Your guide to travelling with us to Mull Music Festival

In addition to the crossing between Oban-Craignure, we also operate two alternative Turn Up and Go ferry services between Lochaline on the Morvern peninsula to Fishnish in Mull, and Kilchoan on the Ardnamurchan peninsula directly to Tobermory in Mull. We do expect this route to be busier than usual. Wait times may be extended, and space on your preferred sailing is not guaranteed, so please do factor that into your plans. 

You can stay up to date with the latest information on the route via the service status pages on our website – we'll always share any important information or updates for travel on these pages.  

Or download our app and save either of these routes as a favourite route - this means you'll receive push notifications on updates for the service direct to your device.

For information on travel to Lochaline and Kilchoan and what to expect at the ports, please check our port pages.

If you're not familiar with travelling on these routes, and travelling via the Ardnamurchan and Morvern peninsulas, please read our useful information to help you plan your journey. It details what to expect on the route, the road types, and locations for fuel and facilities.

Travelling via Lochaline - Fishnish information 

Travelling via Tobermory - Kilchoan information

If you are planning to purchase a Rail and Sail ticket with ScotRail, when you arrive at Oban train station, travel on our free shuttle bus to the Oban ferry terminal, then proceed to the ticket office within the Troon ferry terminal prior to queuing for the ferry, and exchange the Rail and Sail ticket for an CalMac ticket. The Rail and Sail coupon is not a ticket for the ferry.

Great. You’re ready to sail. Have your QR code ready to scan by our team when you check in at the car lanes or if you're travelling as a foot passenger when you are in the queue to board the ferry.

It’s essential to travel on the sailing you’ve booked. If you’re no longer planning to travel or travel at that point, please do let us know by contacting us to amend your reservation.

If you plan to travel in a group, and you have purchased your tickets online, the full party must travel on the same sailing. This applies to all legs of the journey.  

If you have yet to purchase your tickets, and you are unsure whether all group members will travel together, please make separate transactions so you are covered for all eventualities. Please book in advance of travel, even if you’re a foot passenger as we expect the service to be very busy.

For information on travel to Oban and what to expect at the port, please check our Oban port page which contains everything you need to know about travelling from/to Oban – and facilities available at the port.  

When you arrive at our Oban port, make your way into the ticket office. If you’ve already got your ticket, you’re ready to board, listen out for boarding announcements in the terminal building before making your way to the gate or berth for boarding. Our team will advise when it is time to board the ferry and scan your ticket.  

If you still need to buy a ticket, join the queue for the ticket desk and our team will be able to advise availability of your preferred sailing.

When you arrive at our Oban port, if you already have your ticket for you and your bike, make your way to the check-in kiosk at the car lanes and our team will direct where to wait for the ferry. You should enter the port the same as vehicles so you can go through the same process and be directed onto the vessel.

If you still need to buy a ticket, please leave your bike outside the port building and join the queue for the ticket desk and our team will be able to advise availability of your preferred sailing.

For additional handy hints and tips to help you plan for arriving at the port, and embarkation onto the ferry, as a foot or bike passenger, visit our pre-travel checklist.

If you’re travelling as a foot passenger, you can check public transport connections via bus and train via Traveline Scotland's Opens in new windowJourneyPlanner.

If you’re leaving your car at Oban, there is no dedicated parking area at the Oban port office. Locally charged car parks can be found in Oban town.

If you’re being dropped off, the signage will direct you to the drop off point too.

If you are travelling with your vehicle to Craignure, follow signs to our check-in kiosks, where our team will support you and direct you to the car lanes. If you have a reservation, have your QR code ready to be scanned and make sure you have tickets for all of your passengers and pets in the vehicle.

As our Oban port has a number of sailings to different islands departing from Oban, make sure you arrive in time for your check-in, however, if you arrive too early, you may be asked to leave the port area and return at a time closer to your reserved sailing check-in time.

If you don’t have a reservation for your vehicle, you will need to park your vehicle in the short stay car park at the terminal and join the queue within the port office, where our team will advise of availability for your preferred sailing, or our team may direct you to the standby lane, space permitting.