From 1 April 2006 residents of the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland, who are eligible for Scotland-Wide Free Bus Travel for Older and Disabled People and have a National Entitlement Card have been entitled to two free return ferry journeys to the mainland each year.
Western Isles residents
When you book and/or travel on the ferry you must present your National Entitlement Card and ferry voucher to the ferry company. A voucher will be taken from you and exchanged for a ticket for the journey.
The routes on which you can travel are:
Castlebay (Barra) - Oban
Lochboisdale (South Uist) - Oban
Lochmaddy (North Uist) - Uig
Tarbert (Harris) - Uig
Stornoway ( Lewis) - Ullapool
Alternatively you can exchange your four vouchers for a six journey multi-ticket book. If you choose this option, you will only be allowed to travel on one of the above routes and you must name this route when you exchange your vouchers for the multi-journey book. You will still need to present your National Entitlement Card every time you use a journey from the multi-journey book.
Free travel as a foot passenger only will be provided. No vehicle costs will be paid for by Transport Scotland.
Orkney and Shetland residents
When you book your travel, you should state clearly that you wish to book using your ferry voucher and National Entitlement Card. The ferry operator will ask for your entitlement card number and a voucher number for each leg of the journey. If you are travelling with another card holder and would like to book together you may also need to have their card number and voucher numbers at the time of booking.
The routes on which you can travel are
Lerwick- Aberdeen
Kirkwall - Aberdeen
Stromness - Scrabster
St Margaret's Hope - Gills Bay
Burwick - John O'Groats
Vouchers are valid throughout the year for foot-passenger travel where there is availability on the ferry. In addition eligible passengers will be entitled to free berths on overnight services. In a change to the previous year, there will be no high season or peak period restrictions. However, there are only a limited number of berths available during these times and they will be allocated on a first come basis.
Eligible passengers will be entitled to free berths on overnight services:
- Single concession holder: - will be able to access at no charge a berth in a same sex cabin, either two or four berth. Cabin allocation would be at the operator's discretion although concession holders would always be offered a lower berth. A single passenger can opt for exclusive use of a cabin but would be required to pay the difference in cost.
- A single concession holder travelling with non concession holder:- the value of one shared berth only will be charged to Transport Scotland and any additional costs relating to the non-concession holder's travel such as berths or an exclusive cabin will be met by the non-concession holder.
- Two concessionary travellers travelling together and wishing to share a cabin: - will receive exclusive use of a cabin. Again allocation will be at the discretion of the operator, although primarily they would be offered a twin berth cabin. Therefore where two concession holders are travelling together they will always receive an exclusive use of a cabin if available.
- Similarly two concession card holders travelling in a party can opt to share a four berth cabin. In this instance the operator will charge the concessionary fares unit the value of two berths in a four berth cabin and the other non concessionary card holders would be charged for their berth.
- Concessionary card holders have the option to upgrade to premium cabins although additional charges would be met by the card holder.
When you check in, you must present your National Entitlement Card and voucher and quote your booking reference if you have one. The operator will check your entitlement card and take the voucher from you. Failure to supply a valid National Entitlement Card and valid ferry vouchers at check in will mean that the booking is void and you may have to pay for your journey.
No vehicle costs will be paid for by Transport Scotland.
