Questions, answered.

May, June and September for the islands: long light, fewer midges in May and September, and room on the ferries outside July and August. Winter is good for Edinburgh, the estates and the aurora in the north. The Light calendar shows daylight month by month for Lerwick, Stornoway, Inverness and Edinburgh.

Fewer than you think. Two or three islands in ten nights is right; four is a lot. Each crossing takes most of a day once you count the drive to the pier and the check-in, and the islands reward staying. We wrote about it in Why fewer islands.

You tell us roughly what you want, in the trip planner or by email. A specialist calls or writes back, then sends a written proposal with the route, the stays and a price. We revise it until it’s right. Planning costs nothing.

Because no two trips are the same and the prices of ferries, houses and boats change with the season. Once we understand what you want, the proposal gives a full price. [PLACEHOLDER: deposit and lead-time policy to be confirmed.]

For July and August, and for exclusive-use estates, a year ahead is not too early. For May, June and September, six to nine months. The scarce things are summer car spaces on the ferries and the few best small places on each island.

It happens, usually because of wind. We build buffer nights into island trips, choose routes with an alternative crossing where one exists, and rebook for you if a sailing is cancelled. [PLACEHOLDER: confirm the out-of-hours support model before launch.] We wrote about a cancellation day on Barra.

No. Many travellers enjoy them once they know the passing-place etiquette; others would rather not. We can arrange a private driver-guide on the islands, or plan the trip around ferries, trains and walking.

Yes. The sleeper, the trains to Oban, Mallaig and Inverness, foot-passenger ferries and local drivers cover most of it. Knoydart, Iona and the Small Isles are better without one.

Midge season runs roughly from late May to Septemberverify, worst on still evenings on the west coast. Wind keeps them down. We plan accordingly and pack a net.

Many visitors who don’t need a visa now need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before they travelverify. British and Irish citizens don’t. Check the rules for your passport on gov.uk well before you go.

Edinburgh has a visitor levy on overnight stays from July 2026verify. Other councils are still decidingverify. Where a levy applies, we include it in the costs we show you.

Nothing is booked until you have accepted your written proposal and paid the deposit it sets out; the balance is due on the date shown there. Some crossings, boats and houses must be paid in full when booked, and we tell you when that applies. See our booking terms.

No, unless you ask for it. Many estates offer it in season; we plan walks, wildlife, fishing and boats by default.

Partly. Most CalMac ferries have lifts and accessible lounges; small boats, beach landings and many old houses don’t. Tell us what you need and we’ll check each step with the operator and the house, and say plainly where something won’t work. [PLACEHOLDER: add our accessibility checklist.]

Very: beaches, boats, ponies, rock pools and room. An exclusive-use estate is the easiest base for a family group.