Scottish ferry prices cheaper
 

Calmac ferries have received a lot of bad press over the years regarding their very expensive services. This has placed huge pressure on the local users and also had an adverse effect on tourism.

I have moaned in the past that our usual trip from Oban to Craignure on Mull takes just over half an hour and usually costs £140 for a car with three passengers.

The Scottish government has finally intervened and placed a large incentive to travel.

The ferry prices have been hugely reduced. I've just booked our usual route for £40 and the sailing seem much fuller than normal.

This could be a great year for travel in Scotland.

Particualry considering that the forecast is for a heat wave all this summer.

That does sound like good news. We took the ferry from Oban to Mull, but as foot passengers. I don't remember it being very expensive, but the tariffs for cars tend to be high on ferries.

It was rather hot and sunny the last time we were in Scotland, two years ago. In fact, I got a sunburn on the isle of Iona!

I assume that this heat wave will also affect Northern Ireland, where we'll be in July. Is it an effect of El Niño? I looked at historical weather data for the last year there was a strong El Niño, and saw that there was no rain at all in the southern part of Northern Ireland in July that year. I found this a little hard to believe, and wondered if their data were incomplete.

They're also predicting a heat wave for Italy, which is a little hard, since we had one last year as well.

Particualry considering that the forecast is for a heat wave all this summer.>>

it's not April 1st yet, Dickie.

bvl - I went to Scotland with my parents when I was about 11 and got sunburnt on a beach in Nairn!

"it's not April 1st yet, Dickie"

The cup is always half full.

Thanks for posting. I hadn't realised it was that expensive. What about foot passengers, can you get away with not taking a car to Mull?

Will that be a "BBC barbeque summer"? ;-)

Steve

After many years of travel, Mulll is still my favourite place.

It's very cheap as a foot passager. There are three routes onto Mull but all cause issues for foot passangers. The Oban ferry lands at Craignure on Mull which is isolated. The which lands in Tobermory sails from an extremely isolated spot on The mainland.

From Tobermory you can pick up one of the wildlife boat trips.

The basking shark population is blooming thanks to conservation efforts, over 100 individuals were sighted between Coll and Tiree last summer on one day. They are a majestic sight.

Bvlenci

No scientific evidence available just crossed fingers.

The past two summers have been really quite good. The year before was one for ducks.

I've never made it to NI, which is unfair as it is so close. Again, insulting ferry costs are an issue. In summer, crossings from us to Belfast average £300 with a car.

Where are you visiting?

I have always wanted to take the train on the old coastal route from Belfast to The Giants Causeway.

Thanks BritishCaicos, we like to explore en route so car to isolated place wouldn't be an issue as long as it is easy enough to leave the car for a few days. We are still entertaining fantasies to retire somewhere coastal with a community spirit but without the feeling of "run down" that so many Cumbrian places exude. So the journey up allows us to look at accessible places on the way up to Oban with this partly in mind.

IMO/IME Mull is not a place 'explore-able' without a car -- even Skye and Lewis/Harris are easy by comparison.

Yes, taking the car over is relatively expensive -- but having one makes a HUGE difference in what you would be able to see. I've taken a car over 3 times and went once on a coach tour -- no comparison.

I would go so far as to say if you can't take a car - don't go. There are tons of worthwhile places on the mainland.

Good to know about the reduced car rates -- wish I could try them out this summer but my only trip planned (so far) is a ten day-er, carless to Edinburgh and London.

"We are still entertaining fantasies to retire somewhere coastal "

God forbid, Steve.

The weather in The Western Isles is very mixed. There are good periods of settled high pressure and during those periods it's one of the most beautiful place on earth. For most of the time the rain is horizontal with strong wind. The logistics of life in isolated areas are also always an issue.

If you want the perfect place, look at Lytham, where we spend half our time. Little Victorian Britain, lots of restaurants and a vibrant economy supported by highly paid BAe staff.

It's also close to you and so not so much of an upheaval.

Funnily enough we have been looking at Lytham for some time now ... but dithering. My wanderlust stops me from making a decision and gives me an excuse to explore more.