North Uist

Bus

The most direct route by bus is to travel from Glasgow, via Fort William to Uig. The journey takes around 7 hours from the city and 3 hours 40 minutes from Fort William. It features some of the most beautiful views in Scotland. From Uig, you can take the ferry direct to Lochmaddy on North Uist. 

• Plan your journey with the Traveline Scotland Journey Planner.

Campervans and motorhomes

If you’re travelling by campervan or motorhome – or with a caravan, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) ask that visitors stay in official campsites and or designated overnight spots only. This will help to manage numbers, alleviate pressure on the fragile environment and avoid excessive impact on the communities. 

• Please follow the P.L.A.C.E visitor code and keep the Outer Hebrides special.
• More about taking Motorhomes and Campervans to the Outer Hebrides.

Car

By car, you can travel on the ferry from Uig in Skye. It will take around 5 hours and 30 minutes to get to Uig from Glasgow – and as a guide, it takes 3 hours from Fort William.  

You can also drive via Harris. Take the ferry to Stornoway in Lewis and drive south through Harris (the Isles are connected). From there, take the ferry from Leverburgh to Berneray and drive south over the causeway to North Uist.

Travel to Stornoway is via Ullapool, which will take 4 hours and 15 minutes from Glasgow by car, and 2 hours and 45 minutes from Fort William as a guide.  

• If you are travelling with an electric vehicle, you can find charging points via ChargePlace Scotland.
• You can check the exact location of the ferry terminal on our ports page.

Alternative routes

There are some alternative routes to choose from when travelling to/from North Uist via the Outer Hebrides which are supported by good connectivity throughout the islands.  

Whether you’re looking to explore on an Island-Hopping holiday, or find a different route home, we offer a variety of daily sailings to ensure that you can reach your ideal destination. 

In addition to reaching North Uist from Uig, or from Harris via Lewis, you can also travel to the Outer Hebrides via: 

• Castlebay (Barra) from Oban 
• Lochboisdale (South Uist) from Mallaig 
• Lochmaddy (North Uist) from Uig (Skye) 
• Tarbert (Harris) from Uig (Skye) 
• Stornoway (Lewis) from Ullapool 

Details on the location of our ferry ports and the facilities around them on our ports page.

Bike

Due to its varied landscape, cycling on North Uist can be as challenging as you want it to be. Cycling along the west coast of North Uist gives breathtaking views and the going is relatively good. The east coast route between Carnan and Lochmaddy is on a wider faster road with some testing hills. 

• The Hebridean Way Cycling Route follows the east coast route through the island.  
• Bikes are available to hire, details can be found at Visit Outer Hebrides.
• If you’re a foot passenger travelling with a bike, remember to add your bike to your ticket when you book.
• Groups of cyclists should contact us in advance advising of preferred sailings, as space on some ferries may be limited.
• Plan your cycling route at CycleStreets.

Car

Many visitors to the Outer Hebrides like to take a vehicle. A car is a must if you want to explore the more isolated areas. 

We’ve shared more driving tips below.

On foot

North Uist has a varied landscape with plenty of opportunities to walk. The west side being dominated by machair and sandy beaches, and the east a maze of freshwater lochans. The highest peak is Eaval, standing at 347m high and commanding spectacular views of the island, the mountains of Harris to the North, and the Beinn Mhor group on South Uist. 

Remember your boots as the island is dominated by a watery environment and you may find it boggy underfoot. 

• For more information about walking on North Uist visit Walk Highlands.