Travel information
Getting to Berneray by carFerries to the Outer Hebrides are operated by Caledonian MacBrayne, known as Calmac. There are three main ferry crossings , bringing you into Stornoway (from Ullapool), Castlebay/Lochboisdale (from Oban), or Lochmaddy (from Uig). The latter is the shortest crossing, taking roughly 1h 45m. Simply drive to Uig on northwest Skye (N.B. there is now no toll on the Skye bridge), and take the ferry from there to Lochmaddy. From Lochmaddy, Berneray is 10 miles to the northwest. Follow the signs to the Sound of Harris ferry. The ferry terminal is on Berneray, immediately after you cross onto the island over the causeway. If you are travelling from Stornoway, you will need to drive south through Lewis and Harris, and catch the Sound of Harris ferry to get to Berneray (this service does not operate on Sundays). If coming from Castlebay (Barra), you will need to take the ferry to Eriskay, then cross over the causeway to South Uist. From here or Lochboisdale, point your car north and drive on the spinal road through South Uist, Benbecula and North Uist; Berneray is where you will run out of land. On all the ferry routes it is advisable to book a space for your car in advance, especially during summer months. Getting to Berneray by planeLike the ferries, there are three options:
Benbecula airport has flights to/from Barra, Stornoway and Glasgow. There are taxi and car hire companies near the airport. Getting to Berneray by bus or trainThere are a number of ways of doing this from anywhere in the UK. The easiest is to first make your way to Glasgow by whatever means. From Glasgow Buchanan Street bus station, take a bus to Uig on Skye (Citylink have a direct service). Alternatively, take a train to Fort William or Mallaig, and connect with buses to get to Uig. From Uig, take the ferry across to Lochmaddy. There are regular buses between Lochmaddy and Berneray, except on Sundays. Another option is to travel from Glasgow to Oban by bus or train. From Oban, cross to Castlebay (Barra) or Lochboisdale (South Uist), and work your way north by bus. If travelling from Inverness there are two options. Either take a bus to Uig and cross to Lochmaddy, or take a bus to Ullapool and sail to Stornoway. From either of these destinations, travel to Berneray as indicated elsewhere on this page. If you like bus travel, then the Outer Hebrides has an excellent service, connecting most of the towns and villages. In the considerable experience of the website maintainers, it is relatively cheap and reliable. It is possible to travel the length of the Outer Hebrides - Barra and Vatersay to Ness in Lewis - in one long day by the use of buses and two ferries. We would like to hear from anyone who has done this, and how it worked out. Our advice is to study the timetables in advance and plan ahead for any journey. Note that there are no buses on Sundays. Sailing to BernerayA number of people sail to Berneray by boat, or by kayak or canoe. The latter come ashore on the various beaches (the one next to the Youth Hostel being ideal). Boats use the fishing harbour on the east coast of the island. Berneray sits in the Sound of Harris, which at low tide is a relatively shallow body of water. The Sound also contains numerous uninhabited islands and rocks of all sizes, many only visible at low tide. If you are an inexperienced sailor, then a local expert who knows the waters is advisable. Similarly, canoes and kayaks are highly recommended to travel in groups with at least one member who is familiar with the waters. One publication that is recommended by several Berneray sailors is "The Yachtman's Pilot to the Western Isles" by Martin Lawrence (ISBN 085288 3595). Travelling around BernerayBerneray has two roads suitable for vehicles. One is a road that goes from the causeway up the east coast, finishing just beyond the Youth Hostel. The other turns off the first road and goes through the Borve township, before turning south and ambling across the machair to a picnic area and the south end of the west beach. Various short dead-end roads to houses come off these two roads. All roads are single-track with passing places. There are no fast roads, particularly due to the various sheep, cattle and animals that wander onto them, especially when vehicles are approaching! The road to Berneray is also mostly single track from Lochmaddy, and you should take especial care in case sheep or deer suddenly appear. The nearest petrol pumps are in Lochmaddy in North Uist, 10 miles back across the causeway. There is a frequent, cheap and reliable bus service from Berneray to Lochmaddy (connecting with buses heading further south) and to the Co-op in Sollas. Most visitors prefer to walk or cycle. Bus, ferry, plane and train timetablesBus timetables:
Calmac ferry timetables (these operate seven days a week):
Airline and airport websites: Mainland train websites: 
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