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Caledonian MacBrayne

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Caledonian MacBrayne
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MV Isle of Mull in Oban Bay
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Caledonian MacBrayne commonly known as Calmac is the operating company for Scottish Ferries in the Clyde and Hebrides. It is wholly owned by the Scottish Government, and can trace its route back to companies nationalised in the immediate post-war era, either with the railways in 1948, or in 1973 when the state finally took full control. The origins of the company lie with David MacBrayne, who operated steamers on the Clyde and further afield in the Victorian Era, subsequently building up a substantial complimentary fleet of buses and lorries for onward carriage of passengers and goods. The Caledonian part of the name comes from the Caledonian Steam Packet Co, a company connected with the Caledonian Railway which operated steam ships and later other vessels, predominantly on the Clyde. The CSP was nationalised in 1948, at which point MacBraynes was half owned by the LMS Railway, thus giving the state a 50% share, with the private Coast Lines holding the other 50%.

Services Today

Over the years the growth of road transport has seen many of the early steamer routes abandoned, particularly the long distance ones starting in the Clyde, and the coast hopping ones such as Oban to Fort William. Pleasure cruises such as day trips from Oban to Iona and Staffa have also been left to private entrepreneurs, with Calmac concentrating on the lifeline ferry services. Bridges too have seen the number of ferry routes dwindle a little, but Calmac still serve 25 islands with a complicated roster of around 30 routes.

Routes

Route IMO Main Vessel Sailing Time Notes
Ullapool - Stornoway Ferry MV Loch Seaforth 2hr 30 Also operates overnight freight service
Uig-Harris Ferry 9211975 MV Hebrides 1hr 40 'Uig Triangle'
Uig - North Uist Ferry 9211975 MV Hebrides 1hr 45 'Uig Triangle'
Sound of Harris Ferry 9274824 MV Loch Portain 1hr Timetable varies due to tides
Mallaig - Lochboisdale Ferry 8710869 MV Lord of the Isles 3hr 30 reduces to 3 days a week in winter
Oban - Lochboisdale Ferry 8710869 MV Lord of the Isles 5hr Winter only
Sound of Barra Ferry 9147722 MV Loch Alainn 40mins
Oban - Barra Ferry 9085974 MV Isle of Lewis 4hr 45 MV Clansman visits on Summer Wednesdays via Coll / Tiree
Raasay Ferry 9652832 MV Hallaig 25mins
Small Isles Ferry 9209063 MV Lochnevis varies Complicated roster visits Rhum, Eigg, Muck and Canna at least twice a week all year; all vehicles need permit
Mallaig - Armadale Ferry 9006411 MV Loch Fyne 35mins Supported by Lord of the Isles in Summer, and reduced winter timetable operated by MV Lochnevis
Coll and Tiree Ferry 9158593 MV Clansman 2hr 40 (Coll)
3hr 50 (Tiree)
Ferry continues to Barra on Summer Wednesdays
Kilchoan - Tobermory Ferry 9039389 MV Loch Tarbert 35mins
Lochaline to Fishnish Ferry 9652844 MV Lochinvar 18mins
Oban - Craignure Ferry 8608339 MV Isle of Mull 50mins Supported by MV Coruisk in Summer
Lismore Ferry 8512293 MV Loch Striven 55mins
Kerrera Ferry MV Carvoria 5 mins route taken over by Calmac in 2016; all vehicles need permit
Iona Ferry 9031375 MV Loch Buie 10mins all vehicles need permit
Oban - Colonsay Ferry 9158593 MV Clansman 2hr 15 Assisted by Isle of Mull in Winter
Islay - Colonsay Ferry 8408412 MV Hebridean Isles 1hr 10 Summer only service; 2 days a week
Islay Ferry 9482902 MV Finlaggan 1hr 55 (Port Askaig)
2hr15 (Port Ellen)
Reverts to Port Askaig in poor weather; supported by Hebridean Isles in Summer
Gigha Ferry 8519887 MV Loch Ranza 20mins
Tarbert - Portavadie Ferry 7521625 MV Isle of Cumbrae 25mins Does a daily run to Lochranza, Arran in Winter
Claonaig - Lochranza Ferry 9759862 MV Catriona 30mins Summer only
Kyles of Bute Ferry 9006409 MV Loch Dunvegan 5mins
Wemyss Bay - Rothesay Ferry 9319741 MV Bute 35mins Also MV Argyle
Cumbrae Ferry 9376919 MV Loch Shira 5mins Supported by MV Loch Riddon in Summer
Ardrossan - Brodick Ferry 9051284 MV Caledonian Isles 55mins
Ardrossan - Campbeltown Ferry 8219554 MV Isle of Arran 2hr 40 Supports above and also sails to Campbeltown at Weekends in Summer

Former Routes

Route IMO Main Vessel Sailing Time Notes
Scalpay Ferry 5mins Replaced by Bridge in 1997
Vatersay Ferry 5mins Passenger only service; Replaced by Causeway in 1991
Kyle of Lochalsh Ferry 5mins Replaced by Bridge in 1995
Mallaig - Stornoway Ferry Also stopped at Portree and Kyle of Lochalsh
Portree Service Various routes called at Portree until 1980s
Oban - Tobermory Stop included on Coll/Tiree service until 1980s
Gourock to Dunoon Ferry 20mins ceased in 2011 when Western Ferries took over as sole vehicle carrier. Passenger only service now operated by Calmac subsidary Argyll Ferries

In addition, there were many different combinations of routes operated on the Clyde in the past, including direct links between Bute and Arran, and services originating from Gourock.





Caledonian MacBrayne
Crossings to and between the Inner Hebridean Islands
Firth of ClydeBrodick Ferry • Kilbrannan Sound • Portavadie Ferry • Cumbrae Ferry • Rothesay Ferry • Kyles of Bute Ferry • Gourock to Dunoon
Inter HebrideanGigha Ferry • Islay Ferries • Jura Ferry • Colonsay Ferry • Clachan Bridge • Luing Ferry • Oban to Craignure • Lochaline to Fishnish • Tobermory Ferry • Iona Ferry • Lismore Ferries • Coll and Tiree Ferry • Mallaig Ferries • Mallaig to Armadale • Small Isles Ferry • Glenelg to Kylerhea • Skye Bridge • Raasay Ferry
Other AreasIrish Sea • Inner Hebrides • Western Isles • Shetland • Orkney • North Sea • English Channel • Solent • Inland Crossings • Other Island Crossings
Crossings to and within the Western Isles
To the IslesBarra Ferry • Lochboisdale Ferry • Uig - North Uist Ferry • Uig-Harris Ferry • Lewis Ferry
Within the IslesVatersay Causeway • Sound of Barra Ferry • Daliburgh Causeway • Druidibeag Causeway • Eriskay Causeway • Loch Bee Causeway • South Ford Causeway • North Ford Causeway • Baleshare Causeway • Berneray Causeway • Sound of Harris Ferry • Seilebost Causeway • Scalpay Bridge • Great Bernera Bridge
Other AreasIrish Sea • Inner Hebrides • Western Isles • Shetland • Orkney • North Sea • English Channel • Solent • Inland Crossings • Other Island Crossings

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