2026 season, 1 April to 28 September 2026 - ended; no 2027 dates published (checked 16 October 2026). Base list is the Monday, Wednesday and Friday pattern · Representative sailings only — check the operator for today's full timetable
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Crossing time
~55 min
Operator
Jura Passenger Ferry (Nicol Mackinnon, Islay Sea Safaris)
Map – Tayvallich to Jura Passenger Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Passenger aged 5 and over, each way | £27.50 |
| Bicycle, each way | £2.50 |
| Child under 5 | Free |
| Dog | Free |
Fares are as shown on the operator's site and in its booking settings for the 2026 season: £27.50 each way for a passenger aged 5 and over. Children under 5 and dogs travel free and a bicycle is £2.50. The operator gives a 20 kg luggage allowance per person. These are 2026 prices for a season that has ended; no 2027 fares are published. All fares in pounds sterling (GBP).
The Jura Passenger Ferry is a seasonal foot-passenger catamaran that links Tayvallich, on the Knapdale shore of Loch Sween, directly to Jura. It is not the same crossing as the Port Askaig to Feolin ferry, which is the short Sound of Islay hop that carries vehicles and starts from Islay; this one sails from the mainland and takes foot passengers only. The ferry's own website says it is managed and operated by Nicol Mackinnon of Islay Sea Safaris, with support from the Jura Development Trust. The trust's own page, which describes the 2024 season, calls it community-managed, so the two descriptions are not quite the same.
The season is the first thing to check. In 2026 the operator's website gives 1 April to 28 September, and that date has now passed. The site shows no dates for 2027, so this page carries the 2026 timetable only up to 28 September and then marks itself expired. Nothing here should be read as a winter service: there was none published.
During the season the pattern was sparse. The operator states there are no sailings on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday its booking timetable shows the boat starting from Jura: Jura to Tayvallich at 08:15, Tayvallich to Jura at 09:45, back from Jura at 16:30 and from Tayvallich at 18:00. Sunday had only the afternoon pair. The timetabled crossings take between 50 and 60 minutes; the operator says less than an hour, and the Jura Development Trust says 50 minutes to Craighouse, Jura's main village.
A ticket was £27.50 each way according to the operator's site. Children under 5 and dogs travel free, a bicycle costs £2.50, and there is a 20 kg luggage allowance per person. Passengers should arrive at least 10 minutes before departure, and the operator asks you to book online, with a telephone number for sailings that are full. Anyone who has back or neck problems is advised by the operator not to travel.
For getting to Tayvallich, the ferry's own page lists a 425 bus from Lochgilphead on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and asks drivers to use the car park opposite the village hall at the far end of the village. Those details are as printed on that page; we did not check a current bus timetable.
- Arrive at the slipway a few minutes before departure; vehicle queues build quickly in summer.
- Check the operator's notices before travelling — tides, weather and maintenance affect sailings.
- Confirm accepted payment methods: several crossings are contactless-only.
Frequently asked questions
Not at present. The operator's website gives the 2026 season as 1 April to 28 September 2026, and no sailings are published after that. It showed no 2027 dates when checked on 16 October 2026.
The operator's site gave £27.50 each way for a passenger aged 5 or over. Children under 5 and dogs travelled free, and a bicycle was £2.50.
The operator says there are no sailings on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday. In its 2026 booking timetable Monday, Wednesday and Friday had two round trips, and Sunday had one afternoon round trip.
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday in 2026: Jura 08:15, Tayvallich 09:45, Jura 16:30 and Tayvallich 18:00. On Sundays only the 16:30 from Jura and the 18:00 from Tayvallich ran.
The 2026 booking timetable gives crossings of 50 to 60 minutes. The operator's site says less than an hour, and the Jura Development Trust says 50 minutes to Craighouse.
No. The Port Askaig to Feolin ferry crosses the Sound of Islay in a few minutes from Islay and carries vehicles. The Jura Passenger Ferry sails from the mainland at Tayvallich and takes foot passengers only.
Yes, according to the operator. Dogs travel free and a bicycle was £2.50 in 2026. There is a 20 kg luggage allowance per person, and the operator advises people with back or neck problems not to travel.
The operator's site is built around online booking, and says to phone 07768 450 000 if a preferred sailing is fully booked. Passengers should arrive at least 10 minutes before departure.