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Original poster

Ferry to Arran - urgent advice please!

19 replies

R00tat00tt00t · 27/05/2019 23:45

Hi

We're supposed to be going to Arran from Wednesday to Saturday this week and despite booking the accommodation months ago we didn't book our ferriesConfused
We went online tonight thinking we could easily reserve our return journey only to find there is no availability for our return from Brodick to Ardrossan on Saturday!
Please can anyone provide any advice re; likelihood of being able to turn up at port and find a space on ferry for vehicle or whether we're likely to be able to travel as foot passengers both ways? Only other alternative seems to be to take the long route home i.e. Clanoig? to Lochalsh and back down to Ayrshire by road.
Feeling very foolish as could have sorted this ages ago but didn't think we needed to.
Any advice or reassurance gratefully received Blush

OP posts:
fizzyflowers · 27/05/2019 23:58

Is the 19:20 one too late , it looks like there is still availability ticketing.calmac.co.uk/booking/asp/web120.asp

Original poster
R00tat00tt00t · 28/05/2019 00:01

Yes, unfortunately we've got plans arranged for Saturday night so need to travel back in morning or early afternoon.
Feel so daft to have ended up in this pickle.
Going to ring Calmac first thing in morning and see what they suggest...

OP posts:
HongKongPhooeyLooey · 28/05/2019 00:08

Calmac have a standby system, first come first served. If you arrive for the sailing as early as possible so your first in the standby queue, that would be your best chance to get on an otherwise fully booked ferry

HongKongPhooeyLooey · 28/05/2019 00:10

That's assuming your taking the car, if foot passengers you should be able to ring calmac and book tickets.

Original poster
R00tat00tt00t · 28/05/2019 00:49

Thanks HongKong, fingers crossed I'll be able to speak to someone in morning to make plans.

OP posts:
Mustbeoriginal38 · 28/05/2019 01:00

Two years ago we didn't book tickets early enough for a Saturday in July sailing. Turned up at Ardrossan and got on the boat we wanted. In fact it was the operator at CalMac that advised my mum that our party should just turn up as you can pay at the slip way. There's always standby spaces on the fully booked sailings. You might even be able to reserve a return spot once you arrive in Brodick on Wednesday. We reserved our return mid week when returning from the trip.

Good luck.

Original poster
R00tat00tt00t · 28/05/2019 01:07

Thanks Mustbe, that's reassuring. Literally all the sailings on Saturday (except the last one at 19:20hr or similar) are marked as no availability.
Fingers crossed...

OP posts:
Fivefootoffun · 28/05/2019 01:21

This happened me a few weeks ago - I was so gutted. We were all set to leave the car at Ardrossan (thinking we had no alternative) but thought we’d chance our arm in the car queue and see what they say. We arrived about an hour before sailing. Drove up - absolutely no problem at all getting a ticket and we got the return ones then too (which were also showing as full).
Going by our experience, you’ll almost definitely get on.

Fivefootoffun · 28/05/2019 01:24

Ps - we rang Calmac the day before - absolutely useless and the guy we spoke to said there were no more online tickets and wouldn’t give us any info on capacity/free slots etc so don’t be disheartened if you ring tomorrow and get a similar vibe.

Original poster
R00tat00tt00t · 28/05/2019 07:39

Thanks Fivefoot, we rang first thing this morning and similar to your experience were unable to book/reserve over the phone. The guy was perfectly nice though and reassured us that we'd have no problem getting on as foot passengers but that we can try for standby slots on the day. We don't really need to take the car, it would just be a bonus with the kids if we want to explore a bit more.
Thanks to everyone who replied, Mumsnet is great for stuff like this!
I'll keep you all posted with how we get on.

OP posts:
Original poster
R00tat00tt00t · 02/06/2019 21:18

Just a quick update for anyone interested. We arrived in Ardrossan about 30 minutes before the next ferry was due to sail and were told by the ticket guy that we could queue for standby but were "highly unlikely to get on the next ferry" and would have to wait and see if there was space on a later ferry. We also asked if we could book our return for that weekend but were told there were only tickets for the evening sailings which were not suitable for us. So.... we waited in the standby queue and squeezed on as the last car to board.
On the Saturday we arrived an hour early for the second ferry that day and were told off by another ticket guy for taking such a risk as to not book ahead and did we realise we could get stuck on the island etc. However we bought our tickets and were in the first queue to board the ferry so despite all the "risk taking" we managed to get to Arran and back with no problems.
In fairness though, we'll make sure we book ahead in the future to avoid any hand-wringing.
We had a lovely holiday and will definitely be back to Arran and hopefully some of the other islands.

OP posts:
Dizzywizz · 02/06/2019 21:28

Ah glad it worked out in the end!

Original poster
R00tat00tt00t · 02/06/2019 21:45

Thanks Dizzy

OP posts:
OllyBJolly · 12/06/2019 07:04

We arrived about an hour before sailing. Drove up - absolutely no problem at all getting a ticket and we got the return ones then too (which were also showing as full)

I went to Arran many times and never booked. Few years back turned up for the morning sailing and had to sit in the standby queue ALL DAY - finally getting on around 6ish. It was a Friday but not a holiday weekend. Wasted day off as Ardrossan is grim and we couldn't stray too far from the ferry terminal.

IM0GEN · 12/06/2019 10:47

Thanks for the update OP.

user1487194234 · 12/06/2019 11:23

The reduced prices following on from RET has meant a big increase in cars on the ferry
I never used to book apart from at Easter but now always book

ssd · 20/06/2019 10:53

Thanks for this thread, we want to go soon and didn't realise you need to book. Can anyone advise me how far in advance booking is required and where is nice to stay in arran apart from the auchrannie?

Mustbeoriginal38 · 23/06/2019 22:21

@ssd the Auchrannie is by far the nicest hotel on the island. The hotel in Blackwaterfoot is nice but nowhere like the Auchrannie. There are a couple of other smaller places too.

There are hundreds of self catering places if that's what you are after. Google self catering Arran and explore. We like staying I Lamlash, Corrie or Kildonan.

Air B&B doesn't really seem to have taken off on the island yet from what I could see when looking at options for this year.

I'd say as soon as you book accommodation check out the Cal Mac website for ferry options. Or if you know the dates check if there is availability. Saturday is always busy in the summer as it is the more popular change over day for self catering properties.

Ohyesiam · 23/06/2019 22:28

Oh this has made me yearn for my Scottish holiday. How long till August 13 th?

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