Exactly How to Get the Uig to Lochmaddy Ferry
This post has compensated links which means that I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Read the disclaimer to learn more.
Wondering how to get to North Uist? The answer for most people will be the Uig to Lochmaddy ferry. It departs from Uig on the tip of Skye and takes 1 hour and 45 minutes to get to Lochmaddy on North Uist.
The North Uist ferry is one of the shortest sailings to the Outer Hebrides and based on my experience it is the most reliable ferry to Uist.
Currently the ferry is old and slightly tired, but it should be replaced with a new vessel in 2025.
How to Get the Ferry to the Uist?
Uist is used to describe collectively the 6 islands of Berneray, North Uist, Grimsay, Benbecula, South Uist and Eriskay. There are several Outer Hebrides ferry routes and 4 of these are to Uist:
- Uig to Lochmaddy
- Mallaig to Lochboisdale (includes Oban in the winter)
- Leverburgh (Harris) to Berneray
- Ardmhor (Barra) to Eriskay
The first two routes are from mainland Scotland to the Uists. The last two run between the islands in the Outer Hebrides.
There is only one ferry from Skye to Uist which is the Uig to Lochmaddy ferry described below. I recommend booking this ferry rather than the ferry from Mallaig since it has been more reliable over the last few years.
It is only a 1 hour drive from Lochmaddy to Lochboisdale so wherever you are going in the Uists you can take this ferry. It is also a shorter crossing than the ferry from Mallaig.
The Lochmaddy- Uig ferry only takes 1 hours and 45 minutes, but from Mallaig to South Uist it is 3.5 hours.
For recommendations on where to stay read my guide to the Best North Uist hotels and South Uist accommodation.
How Long Does the Ferry From Uig to Lochmaddy Take?
Ferries from Uig to Lochmaddy take 1 hours and 45 minutes. During the summer there are 1-2 departures per day and in the winter it is [x].
Together with the ferry from Uig to Harris, this is the shortest crossing to the Outer Hebrides.
How to Book the Ferry?
Book your tickets directly with Calmac, either online or by phone.
Should I Book in Advance?
Yes, ferries to North Uist should be booked in advance, especially when you are bringing a car.
Having said that one of the benefits of the Lochmaddy to Uig ferry is that there is often last minute availability, even during the summer.
Routes such as the ferry from Uig to Harris sell out months in advance. It is the best way to travel to Harris but make sure you plan well in advance.
I still book a couple of months in advance to ensure I can travel on the date and time I want. Saturdays are particularly popular since it is the day most rental cottages do their change overs.
If travelling to North Uist with a campervan or motorhome you must book your ferry ticket in advance. You will not be allowed to use the stand by lanes.
I highly recommend renting a car with RentalCars.
What Is the Cost of the Uig to Lochmaddy Ferry?
The Uig to North Uist ferry costs £47.55 for two adults and one car, one way. Returns simply cost double.
Can I Show the Ticket on My Phone?
Tickets will be sent by e-mail. I have created a profile on the Calmac website so my tickets are saved there as well.
In the past you had to have paper tickets but that is no longer the case. Now you can show the QR codes for your tickets on your phone.
Should you still prefer to print your ticket make sure you print all the pages. The first page showing the sailing time is not the actual ticket. You need the QR codes to check in.
It is easy to miss that there is one QR code for each passenger, car and anything else you have added to the booking such as dogs, kayaks etc.
Can Tickets Be Amended or Cancelled?
Yes, tickets can be amended via the Calmac website (if you have an account) or by calling Calmac.
As long as there is free space they will move you to a different sailing at no cost (assuming the ticket prices are the same).
To cancel tickets there is an admin charge.
When Does Check In Close?
Check in closes 45 minutes before departure for people with a car and 30 minutes for foot passengers.
As mentioned check you have all the QR codes you need. That is the only thing you need to check in, you don’t need ID or anything else.
What Food and Drink Is Available on Board?
There is a canteen-style restaurant that serves hot food. Depending on the time of your trip you can buy meals like a full English breakfast, curry or fish and chips. Menus are available online.
There is also a coffee shop which sells both alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks and snacks.
You can also bring your own food and drink.
Can I Bring My Pet on the Ferry?
Yes you can bring your pet on the ferry from Uig to North Uist, but they need a free pet ticket. There are two types of pet tickets:
- Pet in pax lounge: Lounge tickets allow you to bring the pet into specific lounges. There are a limited number of lounge tickets available.
- Pet remain in car: However, it is not possible to go back to the car deck during the sailing to check on your dog so make sure they have everything they need for the trip.
Can I Bring My Bike, Surfboard or Kayak?
Yes you can, but a free ticket must be added during the booking process.
To plan your trip read my guide to the amazing North Uist beaches
Is There WiFi on Board?
When boarding the ferry from Skye to North Uist you may see signs saying they have wifi but it often doesn’t work well. Therefore it is safer to assume that there won’t be any wifi.
Please remember to set your phone to Airplane mode to make sure you don’t end up with significant roaming charges.
Uig- Lochmaddy Ferry Timetable
Ferry Times Uig to Lochmaddy – Summer
The Lochmaddy to Uig ferry timetable shown below should only be used as a guide. It is taken from a previous year. Ferry times don’t often change but check the Calmac website around mid-January for the latest North Uist ferry timetable.
Ferry Times Uig to Lochmaddy – Winter
The Uig to Lochmaddy ferry timetable shown below is from a previous year and should only be used as a guide when planning your trip.
How Reliable Is the Ferry
All the ferries in the Outer Hebrides are periodically impacted by the weather. This means that cancellations are more likely during winter but they happen at any time of year.
Last time I took the ferry from North Uist in June it was so windy it took the ferry 45 minutes to dock.
Lochmaddy harbour is quite narrow and a couple of years ago the ferry collided with the pier whilst docking in bad weather. This meant the ferry was out of service for a few weeks whilst both Lochmaddy pier and the boat were repaired.
Despite the risk of cancellations I think the ferry to Lochmaddy is the most reliable ferry to Uist. The Mallaig to Lochboisdale ferry has been cancelled for weeks at a time over the last couple of years.
It seems to be the first vessel that is redeployed if there are ferry issues elsewhere on the Calmac network. I have booked the Mallaig to Lochboisdale ferry twice in the past and both times I have had to scramble to find an alternative route at the last minute.
South Uist is a fantastic island. The beaches on South Uist are amazing and there are many interesting attractions on South Uist.
It is definitely worth staying in accommodation in South Uist for a few nights, but I’d highly recommend you take the Uig to Lochmaddy ferry regardless.
Alternative Routes
There are several alternative ferry routes, but some require a lot of additional travel and others are tight on availability.
Keep in mind that if the Uig to Lochmaddy ferry is cancelled because of bad weather, all of the routes below will also likely to be impacted.
Alternative routes:
- Lochboisdale to Mallaig: The best alternative route. It is only a 1 hour drive between Lochboisdale and Lochmaddy. However, this will likely be the alternative everyone wants to book, so be quick, it will book up quickly. From Mallaig to you can get a ferry to Isle of Skye if that is your final destination.
- Berneray to Leverburgh and Tarbert to Uig: The main issue with this alternative is that the ferry from Harris to Skye often sells out during the summer. In a worst case scenario you can drive up to Lewis and get the ferry from Stornoway to Ullapool, but it will be a long journey.
- Eriksay to Ardmhor and Barry to Oban: It is the alternative with the most availability, but it’s also the most inconvenient. The ferry from Barra to Oban departs at 7am. Therefore you have to either find overnight accommodation on Barra (one night stays are hard to find) or it means a 4 am start. When the Uig to North Uist ferry is cancelled Calmac normally adds extra early sailings from Eriskay to Barra. This means you can get from Uist to Castlebay in time for the ferry to Oban.
If your preferred route is unavailable, check again closer to the date you are travelling. The last time I had to change the ferry from Lochboisdale to Mallaig last minute availability opened up on the ferry from Lochmaddy to Uig.
Book your car hire with Rental Cars
What Happens if My Ferry Is Cancelled?
Your entitlement depends on the reason for the cancellation. If it’s due to weather, you have fewer rights than for technical faults or route changes by Calmac.
For all cancellations you can:
- Rebook an alternative route at no extra cost by calling Calmac’s booking line, or book a new ticket yourself and claim the cost difference via a Passengers Rights Claim form.
- Claim additional mileage (up to 63 miles) for changes to departure/arrival points.
- Claim food/drink costs within Calmac’s set limits.
For cancellations NOT due to weather:
- Claim accommodation costs, up to £70 per person per night, for a maximum of 3 nights.
- Claim site fees for motorhome or caravan pitches.
- Receive a 50% refund of the original ticket price.
Claims must be made within 2 months of the disrupted service date. Calmac’s passenger rights page sets out limits and exclusions.
Calmac may be slow at informing passengers about non-weather related cancellations. Follow Calmac on Twitter or sign up to text alerts via their website to stay updated.
Lochmaddy Ferry Terminal
The ferry terminal has a small waiting room and toilets.
The waiting room has large windows with views of the dolphin sculpture in the harbour. A balcony wraps around most of the building with beautiful views out to sea.
If you want to eat before boarding the ferry, the Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre serves delicious cakes and light meals. The only alternatives are hotels.
Things to Do Close By
The best things to do in Lochmaddy are:
- Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre: interesting to look around the exhibits, but the café gets very busy before ferry departures.
- Uist Sculpture trail: from the car park at the Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre walkways lead to the mackerel mosaic and the high tide low tide sculpture.
- Hut of Shadows: a camera obscura hidden inside a small traditional stone hut. The suspension bridge which is meant to take you across to the Hut of Shadows is closed due to safety concerns. The only other option is to drive there. The road to the hut is full of large potholes so it’s slow going.
Where to Stay
Lochmaddy has a few hotels but there is no good reason to stay there. North Uist is so small that you can stay somewhere much nicer and it will still only be a short drive away.
For recommendations on where to stay read my guide to the Best North Uist hotels and South Uist accommodation.
Uig Ferry Terminal
Are you wondering where you get the ferry to North Uist from? The answer is the small village called Uig at tip of Isle of Skye.
The ferry terminal has a waiting room and toilets. There is also a toilet block which is always open in between the terminal and the Isle of Skye Brewing Company building.
There are a couple of places to eat at the terminal but I recommend stopping before you get to the terminal at the Ferry Inn or The Gallery Café & Takeaway. Both options are located shortly before the ferry terminal.
At the ferry terminal there is a small supermarket, petrol station and charging station for electric cars.
Things to Do Close By
The ferry terminal is not the most interesting place, but there are a couple interesting things to see close by:
- Fairy Glenn: from the pay and display parking it is a short walk into the green, strange-shaped hills
- Rha Waterfall: one of the smaller waterfalls on Skye. It is close to the parking area by the Uig Woodland
- Idrigail Bay Viewpoint: fabulous views over Uig and the harbour
Where to Stay
There is plenty to see and do on Skye, so consider staying for a couple of days. Two cosy country hotels with open fires close by are:
FAQ on the Ferry to Lochmaddy
Can I See Any Wildlife on the Route?
When sailing out of Uig harbour you can often see dolphins. There are also changes of seeing whales but they are more difficult to see.
On a calm day keep an eye out for any disturbance to the surface of the water since it might be a whale or dolphin breaching.
How to Get to North Uist From Glasgow?
There are two options, you can either travel overland or by plane. You cannot fly direct to North Uist but you can fly to Benbecula and then rent a car. From Benbecula airport to Lochmaddy it is a 30 minute drive.
If travelling overland from Glasgow to North Uist you first need to travel to Skye to get the ferry. By car it is a 5-6.5 hour drive, or 7 hours on a direct bus from Glasgow to Uig.
For further details read my post on getting to Isle of Skye from Glasgow.
How to Get to North Uist From Edinburgh?
To get to North Uist from Edinburgh you have to first get to Uig on Skye. From Uig take the Uig to Lochmaddy ferry. By car it is a 5-6.5 hour drive or at least 8 hours by bus from Edinburgh to Uig via Glasgow.
There are no direct flights from Edinburgh to Benbecula.
For further details read my post on travelling to isle of Skye from Edinburgh.
How to Get to North Uist From Inverness?
There are no flights from Inverness to Benbecula, get the ferry described here instead. It is a 3-hour drive to the ferry terminal in Uig. There are also direct buses.
For further detail read my post on travelling from Inverness to the Isle of Skye.
How Do I Get to North Uist by Ferry?
The only ferry to North Uist departs from Uig on Skye. However, there are three additional ferries to other islands in the Uists from which you can drive to North Uist. The other routes are: i) Mallaig to Lochboisdale; ii) Leverburgh to Berneray and iii) Barra to Eriskay.
Is There a Harris to North Uist Ferry?
There is no ferry from North Uist to Harris and there is no Tarbert to Lochmaddy ferry. It is a bit confusing because the ferry from the small island of Berneray to Harris is called North Uist to Harris on the Calmac website.
Travelling from North Uist to Harris is still an easy journey. Drive to Berneray and take the ferry to Leverburgh on Harris.
Berneray is connected to North Uist by a causeway.
Is There a Ferry From Oban to North Uist?
No, there is no ferry from Oban to North Uist. A regular ferry service runs from Oban to Castlebay on Barra. From Barra you can take the ferry to Eriskay and drive to North Uist.
During the winter months there is a ferry from Oban to Lochboisdale.
Can You Drive to North Uist?
You can bring your car on the ferry to North Uist, but it is not possible to drive to North Uist from mainland Scotland. However, you can drive to North Uist from all of the other islands in the Uists since they are linked by causeways.
Can I Fly to North Uist Instead of Getting the Ferry?
There are no flights to North Uist. However, there is an airport at Benbecula which is a 30 minute drive from Lochmaddy on North Uist.
Flights to Benbecula are operated by Logan air.
Final Thoughts on the Ferry From Uig to Lochmaddy
This is the most reliable ferry from mainland Scotland to Uist. Uig, where the ferry departs from, is on the island of Skye but since there is a bridge connecting the mainland to Skye it is very easy to get to Uig.
In addition, the ferry from Uig to Lochmaddy is one of the shortest routes to the Outer Hebrides and is therefore more suitable for those who suffer from seasickness. The ferry crossings to the Outer Hebrides can be rough!
LOOKING FOR MORE ON THE OUTER HEBRIDES?
Top 10 Best North Uist Hotels, B&Bs and Pods
