Ferry to Lewis and Harris with 7.5m motorhome (1 Viewer)

[KirkViv]

Looking for recommendation please - anyone have any experience of the ferry to Lewis and Harris? Whats the easiest (shortest journey and/or cheapest) way to get a 7.5m motorhome there? Uig/Ullapool etc??? TIA

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Check what's actually running. Calmac are notoriously unreliable.we were booked on that ferry crossing, but it cancelled at the last moment. We had a long drive round to Ullapool, to Stornway.
Mike.

 

[CWH]

Uig to Tarbert is the shortest (& therefore cheapest, the ferry fees are based on 'mileage'), but be aware that Uig port will be closed 2 Nov to 11 Dec for refurb.
Of course Ullapool to Stornoway might be quicker, depending on where you're coming from.

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[Otter Spotter]

When are you going ? You need to speak to CalMac and find out which ferrys will actually be running if you plan to go soon as they are always breaking down and sent for repair reducing the services.
If the Ferry’s are OK then 7.5m van is no problem on either the Uig or Ullapool route, costs are similar either route taking account of fuel to each. The Ullapool ferry takes you to Stornaway which is a good starting point near the top of the islands if you fancy a full run up and down the islands to Barra. It really depends on what you want to see on the way.

 

[tinkertaylor]

We travelled from Ullapool to Stornoway and then worked our way south through to Barra, (4 ferry's in total) catching the ferry back from Barra to Oban. The trip to Oban was spectacular, hundreds of Dolphins, whales and then through the Sound of Mull which has some spectacular landscape. Total cost for a 6m van was around £200 for all the ferry's, that was early June this year. We had no delays and the service on board was first class.

 

[CWH]

You need to speak to CalMac and find out which ferrys will actually be running if you plan to go soon as they are always breaking down and sent for repair reducing the services.

The website's kept well up to date for any cancellations, delays etc. You can get text updates. But the phone staff are great too.

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[Revolvor]

We went to and from Harris from Uig earlier this year. Only 6m, but lots of bigger vans. No problems. My wife has difficulty walking far and they put us at the front of the queue and then called us on first with our flashers on. We drove straight to the bow where we were right by the lift, and we're met by someone who helped her to the lift. At the top we were met by another lady who showed us to our seats. Same treatment on the return. Very impressed. Try the Maccy cheese!

 

[PaulC70]

Uig to Tarbert is the shortest (& therefore cheapest, the ferry fees are based on 'mileage'), but be aware that Uig port will be closed 2 Nov to 11 Dec for refurb.
Of course Ullapool to Stornoway might be quicker, depending on where you're coming from.

Not just based on milage sadly, while some here have stated how reasonably priced it is, they are in 6m, try putting your trip in as a 6m then as the OP's 7.5 and it will nearly double. Biggest reason we've not been back on Harris and Lewis for over 3 years now.

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

Not just based on milage sadly, while some here have stated how reasonably priced it is, they are in 6m, try putting your trip in as a 6m then as the OP's 7.5 and it will nearly double. Biggest reason we've not been back on Harris and Lewis for over 3 years now.

Just checked to find under 6m is £111 but 8m is £278 Ullapool Stornaway yet an 8m caravan is over £100 less.
Clearly a pricing policy to put off longer motorhomes
10m price is enough to buy a Scottish island

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[PaulC70]

yep, and exactly why I've not been back now for about 3 years, going on previous trips (not in motorhome I have to say) that's about £3000 lost to their economy. I know thats not everyone's budget but we fell in love with the place about 5 years ago and even were planning to retire there, but not any more.

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

BIL lives there and although we have taken the MH about 10 years ago we go most years in the car as it’s so much cheaper

 

[PaulC70]

BIL lives there and although we have taken the MH about 10 years ago we go most years in the car as it’s so much cheaper

yep, we used to go in the car and hire a bungalow, wanted to go in the MH but with Calmacs new prices, it's gonna be quite unlikely it will happen again for some time. This year we went to Mull, spent about £800 in 4 days

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[Gellyneck]

.......... then through the Sound of Mull which has some spectacular landscape. ..........

Landscape may be spectacular but the seas can get really rough!

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

We went to and from Harris from Uig earlier this year. Only 6m, but lots of bigger vans. No problems. My wife has difficulty walking far and they put us at the front of the queue and then called us on first with our flashers on. We drove straight to the bow where we were right by the lift, and we're met by someone who helped her to the lift. At the top we were met by another lady who showed us to our seats. Same treatment on the return. Very impressed. Try the Maccy cheese!

The Stornoway black pudding (can we say that?) is the best I've tasted

 

[tinkertaylor]

The Stornoway black pudding (can we say that?) is the best I've tasted

Not for us, very greasy, the amount of fat it let out in the pan was spectacular. The lobster at Namara, north Uist, was however unbelievably good .

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