Ferries from
Scotland to Orkney Islands
Ferries from
Scotland to Orkney Islands
Ferries from Scotland to Orkney Islands are available with 2 operators. There are 3 ferry routes. Ferries from Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope and Scrabster to Stromness are popular ferry trips from Scotland to Orkney Islands. Sailing frequency can change throughout the year and often sailings increase during peak season.
Ferries from Scotland to Orkney Islands sail approximately 41 times per week and are provided by Northlink Ferries & Pentland Ferries.
Scotland to Orkney Islands ferry time ranges between 1 hour 15 minutes and 6 hours depending on the ferry route, operator, and ship.
The fastest ferry from Scotland to Orkney Islands is in 1 hour 15 minutes on the Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope ferry with Pentland Ferries.
Yes, you can travel on a car ferry from Scotland to Orkney Islands with Northlink Ferries & Pentland Ferries.
The distance between Scotland and Orkney Islands is 19.1 miles (30.7km) and 16.6 nautical miles.
Scotland to Orkney Islands ferry prices can vary by route, operator, season, vehicle type and whether you are sailing on a high-speed ferry or conventional ferry.
The Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope ferry ferry sails approximately 21 times weekly with a crossing time of 1 hour 15 minutes.
Scrabster to Stromness ferry ferries sail about 17 times weekly with a sailing time of 1 hour 30 minutes.
For the best ferry offers, we recommend booking in advance for the cheapest ferry prices and availability. Visit our special offers page to take advantage of all the latest ferry discounts.
Book and compare Scotland Orkney Islands ferry tickets, operators, timetables and prices using our Deal Finder.
More routes than anyone else.
Compare fares, times & routes in one place.
Change plans easily with flexi tickets.
Book e-tickets & manage trips in-app.
Live ship tracking & real-time updates.
Top-rated customer support when you need it.
Scotland is the northernmost country in the United Kingdom, occupying the Northern third of the land, sharing a border with England to the South. Scotland is a beautiful country well-known for its dramatic scenery of mountains and rugged coastlines, with the natural scenes of the Highlands as a top winner. The Scottish climate tends to be very changeable, but even though the sun might not always shine, the warm welcome from the wonderful diversity of landscapes attracts many visitors. If you’re heading away from Scotland by ferry then Northern Ireland is easily accessible with a choice of routes and ferry companies. Travelling from the Scottish mainland to the Orkney, Shetland or any of the destinations off Scotland’s west coast is more convenient than ever before and you’ll get to take in some of the most spectacular coastlines and landscapes in the UK while you sail too. The direct route to the continent is no longer available, but there are numerous routes from Northern England to use instead.
The Orkney archipelago encompasses seventy islands within the Northern Isles of Scotland, roughly sixteen kilometres north of the mainland. Unique as they are picturesque, the Orkney Islands are one of Scotland’s greatest feats. Mostly flat in appearance, they’re steeped in millennia-old history, with the island of Rousay nicknamed ‘the Egypt of the north’, owing to the sheer number - over a hundred a fifty - of archaeological sites, including a five thousand year old chambered tomb. A heavy Viking influence is another hallmark of Orkney’s identity, apparent in the architecture of the Kirkwall Cathedral and almost every place name Norse in origin. Orkney is also one of the best places in Britain to watch the marvellous Northern Lights, and to spot tens of thousands of migratory bird species, dolphins, whales, and seals basking on white-sandy beaches. Sandwiched between northern Scotland and the Shetland Islands, it’s easy to sail to Orkney from both locations. From a few ports on the mainland’s north coast, there are fast and regular crossings to a couple of towns in Orkney, while the routes from Aberdeen and Shetland run three times a week.
