Exactly How to Get to Isle of Lewis (2026)

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Wondering how to get to Isle of Lewis?

Then you are in the right place, as that is exactly what I will tell you in this guide.

There are several different routes from the UK mainland to the Isle of Lewis. The best option isn’t obvious but this post is here to help with that. Over several trips to Lewis I have tried every travel route described below except for getting a plane.

It is not possible to drive to the Outer Hebrides. There is no bridge so the only way to get here is by ferry or plane.

Therefore the first decision to make is whether to get the plane or the ferry. Flying is more expensive but takes less time.

All the possible ferry and plane routes are described below with sections on “this route is best for” to help you decide what is the best way of getting to Isle of Lewis.

Table of Contents

How to Get to Isle of Lewis Route Map

As shown on the map above the question of how to get to Lewis can be the same as the question of how to get to Stornoway. All the direct routes to the Isle of Lewis take you to Stornoway.

There are two ways of getting to Stornoway, plane or ferry. Both are detailed below.

The post will also answer your questions on how to get to Lewis and Harris as well as where do you get the car ferry to Lewis island.

Where to Book Tickets?

Ferries to Lewis and all the Scottish islands are operated by Calmac. Tickets can be booked on their website. I always book direct.

Please note: Anyone travelling with a caravan or motorhome must pre-book travel. You will not be allowed to use the stand-by lanes.

Who Operates the Flights and How to Book Tickets?

Flights are operated by Logan Air. Only domestic flights from Inverness, Edinburgh or Glasgow are available. However, it is possible to buy a through-ticket from many UK and international destinations.

Book your flight with Expedia

Do You Need a Car on Isle of Lewis?

In my opinion, yes. Public transport is limited in the Outer Hebrides and you will see much more with a car.

Hiring a car at the airport or train stations on the mainland is cheaper and you will have wider selection of model.

Having said that, you can hire one in Stornoway or get one delivered to any of the other ferry ports or the airport.

Another benefit of having a car is that it is much easier to get to the ferry terminals on the mainland.

If you want to pick up a car in Lewis take the ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway. Direct buses leave from Inverness to Ullapool.

Book your car hire with Rental Cars

How to Get To Stornoway?

Stornoway is the largest town on Lewis. In fact it is the biggest town in the Outer Hebrides.

Stornoway has a couple of large supermarkets making it the best arrival location if renting a self-catering cottage. Outside of Stornoway there is very little in terms of supermarkets or other shops.

There are two routes to Stornoway

1. Ferry From Ullapool to Stornoway

Journey time: 2 hours and 45 minutes

Departures per day: 2 per day in the summer

Calmac ferry bound for Stornoway on Lewis arriving in Ullapool

Ullapool is on the northern coast of mainland Scotland, a 1.5-hour drive north of Inverness Airport.

The ferry to Isle of Lewis and Stornoway is the largest in the Calmac fleet. As a result it is one of the easier ferries to the Outer Hebrides to book.

Having said that, anyone bringing a car, caravan or motorhome should always book in advance. Saturdays are particularly popular days to travel since this is when most cottages start their weekly rental periods.

One of Calmac’s newer vessels operates on this route. Upstairs there is an observation deck with large windows. On calm days you can often spot dolphins and if you are very lucky, whales.

When you travel to Stornoway puffins sometimes fly past the boat between late April and early August. They live on the Shiants Isles, a group of islands. A trip here is one of the best things to do on Isle of Lewis.

The one downside with this ferry route is that it is the longest ferry route to Lewis. Most of the voyage is in open sea so if it is windy it can get quite rough.

This route is best for:

Anyone staying on Lewis or Harris. Arriving in Stornoway allows you to visit the supermarkets before travelling on to your accommodation
It is much cheaper to get the ferry than plane
Renting a car at Inverness Airport is cheaper than renting in Stornoway. There will also be more choice of car models and sizes than in Stornoway

Where to stay

In Stornoway stay at top rated Stornoway B&B, or one of the hotels in Stornoway near the ferry
In Ullapool I recommend staying stay a half an hour drive away at Aultuguish Inn. Let them know in advance if you will be checking in late. There is also a restaurant on site. Click here to check prices and availability

2. Flight From Inverness, Edinburgh or Glasgow to Stornoway

Journey time: circa 1 hour

Departures per day: 1-3 depending on the airport you fly from

Loganair plane going to Stornoway from Inverness airport

The airport on Lewis is a few miles outside Stornoway. Domestic flights arrive daily from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness.

There are no direct international flights to Stornoway but you can buy through-tickets from most UK and internal airports.

Flights are 40 minutes from Inverness and a little over 1 hour from Glasgow and Edinburgh. One thing to note is that you only get a 15 kg luggage allowance.

This route is best for:

Flights are considerably more expensive than getting the ferry. However, it takes a lot less time. Anyone looking for the fastest way to get to Lewis should book a flight
More reliable than the getting the ferry to the Outer Hebrides. In recent years Calmac’s lack of investment has started to show through technical issues with the ferries. Having said that the ferries to Harris and Lewis are more reliable than the ferries to the islands further south in the Outer Hebrides
The sea can get rough so motion sickness is less likely to be a problem if travelling by plane
If you are wondering how to get to Stornoway from Glasgow or Edinburgh then flying is the quickest option. It is a 5-6 our drive to the ferry port from both of these cities. However, the drive is through beautiful countryside so would make an interesting road trip if time is not pressing

Where to rent a car in Stornoway

In my view you must have a rental car on Lewis. The best options in Stornoway are:

Stornoway car hire
Car hire Hebrides
Stornoway Vehicle Hire

Some of these companies will deliver cars to the airport or the ferry terminal at no extra cost.

However they tend to be more expensive than the cars you can rent at Inverness or any of the other airports on the mainland. Your choice of models and sizes is also more limited on Stornoway.

Where to stay

For a unique experience stay at Lews Castle in Stornoway.
Before your flight stay at Mariott at Inverness airport, the Holiday Inn at Glasgow airport or Hampton by Hilton at Edinburgh airport.

Make sure to plan a visit to the best beaches in Lewis

How to Get to the Isle of Lewis via Harris

There are two routes via Harris. One is a direct ferry from Skye to Harris. There are also ferries to North Uist from Skye and from Berneray to Leverburgh on Harris.

Only the direct route from Isle of Skye to Isle of Harris is described below sine the other is a very long day from Lewis.

3. Ferry From Uig to Tarbert

Journey time: 1 hours and 40 minutes

Departures per day: 1-2 per day in the summer

Ferry from Uig heading to Tarbert on a grey day

The ferries to Harris departs from Uig which is at the northern end of the Isle of Skye. Despite being an island driving to Isle of Skye is easy since it is connected to the mainland by a bridge.

Tarbert is the largest town on Harris.

By car it takes about 1 hour from Tarbert to Stornoway and 1.5 hours to Port of Ness.

There is no ferry from Skye to Lewis so use this route if you want to travel between these two islands.

This route is best for:

Perfect for anyone looking to add a few days on the Isle of Skye either at the beginning or end of their holiday
Shortest ferry route to Lewis which makes it a good option for anyone who suffers from sea sickness

Please note that this ferry route books up quicker than the route from Stornoway to Ullapool. For the summer season tickets should be booked as soon as they are released.

Tickets are released around the third Friday in January. The exact date can be found under summer schedule for the particular route you are looking to buy.

Where to stay

Close to the ferry terminal on Harris is top rated Dunarain B&B. It is very popular so make your reservation well in advance. Click here to check prices and availiability
In the summer months all hotels and B&B’s on Skye have a two night minimum stay. For one night I recommend Marriott at Inverness Airport
It is worth spending two nights in Skye either side of your trip to the Outer Hebrides to explore this amazing island. When you do, stay at Skeabost House Hotel

Arriving in Stornoway by ferry on a cloud day — Arriving in Stornoway on the ferry

After arriving on the ferry explore the beaches in Stornoway

FAQs

How to get to Isle of Lewis?

There are two ways to get to Isle of Lewis, ferry and plane. Ferries leave Ullapool for Stornoway. It is also possible to fly to Stornoway from Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

How reliable are the ferries to Isle of Lewis?

Cancellations due to weather can happen at any time of the year but are more likely between October and early April. Make sure you leave a couple of days between when you get the ferry and when you fly home.

In recent years many of the ferries to the Outer Hebrides have been cancelled for reasons other than weather. Such cancellations are less likely for the ferry to Barra, Harris and Lewis than the routes to the islands further south.

The Uig to Tarbert route is popular and often sells out fast. As a result this route rarely gets cancelled for reasons other than weather.

Since the vessel to Stornoway is large it is difficult to redirect it to other routes within the Calmac network. However, some other ferries, such as the Mallaig to Lochboisdale ferry, were redirected to other routes when those ferries were being repaired.

Which ferries goes to the Isle of Lewis?

There is only one ferry to Isle of Lewis. It departs from Ullapool on the mainland and arrives at Stornoway, the largest town on Lewis.

How to get to Lewis from London?

The quickest route from London to Isle of Lewis is by plane. Flights to Isle of Lewis have one stop in Glasgow, Edinburgh or Inverness on the way to Stornoway. If taking the plane it is possible to get all the way to Lewis in one day. However, it is expensive.

A cheaper option is to fly to Inverness and get the ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway.

Living in London myself this is the route I take every time I go. One thing to be aware of is that not many car rental agencies are open when the evening flights from London arrive.

In fact, only one is – Europcar. The others either charge expensive out of hours fees for a pickup this late or only do pick ups during standard opening hours.

Most also don’t open until 9 a.m. in the morning which is too late to pick up your car and make it for the first ferry to Stornoway on the same day.

To get the best price for your rental car means that you must arrive earlier on the Friday or get the late ferry to Stornoway. The downside with the late ferry is that it only arrives in Stornoway at about 8 pm.

In case you are wondering, drop offs are much easier. All the car rentals offer free out of hours drop off.

How do you to get to Isle of Lewis from Skye?

There is no ferry from Isle of Skye to Isle of Lewis but there is a direct route from Skye to Harris. Ferries depart from Uig at the northern tip of Skye and arrive at Tarbert on Harris.

Harris and Lewis are a single island which means that it is straight forward to drive to Lewis from Harris. From Tarbert it is a 1-hour drive to Stornoway and 1.5 hours to Port of Ness.

How to get to the Isle of Lewis from Inverness?

From Inverness to Isle of Lewis the quickest is boarding one of the direct flights to Stornoway which take 40 minutes. Another option is to drive to Ullapool and get the ferry to Stornoway. The ferry is cheaper than flying but it takes more time.

How to get to Isle of Lewis from Glasgow?

From Glasgow to Isle of Lewis flying is the fastest way to get there. Direct flights to Stornoway leave every day.

The cheapest way to travel from Glasgow to Lewis is by ferry. It is a 5–6-hour drive from Glasgow to the ferry terminal at Uig or Ullapool.

For anyone on a budget or wanting a road trip the ferry is still a good option. The driving route is through the highlands where you can visit places such as Glencoe, Fort William and Skye on the way.

How to get to Isle of Lewis from Edinburgh?

How to get to Isle of Lewis from Edinburgh is the same as the question how to get to Stornoway from Edinburgh. Both the planes and the ferry arrives in Stornoway.

Flying is the quickest way from Edinburgh to Isle of Lewis. Direct flights operating every day from Edinburgh to Stornoway.

To get to the ferry terminal on Skye or at Ullapool from Edinburgh takes 5-6 hours by car.

The route is through the Cairngorms National Park with lots of castles and Loch Ness also on the way. If taking the ferry from Skye you can visit this beautiful island as part of your journey.

Can you visit Lewis as a day trip from the mainland?

No, it is not possible to visit Isle of Lewis as a day trip from the mainland. The ferry takes a couple of hours each way and neither the ferry nor the flight times allow for a meaningful day trip.

Can I bring my dog to Lewis?

Yes, you can bring your dog on the ferry to Lewis. Dogs must have their own ticket but they are free of charge. Tickets for dogs can be added to the transaction during the online booking process.