Ferries from Scotland to Orkney
Select departure from “Scotland” to compare ferry routes to Orkney
Ferries to Orkney
Travelling to Orkney by ferry gives you four route options. Three of these routes start from places near each other:
- Scrabster to Stromness
- Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope
- John o' Groats to Burwick
Map: Ferries to Orkney
Ferries to Orkney from Scotland.
There are several ferries to Orkney, departing from Aberdeen, Scrabster, Gills Bay, and John O' Groats. The fastest crossing is between John O' Groats and Burwick, taking about 40 minutes. The longest journey is from Aberdeen to Kirkwall, which takes around 6 hours to cover the 134 miles. This route is operated by NorthLink Ferries.
Ferries to Mainland and South Ronaldsay
Two ferries arrive on Orkney's largest island, Mainland, while the others dock at South Ronaldsay. Don't worry about reaching your destination, as the islands are connected by three bridges, making travel between them simple.
On board & route maps
Prices and availability for this crossing.
What is the sailing schedule and the best alternative?
To check the sailing schedule and timetable for this crossing, and to find the best alternative, simply fill in the booking module for ferries to Orkney. This tool will provide up-to-date options, times, and routes to suit your travel needs.
Orkney
Skara Brae, Neolithic village
Orkney is an archipelago of about 70 islands.[1]Orkney, visitscotland.com Orkney is also the name of the main island which is also known as ‘Mainland'.
Travelers come to Orkney for its beaches, wildlife, and many archaeological sites. In total, only about 7000 people live on the islands of which 2000 on the main island.
The main island is connected by a bridge to 4 other smaller islands. The other islands can be visited thanks to the ferries that sail between the islands. These can be booked through Orkney Ferries.
There are cars and bicycles for hire on the island and taxis are available.
Useful for travellers to Scotland
Tips for ferry travellers
January 2024: I am planning a visit to Orkney in September from Canada. My on-line information tells me the ferry from John O’Groats is not in service, and that there are no large car ferries running in Scotland at the moment because of retrofitting the new ones from electric to diesel. Can anyone confirm or refute this information?
I hope you enjoyed your trip, if you made it ?
I usually visit Orkney every second year.
It’s lovely, but a 4 day trip for me is never enough time. 😢