Sound of Barra Ferry

History

In the past, Barra was only connected to the rest of the Uist chain via the Barra and Lochboisdale triangular service out of Oban. However, a More frequent, quicker and easier route was identified as being necessary, so Calmac invested in the Sound of Barra service, starting in 2003. For a while it operated in conjunction with the Eriskay Ferry crossing, but since the Eriskay Causeway was built, the Sound of Barra Ferry crosses from that Island rather than South Uist itself.

Crossing

The MV Loch Alainn took 45 minutes to make the crossing four or five times a day in each direction. Bizarrely, this crossing was not initally covered by the RET trial, which looked like making it much more expensive than using the occasional Castlebay-Lochboisdale service. However, the prices have since been adjusted.

In 2014, the new Hybrid Ferry MV Lochinvar took over on the Portavadie Ferry route, leaving the MV Isle of Cumbrae as a spare vessel. However, from early summer in 2014, the MV Loch Alainn was lying alongside the pier in Fort William, suggesting that Isle of Cumbrae has been moved to the Sound of Barra service, in place of Loch Alainn.

Ferries

Name	IMO	Operator	Dates	Notes
Loch Alainn	9147722	Calmac	2007-2014? in operation again by Spring 2018	20 cars
Isle of Cumbrae	7521625	Calmac	2014-?	20 cars
Loch Bhrusda	9129483	Calmac	2003-2007	18 cars
Loch Linnhe	8512308	Calmac	2003	12 cars

Links

• Calmac Homepage