Scottish Islands - Motorhome length for ferry

[Desertstormer0]

Hi Everyone,

I've been caravan touring since 2005 but I'm considering buying a 6m A-Class to tour the Scottish Highlands and specifically the Islands with. Before I buy, how flexible are Calmac about the length of your motorhome? For instance if it's 6.05m or 6.1m, are they relaxed about you stating it's a 6.0m motorhome on the ferry booking form? I'm hoping I can learn from another motorhomer's experience!

 

[lorger]

I doubt they’ll measure it so I’d go with under 6m, we sailed on a ferry from Sweden to Denmark in our 7.5m van and when asked how long it was I tried my luck with 6m and got away with it

 

[DavidG58]

Yes they are

 

[Otter Spotter]

I haven’t seen any of the crew on any of the ferries I been on who have measured a van, but be careful if you have a bike rack they know a 6 m van and a bike rack adds to that.
Having said that on the Shetland ferries when you park up ready to embark they do gauge the size of each van so they can make sure to fit them in the right position on deck.

 

[fat haggis]

They can and do checks at Oban for vans. If it’s 6 mtr you’re fine I’d it’s got a bike rack they ask when booking. Your over. And they have put the prices up big time for vans above 6mtr .

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[ChrisMac]

They measured our van at Ullapool in November. We're just under 6m.

 

[Puddleduck]

Had our old van (5.99m) measured in Ullapool and also in Stornoway. The new one is 7m so we pay the higher charge.

 

[PaulC70]

And I've seen them measure vans in Uig on Skye too before going to Harris and lewis

 

[bigtwin]

It is what it is, why pretend otherwise?

Ian

 

[Kayak Kid]

I have family connections on the Scottish islands and have travelled with Calmac to/ from for this reason, and sea kayaking for some 40 years.

In recent times there is a greater chance of a check on your length as indicated by others on here, although it can be ad hoc! However you lose nothing by trying - as the worst you can face (given your marginal oversize) would be having to pay the difference for the larger length.

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[shawn&emma]

Oban always measured our van, traveled plenty of times over the 4 years we lived on Mull. Calmac will measure to the mm.

 

[Desertstormer0]

Thank you to all for your feedback - it definitely looks like it would be a costly mistake to choose a van over 6m, as it's so expensive to pay for a 7m van!