Island crossings

Nine miles, twice a day.

The crossing to Ardvale, for foot passengers, cars and whatever the island needs that week.

Book a crossing
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Out at 07:40, back at 16:10.

Forty minutes across. The winter timetable runs from October to March, with a Wednesday sailing for the shop delivery.

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Twelve cars, and a deck for the rest.

Vans, feed, scaffolding and the occasional tractor. Livestock and building materials go by arrangement on the Tuesday run.

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Twenty minutes before you sail.

Come to the slipway with your booking reference. Loading is done by the deckhand's hand signals, not by lane.

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The last boat waits for the bus.

If the four o'clock from town is running late, so are we. It has been that way since the pier was rebuilt.

Book a crossing
The route

Two slipways, and the Sound in between.

Cardan on the mainland, Ardvale at the other end, and forty minutes of open water that decides how the day goes.

The pier at Ardvale
01The pier at ArdvaleTimber, mostly. It gets new planks every spring and a new deck every twenty years.
The north shore
02The north shoreBasalt the whole way round, which is why there is no beach and no bridge.
Made fast
03Made fastTwo ropes, two bollards, ninety seconds. Then the ramp comes down.
The Sound
04The SoundSix of the nine miles are open water. It can be flat and it can be not.

Fares, both ways.

How a crossing works.

BookChoose a sailing from the timetable and pay online, or on the slipway when the deckhand checks you in.
ArriveBe there twenty minutes before the sailing time. Vehicles queue along the wall, foot passengers by the shelter.
LoadCars reverse on so they drive straight off at the far end. The deckhand chocks the wheels and checks the handbrake.
SailForty minutes across. There is tea in the cabin, a view from the deck, and dogs are welcome on both.
Enquire

Book a crossing.

Tell us the sailing, how many of you there are, and whether a vehicle is coming. We reply with a reference and hold the space.