Small crossings, generous rewards

The best part of an island break is often the twenty minutes spent at the rail with a paper cup of tea, watching the mainland shrink. Cross the right stretch of water and you land somewhere with no through traffic, lanes that fizzle out at a stile, and a pub that opens when the boat comes in. The crossings to the smaller islands — Rathlin, Lundy, Sark, Herm, Easdale, Iona, Mersea — are short, cheap and gloriously unglamorous. They simply reward a little forward planning, mostly around tides, timetables, and how much you are prepared to carry.

Read the tide before you read the timetable

Tides shape island life more than the clock does. On some crossings the boat uses different slipways according to the height of the water; on others the pier dries out completely at low water and sailings shift by an hour or more through the day. That is why a ferry timetable on a small island is really a tide table wearing a hat.

Check the day's high and low water rather than assuming yesterday's pattern will hold. Spring tides bring a much bigger range than neaps, which matters if you are planning to walk a causeway, cross a sandbar, or leave a car on a harbour car park that floods. If you are visiting for a single day, build in a buffer: a cancelled afternoon sailing in a stiff south-westerly can strand you overnight, which is charming in June and less so in February.

Book the crossing, then book the table

Foot passengers can often turn up and pay on the day, especially out of season. In July and August, however, the popular short hops fill up, and some sailings carry a strict passenger cap. Book ahead for any crossing on a weekend or a bank holiday, and book your accommodation before your ticket — island beds vanish faster than deck space.

Arrive earlier than you think you need to. Twenty minutes is comfortable for foot passengers, but allow forty-five to sixty if you are taking a car, and longer on a single-track approach road. If you are travelling with a dog, check the rules in advance: many smaller ferries allow dogs on deck only, some require a lead and muzzle, and a few ask you to leave the animal in the vehicle.

Pack like you are carrying it yourself

On these crossings, you usually are. Trolleys and porters are rare, gangways are narrow and steep, and a wheeled suitcase can be a genuine nuisance on a wet ramp.

• Soft bags beat hard cases. A rucksack or duffel is far easier to manage on a bouncing deck and in a small tender.
• Bring a waterproof cover. Spray comes over the side even on a calm day, and luggage sits in the open air.
• Take a layer for the crossing. It is always two degrees colder on the water than in the harbour car park.
• Carry cash. Many small islands have no cash machine, and honesty boxes, village halls and tiny shops still prefer notes.
• Check restricted items. Fuel, gas canisters and large quantities of alcohol may be limited or refused.

On board: short trip, small rituals

Sailings are brief, but they can be bouncy where tidal streams meet headland. Sit outside if the weather allows, look at the horizon rather than your phone, and keep something ginger in your pocket if you are prone to queasiness. The outside deck is where you will spot porpoises, gannets and, on a clear day, three or four islands stacked up behind one another.

Two habits are worth forming. First, photograph or note the return timetable as you board — the last sailing is often mid-afternoon, and Sunday services can be sparse or non-existent. Second, ask a crew member about anything tide-related at your destination. They know which beach gets cut off and how long you have before the water returns.

The first hour ashore

Once you land, do three things before you unpack. Find the pub and note its hours, which are often shorter in shoulder season than any website suggests. Check the tide times for the beaches you want to walk. Then find out where the island's water, rubbish and nearest shop are — small places work on small logistics.

Mobile signal is patchy to non-existent on several of the smaller islands, so download maps and any bookings before you leave. And resist the urge to fill every hour. The whole point of a crossing this short is that it delivers you somewhere slower. A car-free lane, a quiet beach and a pint poured by someone who knows your name by Tuesday is a holiday in itself.