Customer update - Summer 2024 timetables

Update 01 March 2024

Please find below an update for customers on the opening of the remaining phases of our summer 2024 timetables:

Islay bookings

Islay timetables for the period 4 June - 20 October* are now available to view online and will open for bookings online from 8am and 9am for telephone reservations on Monday 4 March 2024.

*Bookings for the period 10-17 July will be unavailable for Islay and Colonsay while further amendments are still to be confirmed due to vessel deployment for Tiree Music Festival and infrastructure works at Port Askaig.

A single vessel timetable will operate on this route from 18 - 20 October 2024, to allow MV Hebridean Isles to provide relief elsewhere on the network.

Colonsay bookings

Colonsay timetables for the period 1-20 October will open online from 8am and from 9am for telephone reservations on Monday 4 March 2024.

This includes Port Askaig to Colonsay reservations from 4 June. However, Oban/Port Askaig to Colonsay reservations for 10-17 July are not yet available due to a combination of infrastructure works at Port Askaig and vessel deployment for the Tiree Music Festival. We will update customers on this period as soon as we can.

Timetables for all routes, 1-20 October

Timetables for the period 1-20 October for all routes are now available to view online and will open online from 8am and from 9am for telephone reservations on Monday 4 March 2024.

Thank you for your patience while we confirmed these remaining details of the summer timetables - their publication and opening has been later due to the need to work around infrastructure work and ongoing vessel deployment plans.

Updated - 23 February 2024 - Customer update - Islay and Colonsay timetables

Bookings for Islay and Colonsay timetables

Islay bookings

Bookings for Islay timetables for the period 29 March - 3 June are now open. (29 and 30 March: Due to annual overhaul, MV Hebridean Isles and MV Isle of Arran will continue to operate to the winter timetable for 29 and 30 March. Please see timetable details here.)

The period for 4 June - 30 September is expected to open on 4 March 2024. We will confirm October timetables for this route and the rest of the network shortly after based on the effects of the upcoming overhaul plan.

*Colonsay bookings

Bookings for Colonsay for the period 29 March - 30 September are now open, except for:

Port Askaig to Colonsay reservations for 4 June - 30 September. This is due to the phased opening of the Islay timetable. We expect this to be available from 4 March 2024.
Oban/Port Askaig to Colonsay reservations for 10-17 July. Timetables for this period will be confirmed as soon as possible, however due to a combination of infrastructure works at Port Askaig and vessel deployment as a result of the Tiree Music Festival, we're not able to confirm this yet.

We will confirm October timetables for these routes and the rest of the network as soon as we can.

We apologise for the inconvenience caused to customers and the communities we serve on Islay and Colonsay by the late publication and opening of the summer timetable. We know that ferry services play a vital role in supporting the communities and economies

Their publication was later while we worked on necessary changes to operate around the significant infrastructure works taking place at Kennacraig and Port Askaig.

Whilst we know the programme of upgrades scheduled across the next three years will cause some short-term disruption, it will also be pivotal to the introduction of two new vessels later in 2024 and 2025, which will bolster the long-term resilience and reliability of the ferry service. 

Publication of Islay and Colonsay timetables for 29 March - 30 September 2024 period

The summer timetable for the Islay and Colonsay services for the period 29 March to 30 September has now been published on our website.

Bookings for the period 29 March - 3 June 2024

Bookings will open online from 8am and from 9am for telephone reservations, on Friday 23 February for the period 29 March - 3 June 2024.

This is to ensure customers can book for travel over the Easter period and for Feis Ile as soon as possible. We know this is one of our customers' priorities.

Bookings for Islay and Colonsay timetables for the period 4 June - 30 September

Bookings will open for the period 4 June-30 September on 4 March and we will confirm 1 - 20 October timetables for this route and the rest of the network shortly after based on the effects of the upcoming overhaul plan. *Read the latest info on Colonsay bookings above.

We apologise for the inconvenience caused to customers and the communities we serve on Islay and Colonsay by the late publication of the summer timetable. Their publication was later while we worked on necessary changes to operate around the significant infrastructure works taking place at Kennacraig and Port Askaig.

Latest update: 25 January 2024

Our summer timetables for 29 March 2024 to 30 September 2024 are now available to view online, except for Kennacraig-Islay and Oban-Colonsay, as outlined below.*

Bookings and advanced purchases for our Turn Up and Go routes for the period up to 30 September will open in three phases, beginning Thursday 18 January 2024. Phase one, phase two and phase three are now open. Find details on routes in each phase and key dates below.

Timetables for the period 1 October - 20 October

Further to our previous update, we wanted to let you know that the final week of the summer timetable, 1 October - 20 October inclusive, will be released when our vessel deployment plan for the start of the overhaul period is confirmed. Annual overhaul arrangements can affect vessel availability, which may in turn affect this period of the summer timetable. We will keep our customers and communities updated here on our website and via @CalMac_Updates on X (formerly Twitter).

Please also find some important route specific information outlined below.

*Kennacraig-Islay and Oban-Colonsay timetables

Please see our latest update on these timetables here.

Little Minch services between Uig-Tarbert/Lochmaddy

Due to infrastructure changes at Uig, we have been able to improve our timetables to provide more opportunities to deploy the mezzanine deck on Little Minch services for summer 2024.

Gourock-Dunoon and Gourock-Kilcreggan

As a result of changes to the ScotRail timetable from June onwards, we have revised both Gourock-Dunoon and Gourock-Kilcreggan timetables to maintain onward connection links.

Small Isles Saturday service

MV Lochnevis will operate the full Small Isles Saturday service meaning the vessel will carry out two calls to each island and there will be no requirement to deploy MV Loch Bhrusda or charter additional passenger vessels.

We will continue to keep you updated on the release of the final period of the timetables, and on Kennacraig-Islay and Oban-Colonsay routes - and we apologise for the late publication of this information.

Thank you to our customers for your patience and support.

Read our summer timetable FAQs

Key dates for phased opening of bookings and advanced purchase for Turn up and Go routes

Phase one - Thursday 18 January

The following routes are now available for bookings:

Ardrossan - Brodick
Oban - Craignure
Oban - Castlebay
Oban - Coll - Tiree
Ullapool - Stornoway
Ardrossan - Campbeltown
Mallaig - Armadale
Mallaig - Small Isles
Barra - Eriskay
Berneray - Leverburgh
Mallaig - Lochboisdale

Phase two - Tuesday 23 January

The following routes are now available for advanced purchases:

Claonaig - Lochranza
Colintraive - Rhubodach
Wemyss Bay - Rothesay
Tarbert (Loch Fyne) - Portavadie
Fionnphort - Iona
Lochaline - Fishnish
Tobermory - Kilchoan
Gallanach - Kerrera
Sconser - Raasay
Tayinloan - Gigha

Phase three - Monday 12 February

The following routes are now open for bookings and pre-purchase:

Largs - Cumbrae
Uig - Tarbert - Lochmaddy
Gourock - Kilcreggan
Gourock - Dunoon
Oban - Lismore

We will keep communities and our customers informed of any changes to these dates as we work through the process.

Reasons for delay and fare levels for 2024

We apologise for the late publication of summer timetables, and for the impact this has had on businesses and the communities we serve. We were unable to prepare our systems to open bookings while we awaited the decision on 2024 fare levels from Transport Scotland.

Transport Scotland has now confirmed fares will rise in line with the 2023 Consumer Price Index at a rate of 8.7% across all routes and fare types. The conclusion of this decision allows us to prepare to open bookings as per the timeline outlined above.

Ahead of each timetable release, our teams work closely with communities, stakeholders and Transport Scotland to complete the complex work required to finalise timetables. This year, this has also included:

Extended periods of consultation on Gourock - Dunoon and Gourock - Kilcreggan routes to ensure revised timetables can maintain connections for upcoming ScotRail timetable changes.
A review of the Uig - Tarbert - Lochmaddy timetable to increase the use of mezzanine decks on this route.
Planning for infrastructure works at Kennacraig and Port Askaig during the summer 2024, timetable period, which requires some timetable changes for these routes. We will be communicating with our customers and communities around this work - to ensure you have all the information to support you.

Read our summer timetable FAQs