The Sound of Sleat Ferry Users’ Group met on 14th January to discuss the proposals for the Summer Timetable between Mallaig and Armadale, and our concerns about these. In particular, the redeployment of the MV Loch Fyne, which has always provided a reliable service between Mallaig and Armadale. Originally, we had understood that the MV Loch Fyne would not return until early July, as she was required to stand in for the MV Hallaig and MV Lochinvar, the two hybrid vessels, while their batteries were being replace. However, we now understand that the MV Loch Fyne will not return to the Mallaig/Armadale route at all this season. While the group appreciates the difficulties faced by CalMac at the moment, there is a real worry that the timetable proposed for the Mallaig/Armadale service will continue to have a detrimental effect on the economies of North West Lochaber and South Skye. As a result of this, we have written to CalMac, and elected members of The Highland Council and both parliaments. We have also produced a template letter for any local businesses who share our concerns, to send on. We will share this on our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/soundofsleatferrygroup, or you can use our Contact Form, and we can send on the template.

We would also ask that businesses who are concerned about the impact, complete our short survey. Again, the link is on our Facebook page, you can email us to request the link, or access the form from our website at https://soundofsleatferrygroup.org.uk/survey. The more evidence we have from local businesses, the stronger the argument that we can make, and the more representative we can be of these businesses. The text of our letter is reproduced below, setting out the issues, and our requests to CalMac.

The Sound of Sleat Ferry Users Group would like to express their concern about the proposed deployment of ferries on the Mallaig / Armadale route for the summer season 2026. Our initial understanding was that the MV Loch Fyne would not return to the Mallaig/Armadale route until July, and that the MV Coruisk would be on service from Saturday 4April. However, our latest understanding is that the proposed deployment is:

  • MV Loch Bhrusda 27 March single vessel until 10 April.
  • MV Coruisk and MV Loch Bhrusda from 11 April until 25 August
  • MV Coruisk single vessel 26 August until 22 September
  • MV Coruisk and MV Loch Bhrusda 23 September until 15 October
  • MV Loch Bhrusda single vessel 16 October until 20 October

Within this deployment the Coruisk will operate a single vessel service every Saturday while the MV Loch Bhrusda provides additional capacity on the Small Isles route, and once a month to allow for a maintenance day for the MV Lochnevis.

This raises a number of concerns for the group and for the wider communities served by the routes.

  1. The proposal to operate the MV Loch Bhrusda on the route rather than the Loch Fyne reduces the capacity of each sailing by 22 cars, from 34 to 12, and reduces the options for larger vehicles travelling on the route. On the single vessel timetable, with 5 return trips each day, this is a reduction in capacity of 220 vehicles PER DAY, and 1,540 per week, on a service which regularly operates at capacity.  While both vessels are operational, with 20 return sailings a week operated by the Loch Bhrusda, the reduction is 880 vehicles each week. This has a huge impact on the businesses at either end of the route, who rely heavily on through traffic from the ferries. Initial analysis indicates that the route typically supports around £272,800 per week of economic activity, based on an average of 2.5 people per car and visitor spend of £124 per person per night (source: Tourism Performance | VisitScotland.org).
  • The proposal as it stands would result in no vehicle service between Mallaig and Armadale on Easter Saturday, 4 April (a key visitor date). The route was originally due to see the return of the MV Coruisk on that day, and the group would like to request that this is reconsidered to provide a vehicle service on Easter Saturday. The Group wish to highlight the substantial economic impact expected because of the loss of all vehicle-carrying capacity on the ferry route on Easter Saturday 4 April. Using a working estimate of MV Coruisk carrying 36 standard vehicles per sailing, five sailings per day, and an average of 3.5 people per vehicle, the loss to the community on each affected side is calculated at approximately £78,120. This equates to a combined loss for communities on either side of £156,120 for Saturday 4 April alone, as a result of no vehicle capacity. These figures underline the critical importance of reliable connectivity for our communities and the local circular economy. The scale of the projected one-day loss demonstrates how deeply these decisions affect residents, businesses, and the tourism sector. 
  • The Group would ask that consideration is given to whether there is an alternative, larger capacity vessel, that can be deployed on the route, either in addition to, or in place of, the Loch Bhrusda.  If the intention is that the hybrid vessels will operate on Clyde Routes to test new systems, then is there an option to redeploy a vessel from the Clyde to the Mallaig/Armadale route? Our understanding is that the Loch Bhrusda does not carry coaches over 7.1m as the reduction in car capacity is too significant, and we would request that consideration is given to redeploying a vessel that can carry coach traffic. The Mallaig/Armadale ferry crossing forms part of a circular route popular with coach companies, who bring a lot of business to the area, and revenue to CalMac, and we feel that this should be taken account of in any decisions on vessel deployment. 
  • The Group would like to request that CalMac offer marketing support to the areas of West Lochaber and South Skye in recognition of the disruption and the economic impact to the local area associated with the reduced ferry capacity. There is a recognition locally that several years of disrupted and unreliable ferry connections have led to a reduction in confidence with the route. This in turn has impacted on the behaviours of tour companies and others who previously used the route and has had a significant knock-on effect on the economies of the two areas. A good example of this is the issues facing the Clan Donald Centre in Armadale, which have been well documented.
  • The Group recognise that the Route Prioritisation Framework will always result in the Mallaig/Armadale route being first to suffer as a result of disruption elsewhere in the network, and that the rationale for this is the fixed link to Skye via the bridge. However, the Group would argue that this takes no account of the actual users of the service between Mallaig and Armadale. For many of these users, the bridge is not actually a feasible option, especially when travelling as a foot passenger, or for those who regularly commute to work between the North West Lochaber area, including Ardnamurchan, and South Skye. The Group would argue that there are three alternative access options for the Isle of Mull, from Oban, Lochaline and Kilchoan, but the same argument of an alternative route is not applied.
  • In previous years, the Coruisk has been withdrawn from the route at short notice as a result of disruption elsewhere. We would like CalMac to recognise the significant impact that this has on the communities served by the route, and particularly if the alternative vessel is the Loch Bhrusda. We would like a recognition from CalMac that the route has already lost one vessel, the Loch Fyne, and that the Coruisk will remain on the route for the period timetabled.
  • The Group recognises that it is likely that there will be periods when a single vessel is operating on the service between Mallaig and Armadale, but would like to request that timetables are drawn up to maximise the number of sailings on the route while it is being operated as a single vessel route. The Group would also like to request that consideration is given to whether the Lord of the Isles can operate any sailings between Mallaig and Armadale while the capacity is reduced this summer. We recognise that the Mallaig/Lochboisdale route will take priority, but would ask that the possibility of any additional sailings be investigated.
  • The amendment to timetables to accommodate the Lord of the Isles sailings to Lochboisdale has resulted in the last sailings on a Saturday between Aprill and October being 16.10 from Mallaig, and 17.40 from Armadale. The Group has raised this point before, but for sports teams and their supporters travelling between Lochaber and Skye, this often results in them having to take the ferry one way and return via the bridge. For those on Skye hoping to attend events in North West Lochaber, it is almost impossible to achieve this on the current timetable. We would ask that consideration be given to a later sailing on a Saturday evening.
  • Looking ahead, the Group would like confirmation that the Loch Fyne, or a vessel of similar capacity, will return next year following the battery replacement.

The Group has a real concern that the continued disruption to services on the Mallaig/Armadale route is eroding resilience in the communities serviced by the route, both economically and socially. We have circulated a survey to local businesses, and the results returned are clear, in terms of the impact of the reduction in ferry services. We will be happy to share these results if required.

Sound of Sleat Ferry Users’ Group

Quick Links to Documents