Please note Canna House and its garden are closed until spring 2025.
Getting here
A passenger ferry (no cars) runs from Mallaig, operated by Caledonian MacBrayne (01475 650100).
Ferries to Canna depart on a regular basis during the summer months. There is no need to pre-book tickets.
Check the Calmac ferry timetables
As there is no tarred road on the island, we are unable to accommodate vehicles.
Contact information
Telephone: 01463 732621 (regional office)
Opening times
-
Isle of Canna
Please note that Canna House and Garden is closed until spring 2025.
- Current period All year, daily
Entry prices
- Adult
- Free
- Family
- Free
- One adult family
- Free
- Concession
- Free
Planning your visit
Canna House is currently closed as it is undergoing an extensive renovation project, but visitors can still enjoy the walled garden and the varied walks on the island.
Canna can be visited all year round – either by taking the regular passenger-only ferry, by private charter or, if you have your own boat, Canna Harbour has 10 yacht moorings for visitors.
It’s advisable to pre-book accommodation if you intend to stay on the island. The community shop operates on a 24/7 honesty basis and carries a limited stock of basic essentials.
Landing charges are applicable for commercial operators. Please contact traveltrade@nts.org.uk for more information.
For more information about planning your visit, please see the drop-down Facilities below or our frequently asked questions.
Some highlight events in 2025
Easter trail
Friday 18–Sunday 20 April, 9am–5pm
Tickets available on the day; £5 per entry
Join us for our fantastic Easter Egg Trail here on the Isle of Canna! Follow the eggs-cellent Easter egg trail around Canna House Garden, collect the answers and get a treat fit for the Easter Bunny! Meet the ranger at the Visitor Hub (9am–12.30pm) or at the Farm (1.30–5pm) to purchase entry forms for the trail. Then head to Canna House Garden, keeping your eyes peeled for hidden clues! Once you’ve got all the answers, head back to the ranger to claim your chocolate-y prize!
Lambing weekend
Friday 18–Sunday 20 April, 1–5pm
Book your tickets now; child £10, adult £15
Experience the magic of lambing at Canna Farm!
- Get up close and personal with adorable lambs: visit the maternity ward to see all our expectant ewes
- Take part in our farm activities
- Get first-hand experience of what it’s like to be a farmer at this time of year
This is the perfect opportunity for the whole family to experience farm life and make some unforgettable memories.
Please note: pregnant women not advised to enter the lambing area. No dogs are allowed.
Bees & butterflies walk
Fortnightly on Wednesdays from 23 April, 12.30–2.30pm
Free
Part of the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust Bee Walk
Join the ranger to help with the bees and butterfly survey! Starting at the Visitor Hub, we will walk along the fields to Corroghan, through Canna Woods and A’chill woods finishing back at the Community Shop.
Please note: butterflies don’t like the rain! If the weather is poor, we’ll do a bit of ID practice and walk the route to look at plants instead.
Guided ranger walks
Saturdays 26 April, 3 May, 14 June, 16, 23 & 30 August; 1–3pm
Book your tickets today; child £7, adult £10
Tom, the Canna ranger, leads a unique guided ramble from Canna Community Shop. No two walks are the same! See inside Canna’s magical woodlands, take in the "wee things’ (mosses, lichens and fungi), spot a cuckoo or speckled wood butterfly. Look to the skies for your chance to see an elusive golden eagle. The historical settlement of A’Chill is also on the route; marvel at the intricately carved Christian Cross and Punishment Stone; and perhaps spot a corncrake in the nettles!
Guided puffin walks
Saturdays 10 May, 21 June and 12 July, 1–3pm
Book your tickets today; child £7, adult £10
Join Tom, the Canna ranger, on a guided walk to the puffin stacks. Starting at St Edward’s Church, the walk meanders across grazing land, taking in beautiful sea views towards Skye, the mainland and Rum. There are opportunities to see some Hebridean wildflowers, as well as plenty of bird life and insect life.
The main attraction is, of course, the puffins! See them on the stack or in the water and maybe even snap a photo!
Corncrake talk & walk
Fridays 16 May and 13 June, 7–9pm
Book your tickets today; child £7, adult £15
Meet ranger Tom at the Shearing Shed for an unforgettable corncrake experience. We begin with a corncrake talk, followed by a guided walk to hopefully see one of these elusive birds.
Moth mornings
Saturday 24 May, Sundays 1 & 22 June, Sundays 3 & 24 August; 8–9.30am
Book your tickets today; child £7, adult £10
Do you want to learn more about marvellous moths? Come with us and learn all about the species in our overnight moth trap, whilst tucking into breakfast.
*Moth trapping will run frequently throughout the warmer seasons. If you’re interested in joining the ranger another day in checking the traps, please email tallen@nts.org.uk
Canna Campout
Sat 19–Sun 20 July
Limited places available
Join us for a brilliant night under the stars. Take part in children’s activities and toast marshmallows over the campfire whilst listening to stories of Canna. A continental breakfast is included. Please email any allergies or dietary requirements to tallen@nts.org.uk
Please bring your own tent and all camping equipment. Suitable for adults and families alike. We know that setting up camp and keeping the children entertained can be a challenge! We’ll be providing a selection of activities on site during this time.
Canna Wildlife Festival
July 2025
Find out more
We are excited to be celebrating the wildlife and scenery of Canna and Sanday with a week-long festival. Each day has a special theme (woodlands, seabirds, farming, marine, and more!) with lots of activities throughout the week to get involved with. The full itinerary is coming soon …
4x4 safaris
Book via email: tallen@nts.org.uk
Prices: child* £25, adult £35
See Canna and Sanday from a new perspective in our National Trust for Scotland Toyota Hilux. Tom the ranger takes guests to Tarbert and Sanday, highlighting points of interest and history alongside spotting wildlife.
Please note: unfortunately, our vehicle is not wheelchair accessible. For accessibility information, please get in touch by email.
*We are not able to take children under 3 years or those requiring a fixed child seat due to child seat regulations. Children aged under 12 or less than 135cm tall can only travel in the back seat. We do not supply booster seats; if your child requires one, please bring your own.
Rent-a-ranger
Book via email: tallen@nts.org.uk
Prices: £50 for up to 3 people, £10 for any additional people
Join ranger Tom on a tailor-made walk, offering bespoke experiences for up to 10 people. You can personalise your 2-hour guided walk or talk; simply email us with a few topics that interest you and Tom will build you a unique experience showcasing the best of Canna.
Facilities & access
- It’s possible, although challenging, for wheelchair users to take the ferry to Canna.
- Once on the island, the roads are made of hard gravel so assistance may be required.
We have an ongoing programme of accessible content development. Detailed accessibility guides for the most visited Trust places are available on our Accessibility pages as well as links to useful resources.
We’d love you to visit the Euan’s Guide website to review the accessibility of Trust places and tell us (and others) what’s good and where we need to do better.
Café Canna overlooks the harbour.
See their website for more details.
Dogs may visit but must be kept under strict control at all times as livestock may be roaming freely – the island is a working farm.
Guided walks may be available with the seasonal Canna Ranger. Otherwise, leaflets are available in the Pier waiting room with suggested self-guided routes.
Discover the amazingly rich archaeological landscape – from prehistoric fortifications to early 19th-century abandoned settlements. Seek out the Punishment Stone, where unruly islanders had their thumbs wedged into the hole.
Do your bit for the environment by helping us with beach cleaning and depositing marine plastic etc into the designated bins around the bay and at the pier.
There is a community shop on the island.
Leaflets for the Canna Walk 1 (around 1 hour) and Canna Walk 2 (around 2 hours) are available at the Pier and in the shop to help you explore the island.