Travel to Orkney: Driving itineraries, ferry and flight information
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Come to Orkney by driving and ferry or by air.
If you're in a hurry, the plane is the best option. However, to arrive on the islands as many cultures have before you, it's best to arrive by sea.
Along the way, you can enjoy a wealth of sites -- see our recommended driving itineraries from Edinburgh and Inverness. |
Flights on British Airways (operated by Loganair) run generally two to three times a day, and are direct from Aberdeen, Inverness, Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Shetland Islands. You can connect to other destinations from these points. www.ba.com
Three busy ferry routes connect Orkney with the rest of Scotland. Outside the town of Thurso is the port called Scrabster and along the coast, Gills Bay. Both have vehicle ferries, whilst in summer a passenger ferry makes the short crossing from John O'Groats.
Other sailings to Orkney leave from the city of Aberdeen and also the more northerly Shetland Islands, with connections to Iceland.
Pentland Ferries
Gills Bay - St Margaret's Hope
http://www.pentlandferries.co.uk/
Adult - ?11
Child up to 5 - free
Child 5-16 - ?5.50
Dogs - free #
Cycle - ?2
Car - ?27.50
John O'Groats Ferry
1st May - 30th September, passenger ferry - no cars
http://www.jogferry.co.uk/
Kirkwall Off-Peak £24
Burwick Day/Period Return £26
Kirkwall Day/Period Return £28
Burwick Single £16
Bicycles £2
Children: under 16 Years Half
Infants: under 5 Years Free
JOG Ferry is small and sails summer only.
Northlink Ferries
Scrabster to Stromness
http://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/
Adult Single ?13.30 - ?15.50
Child Single (age 5-15yrs) ?6.70 - ?7.80
Infant (age 0-4yrs) FREE
Car (<6m) ?42.00 - ?46.40
Bicycle FREE
Prices vary according to season - see websites for detailed prices.
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We like taking the Northlink ferry because it takes in the gorgeous cliffs of Hoy and docks in the lovely town of Stromness, where we live. The ferry is closer to a cruise ship than a ferry, but it is more expensive. Why not take a different ferry each way and so see more? Ask us for details.
Aberdeen to Kirkwall
This is a long route but is popular with Orcadians, dropping them off in Aberdeen after an overnight sailing. Less appealing to visitors who will miss out on exploring north of Inverness. The service is operated by Northlink and continues from Kirkwall to Lerwick in Shetland. Not daily.
You may also be interested in:
http://www.smyril.co.uk/index2.html
Which traditionally sailed via Shetland and now docks in Scrabster, connecting Orkney with Iceland, Faroe Islands, and Norway. |
