Sailings operating to/from Port Askaig only

Due to the closure of Port Ellen from Tuesday 2 June, an amended timetable operates between Kennacraig-Port Askaig.

View the amended timetable operating from Tuesday 2 June.

Read our guide to travelling to Islay during the Port Ellen closure.

Reason: Operational

Important information for customers travelling

Due to a technical issue with the Mezzanine decks on MV Isle of Islay, vehicle capacity will be reduced until further notice. An update regarding repairs to the Mezzanine deck will be provided as soon as possible.

Passengers travelling on MV Isle of Islay sailings will be required to embark/disembark via the car deck whilst there is an ongoing issue with the gangway in Kennacraig.

Thursday 13 August

In order to provide additional capacity for the Islay, Jura & Colonsay Agricultural show, MV Isle of Arran will operate the following additional sailings:

Depart Kennacraig - 07:00

Arrive Port Askaig - 09:10

Depart Port Askaig - 09:40

Arrive Kennacraig - 11:50

Information for vehicle customers

Port Askaig

Port Askaig operates a barrier system to manage access to the vehicle lanes. Access is restricted to checked-in vehicles only. Please note that the barrier will close following the final sailing of the day.

Overnight parking within the vehicle lanes is not permitted.

Kennacraig

Parking is not guaranteed at Kennacraig port as demand is very high and available spaces are limited.

The car park operates on a first come first served basis and customers should be prepared to find alternative parking where possible.

MV Isle of Islay catering information

Please note that hot food will not be served in the Mariners Café on the following MV Isle of Islay sailings:

Wednesdays: 20:30 departure from Port Askaig

Saturdays: 19:10 depature from Port Askaig

A selection of light snacks, as well as hot and cold drinks, are available.

Port Ellen closed from Tuesday 2 June

From Tuesday 2 June, Port Ellen will close for essential infrastructure improvements, expected to complete in 2029.

While the works are underway, all CalMac sailings to Islay will operate between Kennacraig and Port Askaig. We have contacted all customers that had originally booked to/from Port Ellen and amended bookings to/from Port Askaig. If you had previously booked to/from Port Ellen and have been transferred to travel to/from Port Askaig instead, you can claim back taxi or public transport costs through our passenger rights process. Please visit our passenger rights information page for details and access to the claim form.

View Kennacraig – Port Askaig timetable operating from Tuesday 2 June.

From Friday 5 June, port staff will be onsite in a Customer Support vehicle outside the entrance of Port Ellen on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 09:00 – 14:00 to assist with new bookings, amendments and enquiries. Card payments only will be accepted.

Port Askaig is expected to be much busier than normal and additional digital signage will be in place on the way to the port. Customers are advised not to arrive ahead of check-in time as space is very limited and you may be asked to leave the site and return at the correct time.

Read our guide to travelling to Islay during the Port Ellen closure.

Winter Timetable 2026/27

The winter 2026/27 timetable for this route is now available to view online. To allow for further community consultations bookings are expected to open by Monday 10 August.

Read our customer update for more information

Subscriber texts

To subscribe to live updates for a particular route text the words CALMAC and SUBSCRIBE along with the route code of your choice to 60030 e.g. "CALMAC SUBSCRIBE 09". This will automatically subscribe you to ongoing service information relating to that route for a six month period.