irish Ferries | 2h | 22 | £27.74 | £89.39 | Foot only |
| Belfast – Cairnryan | Wightlink | 2h 15m | 38 | £44.26 | £173.10 | Yes |
| Larne – Cairnryan | DFDS Seaways | 2h | 9 | £15.46 | £41.91 | Foot only |
| Ardrossan – Brodick | NorthLink Ferries | 10h 40m | 61 | £67.35 | £328.19 | Yes |
| Castlebay – Lochboisdale | NorthLink Ferries | 10h 20m | 60 | £65.68 | £315.48 | Yes |
| Gills Bay – St Margaret's Hope | NorthLink Ferries | 10h 15m | 59 | £65.05 | £310.75 | Yes |
| Port Askaig – Oban | NorthLink Ferries | 10h 5m | 58 | £64.11 | £303.76 | Yes |
| Lismore – Oban | NorthLink Ferries | 10h | 57 | £63.46 | £298.95 | Yes |
| Mallaig – Lochboisdale | NorthLink Ferries | 9h 45m | 56 | £62.16 | £289.47 | Yes |
| Muck – Eigg | CalMac Ferries | 9h 45m | 56 | £61.77 | £286.63 | Yes |
| Tiree – Oban | NorthLink Ferries | 9h 45m | 56 | £62.10 | £289.03 | Yes |
| Kennacraig – Port Ellen | CalMac Ferries | 9h 30m | 55 | £60.72 | £279.10 | Yes |
| Aberdeen – Lerwick | CalMac Ferries | 9h 20m | 53 | £59.29 | £268.99 | Yes |
| Scrabster – Stromness | CalMac Ferries | 9h 5m | 52 | £57.81 | £258.71 | Yes |
| Tarbert Loch Fyne – Uig | CalMac Ferries | 9h | 52 | £57.56 | £257.00 | Yes |
| Kirkwall – Aberdeen | CalMac Ferries | 8h 55m | 51 | £56.87 | £252.30 | Yes |
| Oban – Colonsay | CalMac Ferries | 8h 55m | 51 | £56.90 | £252.50 | Yes |
| Armadale – Mallaig | Red Funnel | 8h 10m | 47 | £52.70 | £224.64 | Yes |
| Coll – Oban | Red Funnel | 8h 5m | 46 | £52.07 | £220.57 | Yes |
| Stornoway – Ullapool | Red Funnel | 8h | 46 | £51.66 | £217.97 | Yes |
| Tarbert Harris – Uig | Red Funnel | 7h 55m | 45 | £50.77 | £212.33 | Yes |
| Oban – Lochboisdale | Wightlink | 7h 40m | 44 | £49.69 | £205.56 | Yes |
| Brodick – Troon | Wightlink | 7h 35m | 43 | £49.18 | £202.42 | Yes |
| Castlebay – Oban | Wightlink | 7h 20m | 42 | £47.61 | £192.85 | Yes |
Sailing information for ferries to Scotland
There are 74 ferry routes to and from Scotland, connecting 39 ports and operated by P&O Ferries, Irish Ferries, Wightlink, DFDS Seaways, NorthLink Ferries and CalMac Ferries. Fares start from £8.02 on the Lerwick to Aberdeen crossing.
The quickest way to reach Scotland by sea is Lerwick to Aberdeen, which takes just 45m. Longer overnight crossings usually work out cheaper per mile and save you a night's accommodation.
Compare every operator sailing to Scotland in one search. We show the full price including your vehicle, so what you see is what you pay.
How long is the ferry to Scotland?
Crossing times vary widely by route. The quickest is Lerwick to Aberdeen at around 45m. Longer overnight sailings take considerably more time but include a cabin, which often works out cheaper than a crossing plus a hotel.
Scotland ferry operators
P&O Ferries, Irish Ferries, Wightlink, DFDS Seaways, NorthLink Ferries, CalMac Ferries, Red Funnel and Condor Ferries and 2 others serve Scotland. Each sets its own fares and timetable, so comparing them side by side is the single most reliable way to cut the cost of the crossing.
- P&O Ferries
- Irish Ferries
- Wightlink
- DFDS Seaways
- NorthLink Ferries
- CalMac Ferries
- Red Funnel
- Condor Ferries
- Brittany Ferries
- Stena Line
Scotland ferry ports
There are 39 ferry ports in Scotland. The busiest are listed below, each with a full guide to check-in, parking and onward travel.
- Ferry to Oban, 16 routes
- Ferry to Colonsay, 6 routes
- Ferry to Kennacraig, 6 routes
- Ferry to Lochboisdale, 6 routes
- Ferry to Mallaig, 6 routes
- Ferry to Port Askaig, 6 routes
- Ferry to Uig, 6 routes
- Ferry to Aberdeen, 4 routes
- Ferry to Kirkwall, 4 routes
- Ferry to Lerwick, 4 routes
- Ferry to Ardrossan, 4 routes
- Ferry to Brodick, 4 routes
Can you take a car on the ferry to Scotland?
Yes. 53 of the 74 routes serving Scotland carry vehicles. Tick “taking a vehicle” when you search and every fare shown will already include your car, so the comparison is like for like.
When is the cheapest time to sail to Scotland?
Fares track demand rather than a fixed price list. Midweek departures and the first sailing of the day are consistently cheaper, while July and August weekends carry the largest premium. Booking six or more weeks ahead typically saves 30–50% against the same sailing booked in the final week.
Ferries to Scotland: common questions
How many ferry routes are there to Scotland?
There are 74 ferry routes serving Scotland across 10 operators.
What is the fastest ferry to Scotland?
The fastest crossing is Lerwick to Aberdeen at around 45m.
What is the cheapest ferry to Scotland?
The lowest fares are usually on Lerwick to Aberdeen, from £8.02 one way. Booking early and travelling midweek keeps prices down.
Which is the busiest route to Scotland?
Ardrossan to Brodick is the most frequent, with about 61 sailings a week, roughly 9 times a day.
Can I take my car on a ferry to Scotland?
Yes. 53 of the 74 routes to Scotland carry vehicles. Add your car at the search stage and the prices shown will include it.
Do I need a passport to travel to Scotland by ferry?
For international crossings, yes. Every passenger needs a valid passport, and you should check visa and biometric border requirements before travelling. Domestic routes normally require photo ID only.
Browse Scotland ferries
Popular routes
Cairnryan to BelfastCairnryan to LarneBelfast to CairnryanLarne to CairnryanArdrossan to BrodickCastlebay to LochboisdaleGills Bay to St Margaret's HopePort Askaig to ObanLismore to ObanMallaig to LochboisdaleMuck to EiggTiree to ObanKennacraig to Port EllenAberdeen to Lerwick