How to get to the Isle of Carna
Your adventure starts with the journey to Carna
Though remote, Carna is easily accessible. It’s just over an hour’s drive from Fort William, three from Inverness and Glasgow, and four from Edinburgh to the departure point at Laga Bay (PH36 4JW)
From Laga our Island Manager and owner of Ardnamurchan Charters, Andy, will take you across Loch Sunart to your island getaway on the Isle of Carna. We’ll help you unload, settle you into your cosy accommodation and give you a quick introductory tour, to familiarise you with your new surroundings. The following morning Andy will give you full instructions for the boat and will fit your life jackets, with plenty of time for questions.
Then you’ll be left in peace to enjoy the Carna island at your own pace.
There are several transport options that will get you to Carna:
Reaching Carna by car
The drive from Inverness (A82 south), alongside Loch Ness and the length of the Great Glen, is one of the most scenic drives in the world. You then take the historic ‘Road to the Isles’ towards Mallaig, passing stunning coastal scenery as you reach the Ardnamurchan peninsula, where you turn west (right) at Salen onto the B8007 to Laga Bay.
Heading north from Glasgow or Stirling (A82 north), the route is just as breath-taking, crossing the wild and desolate Rannoch Moor and then through historic and majestic Glencoe. Turn left to the Corran Car Ferry which runs across the Corran narrows every 30 minutes; tickets are bought on board.
Leaving the ferry turn left and follow the A861 towards Strontian, which is situated at the eastern end of Loch Sunart. Continue until you reach the village of Salen; turn left onto the B8007, continuing along the south shore of the Ardnamurchan peninsula for 5 miles to Laga Bay. (PH364JW)
Arriving at Laga Bay for transfers to Carna Island
Laga Bay is approximately one hour from the Corran Ferry and five miles from Salen. Be aware there is virtually no phone signal once you are past Salen. When you arrive at Laga Bay park your car in the small car park on the left, immediately before the cattle grid. Go through the wooden gate at the end of the car park, down the steps to Ardnamurchan Charters where we will be waiting to greet you.
Reaching Carna by air, train or bus
We are ideally located for travellers arriving at Inverness & Glasgow Airports, which connect to London and international destinations. We can arrange transfer for you by train, bus or car hire.
Fort William can be reached by train from Glasgow Queen Street or direct from London Euston via the romantic Caledonian Sleeper.
The Glasgow train departs four times a day and winds gently along the world famous West Highland Line through glens, over historic viaducts and deserted moorland. It was voted the top railway journey in the world by the readers of Wanderlust travel magazine, making it an experience in itself!
The Caledonian Sleeper provides an overnight service and is one of the last sleeper services still running in the UK. You travel in style, leaving London in the evening and then waking up to have your breakfast watching the vastness of Rannoch moor roll by, before arriving in Fort William mid-morning.
From here, transfers or car hire will bring you to Laga, where we will meet you with the boat.
There are several Taxi providers in Fort William but we may be able to collect you for an additional fee. Please contact us for details.
Scottish CityLink buses travel from Inverness, Edinburgh and Glasgow to Fort William, where a connection can be made to the local bus service. The local bus to Kilchoan will stop at Laga bay if you ask the driver to stop at ‘Ardnamurchan Charters’, where we will be waiting to greet you.