western isles

[yizzy]

First time visiting in May , Taking the ferry from Oban to Castlebay .Is it possible to drive to Lewis using causeways and local ferries as we dont want to be stuck to a timetable and want to see as much as possible Any info on reasonable acc. and where to visit Thanks for help

[Mr Veritas]

So sorry but none of the Islands in this group are connected by anything other than a ferry.
The easiest way from South Uist to Lewis is to drive up from Castlebay to Lochmaddy and there take the ferry to Tarbert on Lewis.
There appears to be a ferry connecting the north end of South Uist ,at Leverburgh to the south end of Lewis at Otternish,but this looks like a passenger only ferry.
I would check with the ferry company,as not all ferries in this neck of the woods carry cars.
To sum up all the islands on this side of Scotland (with the exception of the Skye Bridge) are only accessible by ferry.
If you enter Castlebay on this link,you will be able to see the routes (dotted lines) that the ferries take.Of course it won't give you the timetable,nor tell you if they are car ferries.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

[Mr Veritas]

Apologies,I missed out an Island!
To get from Castlebay onto South Uist you will have to take a ferry to get to Lochboisdale(South Uist) and from there driving to Lochmaddy.
Ignore previous answer suggesting driving from Barra to South Uist,you would be rather wet.
To sum up.
Castelbay (ferry to) Lochboisdale(S Uist) drive to Lochmaddy take ferry to Tarbert on Lewis.

[Buenchico]

A quick glance at a road map shows that you need to take the ferry from Barra to Eriskay, which is linked by a causeway to South Uist. There are several sailings per day, with a journey time of around 40 minutes:
http://www.calmac.co.uk/summer-timetable.html? id=summer-barra-and-eriskay--barra-eriskay.gif

Then you've got a continuous road route across Benbecula and North Uist before the final causeway onto Berneray.

Then it's a ferry across to Harris, which is part of the same land mass as Lewis. The service is frequent, with a journey time of around 1 hour:
http://www.calmac.co.uk/summer-timetable.html? id=summer-north-uist-and-harris--berneray-leve rburgh.gif

http://www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/barra.htm

http://www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/south-uist .htm

http://www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/benbecula. htm

http://www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/north-uist .htm

http://www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/harris.htm

http://www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/lewis.htm

Chris

[thugulike]

I'm doing a similar trip next month but the other way around, I'm going from Skye to Lewis /Harris, the Uists and Barra then back to Oban. I'll let you know how it goes if you're interested.

[yizzy]

yes that would be great thanks

[yizzy]

Thanks to all info much appreciated Liz