Kerrera – The Southern Circuit by Gylen Castle
A day, from the Kerrera ferry slip at Gallanach and back.
The route
The island trust on Kerrera describes a 10 km circuit of the island's middle and south, on farm tracks and hill paths where only islanders drive.
It starts and ends at the slip where the passenger ferry lands from Gallanach, near Oban, and its far point is Gylen Castle, the roofless tower the MacDougalls built in 1582 above the Firth of Lorn. There's nowhere to count on for lunch on the way round, so it goes in the bag.
- Time
- Three to four hours: 10 km, or 6.2 miles, round from the island's ferry slip by the island trust's figure, with about an hour from the slip to the castle. A hilly island walk.
- Distance
- About 6.2 miles on foot.
- The path
- Farm tracks, grass and rough paths, with several hills.
- Where to start
- Leave the car at the Gallanach slip and cross on foot: the circuit starts and ends where the ferry lands on Kerrera.
- Set off
- Off a morning boat, with an afternoon boat back in mind.
- When to go
- All year, by the ferry's timetable: in winter the boat runs every day and the last one back leaves Kerrera at 5.55pm. No boats on 25 and 26 December or 1 and 2 January.
- Dogs
- On a lead the whole way: the island is a sheep and cattle farm.
- Children
- Ten kilometres with hills, and a steep crag at the castle.
- Toilets
- Portable toilets behind the big green shed at the island ferry slip.
- Before you set out
- Farm tracks and rougher paths with several hills. The Kerrera Tea Garden at Lower Gylen opens only from April to the end of September. From mid November to mid January cross on the 10.35am boat at the latest.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The day
Kerrera on foot
Over on the small ferry on foot, round the south of the island by the castle, and back to the slip for an afternoon boat.
About five hours from Gallanach, with both crossings
Kerrera Ferry
An attraction
The Kerrera ferry crosses from the slip at Gallanach, two miles south of Oban on the shore road: pass the CalMac terminal in town without turning in and keep to the Kerrera Ferry signs. There's some parking at the slip, though not much, and no bus, so on a busy day a taxi from town is the surer way. Cars stay on the mainland. Every passenger needs a ticket before boarding: buy it from CalMac online, or at the Oban ferry terminal on the way. An adult return was £4.30 in summer 2026. Sailings aren't booked: turn up and go. The boat takes 12 people, crosses in five minutes and makes extra runs when there's a queue. On the winter timetable, from Monday 19 October 2026 to 25 March 2027, it runs every day, leaving Gallanach at 8.25am, 8.45am, 10.05am, 10.35am, 11.35am and 12.35pm, and on through the afternoon. Be at the slip five minutes before. No boats run on 25 and 26 December or 1 and 2 January, and wind can stop the service, so check CalMac's service status that morning.
About 55 min on foot
Gylen Castle
An attraction
The island's trust describes a circuit of 10 km round the middle and south of Kerrera, starting and finishing at the ferry slip. It can be walked either way round, on farm tracks and rougher paths with a fair few hills, so wear boots. Allow three to four hours for the round, and about an hour from the slip to the castle. On the east side the track keeps company with the Sound of Kerrera before it drops to Lower Gylen, with Mull across the water ahead. Gylen Castle stands a few minutes beyond, a slim tower on a sea crag over the Firth of Lorn. The MacDougalls built it in 1582, and it was besieged and burned in 1647. Since a part-restoration in 2006 you can go inside. The crag falls steeply to the shore, so keep children close. On a clear day the islands to the south are Seil, Luing, Scarba and Jura. Round the southern end the outlook turns to Mull's hills and Loch Spelve, then to Lismore and Morvern, and the way back across the island faces Ben Cruachan's two tops. The Kerrera Tea Garden at Lower Gylen opens only from April to the end of September, so from October carry lunch and a flask. Kerrera is a working sheep and cattle farm: keep dogs on a lead and leave each gate as it was. There are portable toilets behind the big green shed at the island slip. From mid November to mid January the sun sets between 3.45pm and 4.15pm: cross on the 10.35am boat at the latest.
About 55 min on foot
The ferry from Kerrera to Gallanach
On the winter timetable, from 19 October 2026 to 25 March 2027, boats leave Kerrera for Gallanach every day at 12.30pm, 2pm, 3.30pm, 4.15pm, 5.15pm and 5.55pm, and the 5.55pm is the last. From Monday to Saturday a 7pm boat runs only if it's asked for by noon the day before, on 0800 066 5000. Nothing is timetabled between 12.30pm and 2pm, or between 2pm and 3.30pm, so time the end of the walk to a boat. Be at the slip five minutes before it sails. After the last boat nothing crosses until the next morning.
If it rains
The circuit is open to the weather the whole way and its tracks turn to mud. Wind, more than rain, is what stops the ferry: read CalMac's service status for Gallanach to Kerrera before setting out. On a poor day, walk to the castle and back the same way, about two hours.
For further reading, before you go.