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Major city · United Kingdom

ArisaigÀrasaig

Stay 1–2 nights if you want the Small Isles ferry and a quiet coast; otherwise day-trip by train from Fort William for about £15 return.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Arisaig is a 300-person village on the Road to the Isles, on a bypassed loop of the A830 west of Fort William. It is the mainland launch point for the Small Isles (Eigg, Muck) and a stop on the West Highland Line. Most people use it as one night between Fort William and Mallaig, or as a day trip by train. You need a car or a boat to do much beyond the village itself.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Jun, Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (short days, many places shut); midge season Jul–Aug
Airports
INV · GLA · EDI
Nights
1–2
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
  • United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
  • United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Arisaig999 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • Police non-urgent101
  • NHS non-urgent111

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Arisaig, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or tea in a café£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Sit-down mealPub or hotel main course£14–22 (≈ US$19–30)
  • BeerPint of beer£5–6.50 (≈ US$7–9)
  • Budget bedCampsite pitch plus per-person fee, a night, per room£28 (≈ US$40)
  • Mid-range bedB&B or hotel double room, a night, per room£130 (≈ US$180)
  • High-end bedB&B or hotel double room, a night, per room£200 (≈ US$300)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £60 (≈ US$80) · Mid £100 (≈ US$140) · High £180 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Small Isles ferry to Eigg and MuckWest Highland Line and the Jacobite steam trainPrince's Cairn and Loch nan UamhSea kayaking and Traigh golf course
Airports
INV Inverness (About 2 h 30 min by road to Arisaig; check onward bus and train links.) · GLA Glasgow (Rail to Arisaig via Fort William on the West Highland Line; check connections.) · EDI Edinburgh (Rail via Glasgow Queen Street; check connections.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    7°C (45°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    7°C (45°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    8°C (46°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    11°C (52°F)

  5. May

    Best

    14°C (57°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    16°C (61°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    17°C (63°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    17°C (63°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    15°C (59°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    12°C (54°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    9°C (48°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    7°C (45°F)

Best: May–Jun, Sep. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Nov–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (17°C (63°F)), coolest Jan (2°C (36°F) low), wettest Jan (20 rain days), driest May (14). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Arisaig: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

7°C (45°F)

2°C (36°F)

20 rd

Feb

7°C (45°F)

2°C (36°F)

16 rd

Mar

8°C (46°F)

3°C (37°F)

18 rd

Apr

11°C (52°F)

4°C (39°F)

15 rd

May

14°C (57°F)

6°C (43°F)

14 rd

Jun

16°C (61°F)

9°C (48°F)

14 rd

Jul

17°C (63°F)

11°C (52°F)

16 rd

Aug

17°C (63°F)

11°C (52°F)

17 rd

Sep

15°C (59°F)

9°C (48°F)

18 rd

Oct

12°C (54°F)

7°C (45°F)

20 rd

Nov

9°C (48°F)

4°C (39°F)

19 rd

Dec

7°C (45°F)

2°C (36°F)

20 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The village is walkable, but the coast, golf course and beaches need wheels. ScotRail trains stop at Arisaig and Beasdale (request stop); Shiel Buses run from Fort William three times Monday–Friday and once on Saturday, about an hour. Arisaig Marine runs a foot-passenger ferry to Eigg and Muck, April–September.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Mallaig

go

Door to door: About 30 min

ScotRail from Arisaig, about 10 min; or the A830 by car

Ferries to Skye, the Small Isles and Knoydart; seafood restaurants.

Glenfinnan

go

Door to door: About 45 min

ScotRail from Arisaig, about 20 min

Viaduct and monument; time it with the Jacobite if you want the photo.

Eigg

go

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min crossing

Arisaig Marine foot-passenger ferry, April–September

Check the timetable: sailings are not daily and depend on the weather.

Fort William

go

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

ScotRail from Arisaig, about 1 h 20 min

Day return is about £15 adult; cheaper than the Jacobite.

Skyeovernight

Door to door: About 2 h

Train or road to Mallaig, then the ferry to Armadale

Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep on Skye.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Arisaig village centre

Hotel, bunkhouse and Old Library Lodge within a few minutes' walk of the shop, station and ferry point.

Bunacaimb and Invercaimbe

Camping and touring sites north and south of the village; you need a car or a long walk.

Mallaig

Larger base 20–30 min west by road or train, with more ferries and food; use it if Arisaig beds are full.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£60–90 (≈ US$80–120) excl. bed
Mid
£90–140 (≈ US$120–190) excl. bed
High
£140 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
B&B or hotel double room1 × 1 night × £130£130
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £100£200
Train Fort William to Arisaig, adult day return2 × £15£30
Small Isles ferry day return2 × £30£60
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10£20
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£44
Trip total≈ £242 per person per day, bed included£484≈ US$650

2026 estimate in pounds; travel to Arisaig excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or tea in a café£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Pub or hotel main course£14–22 (≈ US$19–30)
Pint of beer£5–6.50 (≈ US$7–9)
Train Fort William to Arisaig, adult day returnAbout £15 (≈ US$20)
Small Isles ferry day returnAbout £30 (≈ US$40)
Campsite pitch plus per-person feeAbout £18 (≈ US$25) + £10 (≈ US$14) pp

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very safe. The real risks are weather, single-track roads, midges and patchy phone signal: tell someone your plan before walking or kayaking.
  • Patchy 4G from EE, O2 and Vodafone; no Three coverage and no 5G. Download maps and tickets before you arrive.
  • The station is an unstaffed halt: buy your ticket on board if you start your journey here.
  • The Jacobite steam train stops at Arisaig only by request, and the excursion allows about two hours ashore.
  • Midges are bad on still, damp evenings from June to August; bring repellent.
  • Single-track and tight bends on the A830: allow more time than the map suggests.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
999
Police non-urgent
101
NHS non-urgent
111

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

ArisaigÀrasaig

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Don seòladh seo, mas e do thoil eTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • Police non-urgent101
  • NHS non-urgent111

Embassy

No embassies in the Highlands; US citizens use the consulate general in Edinburgh, other nationalities the embassies in London.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Train Fort William → Arisaig: about £15 (≈ US$20) adult day return, about 1 h 20 min
  • Small Isles ferry, day return: about £30 (≈ US$40), April–September
  • Taxi in the village: limited local taxis; book ahead

Say or show

  • Halò — Hello (ha-LAW)
  • Tapadh leat — Thank you (TA-pa let)
  • Càite a bheil an t-aiseag? — Where is the ferry? (KAH-tcheh a vayl an TASH-ak)
  • Dè a chosgas e? — How much is it? (djeh a KHOS-kas e)
  • Am faod mi pàigheadh le cairt? — Can I pay by card? (am fu-ut mee PIE-ugh le karsht)
  • Càite a bheil an taigh-beag? — Where is the toilet? (KAH-tcheh a vayl an tie-BEK)

Scottish Gaelic is on signs but English is spoken everywhere.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Arisaig. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Jun, Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (short days, many places shut); midge season Jul–Aug · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources