The ferry ports of Oban, Mallaig, Ullapool and Thurso offer sailing connections to the collection of Scotland's Islands. The west coast islands are served by Caledonian MacBrayne services and the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland are served by Northlink ferries, Pentland ferries and John O'Groat ferries.

Smaller independent ferries also do stunning sailings to individual places such as The Small Isles from Arisaig, Colonsay from Islay, Coll and Tiree from Mull, Skye from Glenelg, Handa Island from Tarbet, and The Summer Isles from Ullapool.