Can you tell me about car ferries?

[Seagullandclouds]

DH wants to go to the Western Isles (Harris or similar) and take the car. His idea being that we’ll enjoy the trip, and if so do similar to go to Isle of White, over to Ireland etc.

The idea slightly freaks me out, but I can’t find out much about the process of taking a ferry. In my head it’s a smallish boat with about 20 cars 😅and you just sit around and wait, but I see from the pictures that they are big!

So, can anyone tell me a bit more about what they are like? Any tips or tricks? How do you load your car on (I’m worried it will be like a really tight car park). How do you get from your car to the rest of the boat? Is there anything to do? How bad is it for getting seasick? Anything you would recommend for passing the time? Anything you wouldn’t do?

Really? Ferries vary in size from massive to tiny. You simply follow the instructions of the staff as to where to park. Do apply the break and do make sure your car alarm is switched off - waves can set them off.

@CottonPyjamas just to let you know, the inter-island ferries on Orkney do require you to reverse on. DH is very competent, but I'm told if you look pathetic at the staff, they'll reverse your car on for you. Orkney is great - I highly recommend it.

There is a calmac ferry which runs between Mallaig (mainland) and Armadale (Skye), but the best one is the ferry between Glenelg (mainland) and Kylerhea (Skye). It's a turntable ferry under community ownership. Definitely worth a trip!

Was about to say just this - am sad when a wee ferry arrives, and there’s no Mac and Cheese!

If they have got cheaper that is great, per mile they used to be a very expensive public transport to have to take. It has been a few years since I’ve taken one but it’s going to make island life much easier if traveling by ferry isn’t much more expensive than bus or train. Excellent news.

Thanks. I'm up in Scotland next month. I wonder if I can fit that in... The nearest I've been to Skye is standing on the mainland side of the (then new) bridge. 🤔

Yes.... a few years ago there was a ferry as well. There might still be, I've not been to Skye recently.

Cal Mac breakfasts are good so try to get an early ferry 👌🏼

Good to know. Do they serve haggis?

That I don't know but how does Stornoway black pudding pizza sound??

@Seagullandclouds the stairs up from the car deck can be very steep, something to be aware of if you have mobility issues although as PPs have said there are lifts.

Also don't trust what google tells you about journey times from where you are to the ferry terminal. Allow plenty of time.

Single track roads are fab but some drivers who use them not so much.

@IToldMyVersionofEvents

"That I don't know but how does Stornoway black pudding pizza sound?"

Spooky! I almost added "or black pudding" to my original question. I'd absolutely try it. (Although maybe not if it was also deep fried.😋)

Eek! I didn't know that. Thanks for the heads up.

I didn't know that either. I'd have no problem asking someone to do that for me.

I guess if you reverse on then you just drive off at the other end?

Yes, you drive off forwards. That's the easy bit!

I loved the little car ferry at the southern tip of Skye.there were a couple of sheep dogs herding everyone on. And a great pub as well.

Calmac are not particularly expensive at all.

The Orkney ferry however is! Famously the most expensive transport per mile in the UK. But that's Northlink, not Calmac.

They’re much bigger than you would expect. Driving on them is a piece of piss

Some of them are much smaller than you would expect and driving on them isn’t a piece of piss.

Only issues I've had getting on ferries was the time they wanted me to drive under a barrier which said it was 2M and I know my car was 1.98 or something and I'd got a roof rack on, but the man said it'd be fine. And the time they wanted me to parallel park in a teeny gap to fill up the end, and there were loads of people watching from the decks above who'd already got out of their cars. Adrenaline kicked in and I did it in one go, to everyone's surprise! Just trust the stewards, they play car jenga all day.

Jump on YouTube and have a look. There are a good few vids of boarding with a car. It's was the Isle of Man ones we watched a while ago.

Do your research about different ferries, some it is essential to book eg, Northlink to Orkney and Shetland - currently my Aunt who lives in Shetland says it’s several months wait for a car booking.

Some can be quite exciting like the Cuan ferry between the slate islands of Seil and Luing.
One of my favourites is between Skye and Raasay often seals swim alongside the ferry.

Thanks so much everyone. Feeling quite excited now. Fingers crossed the weather is good!

If you’re really keen you could watch this on iplayer - some real characters and very interesting to see what happens behind the scenes! https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m001p4kw/island-crossings

Also you will deffo need to book crossings (and accommodation) in the summer months, the Highlands and Islands are heaving with visitors.

Enjoy your trip ☺️

I think that title is held by the Isle of Wight ferries isn’t it?

Are you going Scrabster to Stromness? I love that ferry journey.