20 January 2026

Customer Update - Summer 2026 timetables

Last updated 20 January 2026

The following routes in phase two of our Summer 2026 timetable for the period 27 March to 18 October 2026 are now available to view and will open for bookings and advance purchases on 27 January from 8am online and by telephone from 9am.   

Bookable routes

  • Mallaig-Lochboisdale
  • Mallaig-Armadale
  • Mallaig-Small Isles
  • Ardmhor-Eriskay 

Turn Up and Go routes

  • Claonaig-Lochranza 

View timetables

Timetables for services between the following routes are undergoing additional discussion and consultation and will be published as soon as possible. 

Turn Up and Go routes

  • Lochaline-Fishnish* Update 23 January - summer timetable now available to view online.
  • Largs-Cumbrae
  • Wemyss Bay-Rothesay

Last updated 18 December 2025

All routes for phase one of our Summer 2026 timetable are now open for bookings and advance purchase of tickets. 

Phase two Summer 2026 timetables for the following routes will be available to view on 20 January and open for bookings and advance purchases on 27 January from 8am online and by telephone from 9am.
 

Phase two - Bookable routes

  • Mallaig-Lochboisdale
  • Mallaig-Armadale
  • Mallaig-Small Isles
  • Ardmhor-Eriskay 

Phase two - Turn Up and Go routes 

  • Lochaline-Fishnish
  • Largs-Cumbrae
  • Wemyss Bay-Rothesay
  • Claonaig-Lochranza. 

 

Last updated 16 December 2025

Phase one of our Summer 2026 timetable for the period 27 March to 18 October 2026 will open for bookings from 17 December at 8am online and by telephone from 9am except for:  

  • *Oban-Coll/Tiree for the period Wednesday 8 to Saturday 15 July, bookings will be available for booking from 2pm on Wednesday 17 December.
  • ** Kennacraig-Islay for the period Saturday 18 April - Monday 10 May will be available for booking from 12pm on Thursday 18 December.  

Details on all other routes in phase one – opening as planned on Wednesday 17 December from 8am online and telephone from 9am. 

 

Update 10 December 2025

Our Summer 2026 timetable for the period 27 March to 18 October 2026 will be published to view and available for bookings/advance purchase on a phased approach. We have detailed the key dates below to help our customers plan.

Phase one 

Wednesday 10 December: Timetables for the routes listed below in phase one are now available to view on our website. 

Wednesday 17 December: Bookings and advance purchase for our Turn Up and Go routes in phase one, listed below, will be available from 8am online and by telephone from 9am.  

Bookable routes 

  • Berneray-Leverburgh
  • Kennacraig-Islay**
  • Ullapool-Stornoway
  • Uig-Tarbert/Lochmaddy
  • Ardrossan-Brodick***
  • Troon – Brodick
  • Oban-Craignure
  • Oban-Coll/Tiree****
  • Oban-Colonsay
  • Oban-Castlebay
  • Oban-Lismore 

Turn Up and Go routes*

  • Gallanach-Kerrera
  • Fionnphort-Iona
  • Colintraive-Rhubodach
  • Tarbert (Loch Fyne)-Portavadie
  • Tobermory-Kilchoan
  • Sconser-Raasay
  • Gourock-Dunoon
  • Tayinloan-Gigha
  • Gourock-Kilcreggan 

*10-journey tickets for Turn Up and Go routes, will be available to purchase at a date close to the start of the summer timetable in March 2026. Read our ticket validity guidance before purchasing tickets.

Phase two 

Tuesday 20 January: Timetables for phase two routes, listed below will be available to view on our website.

Tuesday 27 January: Bookings and advance purchase for our Turn Up and Go routes for phase two, listed below, will be available from 8am online and by telephone from 9am. 

Bookable routes

  • Mallaig-Lochboisdale
  • Mallaig-Armadale
  • Mallaig-Small Isles
  • Ardmhor-Eriskay 

Turn Up and Go routes

  • Lochaline-Fishnish
  • Largs-Cumbrae
  • Wemyss Bay-Rothesay
  • Claonaig-Lochranza 

We also want to share some route specific information on how we are managing timetables for the route to/from Islay and Arran.

**Kennacraig-Islay summer timetable plan

  • We expect MV Isle of Islay to be in service at the start of the summer timetable, with MV Loch Indaal joining during this period. However, until we have confirmed entry dates for both vessels, bookings between Kennacraig and Islay are based on using the currently available vessels, MV Finlaggan and MV Isle of Arran. We are taking this approach to ensure our customers can plan ahead with confidence. Once the new vessels’ entry dates are confirmed, we will add their capacity to the booking system and release additional availability.
  • MV Finlaggan is scheduled for overhaul from 22 April to 14 May 2026. During this period, bookings will initially follow a single-vessel timetable with MV Isle of Arran, which will operate the service at this time. We anticipate that MV Isle of Islay will be in service by then and if so, a two-vessel service will operate using MV Isle of Arran and MV Isle of Islay.
  • In the meantime we are investigating what vessel deployment options are available to open up additional bookings and we’ll keep communities updated with progress over the next few weeks.
  • And for the period Saturday 18 April - Monday 10 May will be available for booking from 12:00 on Thursday 18 December. (Updated 16 December 2026).

***Ardrossan/Troon-Brodick summer timetable plan 

  • We expect MV Glen Rosa to enter service during the summer timetable period – although we don’t yet have an exact date. However, until we have a confirmed entry date, bookings between Ardrossan/Troon - Brodick are based upon a two-vessel service. We will open for bookings with a two-vessel service; MV Caledonian Isles operating between Ardrossan-Brodick and MV Glen Sannox operating between Troon-Brodick. Upon entry to service, MVs Glen Rosa and Glen Sannox are expected to operate between Troon-Brodick.

Customer FAQs   

Why are bookings opening on a phased approach?   

We are adopting a phased approach to releasing our timetables into our booking and ticketing system so that customers can access these as soon as they are ready, rather than waiting for all routes to be ready at the same time.

When will I be able to purchase a 10-Journey ticket for the Turn Up and Go route I regularly travel on?

10-journey tickets for the summer timetable period will be available in March 2026 – we usually make sure this is close to the start of our summer timetable period.   

Why can’t I find the summer timetables for phase one on the CalMac app? 

Phase one of our Summer 2026 timetables have now been published to view on our website in pdf format. For full details on what routes are available are included in this customer update. The Caledonian MacBrayne app is currently being updated with timetable data – phase one of our Summer 2026 timetables are expected to be viewable via the app from 18 December 2025.

Why have fares increased for the summer 2026 timetable?

Fares have been adjusted by 3.4% in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) measured in May 2025 to ensure that our services remain reliable and sustainable. This adjustment helps us maintain the high standards of service and continue to invest in the ferry network.

Can you tell me more about how decisions are made around summer timetable changes?  

We undertake annual community consultations on winter and summer timetables each year, and this work is used to inform timetable planning. Information from community consultations needs to be balanced with operational details (annual overhaul and vessel availability) as well as tidal and daylight information, which sometimes means that we cannot facilitate every request. However, we are committed to listening to the needs of customers and communities - will always respond to needs wherever possible.

Who can I contact about changes to timetables? 

Details on who can submit a timetable request on your behalf can be found within our timetable consultations section.