The Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland belong to Scotland and therefore to Great Britain. After clearance on entry to the UK the onward carriage is domestic, with no further customs border. The challenge is the last leg: a RoRo ferry crossing from the Scottish mainland, dependent on the timetable and the weather. OTSL plans the route, the clearance on entry to the UK and the ferry booking to the islands.
Which islands and how to reach them
- The Hebrides: the Outer Hebrides (Lewis, Harris, the Uists, Barra) and the Inner Hebrides (Skye, Mull, Islay). Most are served by ferries from the Scottish coast, and Skye is also linked to the mainland by a bridge.
- Orkney: the main port is Kirkwall, reached by ferries among others from Scrabster and Aberdeen.
- Shetland: the capital is Lerwick, served by overnight sailings from Aberdeen.
What decides the deadline
On these routes the delivery is decided by the ferry timetable and the weather, so we plan the crossing booking well ahead, as with other crossings to the UK. The standard run to the islands is joined by the wait for a sailing and the sailing itself, which we allow for in the schedule in line with the guide on how long transport to the UK takes. The customs formalities remain the same as for any delivery to Great Britain, so the goods travel to the islands with no extra clearance once they have passed customs clearance on entry.
Have a load for the Hebrides, Orkney or Shetland? Describe it in the contact form and we will choose the ferry and the date. All the island destinations are gathered in the guide to the islands of Britain and Ireland.
