Frequently Asked Questions

Aim to arrive at Laga Bay approximately one hour before the boat departs for the Isle of Carna, to allow time to unload your car and get everything on board. If this is your first visit, we recommend getting in touch beforehand to talk things through.

• Carna House: boat departs 14.30, suggested arrival 13.00
• Carna Cottage: boat departs 15.30, suggested arrival 14.00

Our team, led by Andy Jackson, will be at Laga Bay to meet you. We provide full transfers on our covered charter boat Laurenca 2 for guests, pets, luggage and supplies. Parking is available in our car park at Laga Bay, with additional spaces nearby for extra or oversized vehicles.

Yes. The island is well suited to well-behaved dogs, with up to three per property. A surcharge applies per dog. Please bring dog towels and beds, or hire them through your booking. Dogs must be kept on a lead near the cattle, who roam freely over the island. Please also bring tick prevention and removal equipment and check your dogs after each outing. Cats and other pets are not permitted, in order to protect the island’s wildlife.

Carna is a family-owned island and we have all been coming here since we were small. The lack of roads, external visitors and traffic makes it a safe and wonderful place for children to explore freely. We do advise against bringing children under two years old, given the island’s remote nature. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss this. Baby equipment requiring mains power cannot be used, so items such as monitors and sterilisers need to be battery-operated or manual. On request we can provide a travel cot, high chair, fireguard and an appropriate lifejacket.

Bookings outside peak season (April to October) can start on any day. Simply use our short break enquiry process and we will do our best to accommodate you. Note that weeks crossing price bands will be charged at the combined rate.

A non-refundable deposit of £500 per cottage is taken at the time of booking, with the full balance due eight weeks before arrival. Bookings made within eight weeks require full payment upfront. Cancellations more than eight weeks before arrival forfeit only the deposit. Those within eight weeks are non-refundable.

Not at all. Our team will greet you at Laga Bay, transfer you and all your belongings to the island, and provide full safety and handling training on arrival. This covers everyone who wishes to pilot the boat, as well as safety procedures for passengers. The team are available via WhatsApp or VHF radio throughout your stay. No qualification is needed, though drivers must be over 18. If you would prefer not to use the boat at all during your stay, that is perfectly fine too.

Yes. You can fish from the boat or from the shore. Equipment is available to hire, or bring your own. Mackerel are plentiful in summer, easy to catch and excellent eating. The area is rich in seafood including langoustine, lobster, mussels and scallops. River fishing for salmon and trout is also available on the mainland.

Yes. Andy and the team can arrange private charters for your group direct from the island, to destinations including Tobermory on Mull, the island of Muck and the Cairns of Coll, as well as local points of interest. They can also help arrange activities further afield including kayaking, mountain biking and sightseeing in the area. See our things to do pages for more.

Both cottages have a permanent BBQ, though part of the fun is building your own or using a portable one. Open fires are permitted on the stony beach, but guests must remain mindful of the risk of hill fires at all times. If you need guidance on creating a proper wilderness experience, just ask and we will talk you through it safely.

The island runs on a solar and battery system backed up by a generator. This powers the electric fridge and allows small devices such as mobile phones to be charged, but does not support high-draw appliances like hairdryers, laptops or electric kettles. With a gas cooker, gas-fired hot water and open fires, you have everything you need to stay warm, cook well and take a hot bath. Carna House has gas lighting, which creates an atmosphere found almost nowhere else nowadays. Carna Cottage has electric lighting and cosy lamps.

There is outdoor wi-fi around the byre and indoor wi-fi in both properties, which you can choose to switch on or leave off. Small devices can be charged around the clock. Most guests find they enjoy the digital detox more than they expected.

Bring everything you think you will need as there is no shop on the island. There is plenty of space on the boat for supplies. Many guests stock up en route at local supermarkets including the Jetty Shop at Salen, or at shops with cash machines in Strontian. Alternatively, an online order from a supermarket such as Morrisons can be delivered to the Jacksons’ mainland base. Each property has a starter pack of basics including tea, coffee, sugar, salt and pepper.

Plastic, card and paper can be recycled in the blue wheelie bin in the byre. General household waste goes in the green bin. There is no glass collection on the island, so all glass must be taken away when you leave. Bottle banks are available in Acharacle and Strontian. Food waste goes in the composters.

There are two rental properties on the island, so there may be other guests unless you have taken both. They are well separated and privacy has never been an issue. There is also a private cottage on the island, occasionally occupied, which uses a separate mooring. With 600 acres to roam, your peace and tranquility will not be affected. From time to time, researchers and conservationists may visit to carry out surveys and essential conservation work.

Contact Andy Jackson by WhatsApp or phone. Details will be provided on arrival. In a life-threatening emergency, dial 999, use VHF Mayday, or contact Andy directly.