Ferries:

RET (Road Equivalent Tariff): Good news for anyone wishing to travel to the Outer Hebrides by ferry, that fares have been slashed by over 40% since last year. The new rates are:

Uig (Skye) - Lochmaddy (North Uist) £44.80 return for a car and £9.80 return for the driver or a passenger.

Ullapool  - Stornoway £72.70 return for a car and £14.50 for the driver or passenger.

Oban - Lochboisdale £97.00 return for the car and £21.90 for the driver or passenger.

Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries operate sailings from both Oban and Uig in Skye to the southern isles and from Ullapool to Stornoway and Uig to Tarbet, Harris. Calmac also run the inter island ferries crossing the Sound of Harris between Leverburgh, Harris and Berneray, N Uist. In the far south there is a regular ferry connecting South Uist from Eriskay to Barra. Vehicles can be taken on all these routes although it's worth booking in advance, in the Summer at least. Book online www.calmac.co.uk or by phone: 08705 650 000.

 Flights:                                                                                                   (Barra airport with tide in)                                 

If you're visiting Lewis then Loganair operate 4 times daily to Stornoway from Glasgow, Edinurgh and Inverness phone: 0345 222 111 or book online www.british-airways.com. They also operate daily flights Glasgow to Barra and Benbecula on behalf of Flybe. On average you can fly for around £100 - £150 return from Glasgow to Benbecula. There are also flights from Inverness to Stornoway with Highland Airways; 0845 450 2245 or www.highlandairways.co.uk with further connecting flights to Benbecula.

Regular bus services provided by the Scottish Citylink connect with the ferries, call 0990 505 0505 or online: www.citylink.co.uk Skyeways Express Coaches operate between Glasgow and Inverness to Uig in Skye, tel: 01599 534328.

Bringing your own vehicle has its own advantages, especially if you're not going to join a tour, as although there is a bus service it can restrict your movements to particular times of day. To really see the islands joining an organised tour will give you a good taste of what the place has to offer, even just a day will help provide useful insights into how the islands work. It's also possible to hire a vehicle once you get here from a variety of garages throughout the islands.

Bus timetables for the Western Isles may be obtained from Stornoway Bus Station on 01851 704327

 Car Hire in the Uists and Benbecula

MacLennans Self Drive, Balivanich - tel: 01870 602191 

Ask Car Hire, Liniclate, Benbecula (available from ferry terminals and airport) - tel: 01870 602818

Laing Motors, Lochboisdale, South Uist - tel: 01878 700267

 Car Hire Lewis       

 Arnol Motors (airport pick up and drop off possible) - tel: 01851 710548 

 Stornoway Car Hire - tel: 01851 702658

 Lewis Car Rentals - tel: 01851 703760