Getting here
Orkney has excellent transport links.
You can reach the islands by ferry or plane, with plenty of options to help you plan your trip.
Fly
Loganair is the only airline operating direct flights to Kirkwall from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness. Loganair flights to the rest of the UK do connect from these airports. Partner Airlines KLM and British Airways will provide transfers to European destinations and further.
| ROUTE | JOURNEY TIME (APPROX) |
|---|---|
| Aberdeen to Kirkwall | 50 minutes |
| Edinburgh/Glasgow to Kirkwall | 1 hour |
| Inverness to Kirkwall | 45 minutes |
| London to Kirkwall (with connections) | 3-4 hours |
| Sumburgh (Shetland) to Kirkwall | 35 minutes |
Drive
There are three main ferry routes to and from Orkney..
NorthLink Ferries
Aberdeen and Kirkwall, with an onward connection to Lerwick in Shetland.
Scrabster (The port for Thurso) and Stromness
Pentland Ferries
Gills Bay and St Margaret’s Hope
The table below highlights the routes available and approximate crossing times.
| ROUTE | JOURNEY TIME (APPROX) | LINK |
|---|---|---|
| Scrabster (near Thurso) – Stromness | 90 minutes | www.northlinkferries.co.uk |
| Aberdeen – Kirkwall | 6 hours | www.northlinkferries.co.uk |
| Lerwick (Shetland) – Kirkwall | 6 hours | www.northlinkferries.co.uk |
| Gills Bay – St Margaret's Hope | 70 minutes | www.pentlandferries.co.uk |
Bus / Train
Getting to Orkney via public transport is simple. Once on Orkney there are busses scheduled to take you to most sites without the need for a car or taxi.
Buses
Buses run to Gills Bay and Scrabster directly to the port from Inverness and to Aberdeen from around Scotland – Stagecoach, Megabus and Ember with links also to airports..
Trains
There are good train links to Aberdeen and Inverness from Edinburgh and Glasgow. Also from Inverness to Thurso and Wick the views from the trains are some of the most attractive in Scotland running inland to the Highlands and along the coast. A taxi is required to connect the ferry with the train station.
Look up ScotRail, National Rail and Trainline websites.
On arrival in Stromness it is short 10 minute walk to the properties on Alfred Street. There are excellent bus links to all parts of Mainland Orkney once you have arrived.
On arrival in the port of Hatston / Kirkwall from the Northlink ferry from Aberdeen or Lerwick, Shetland a Stagecoach bus is scheduled to take passengers to Kirkwall and Stromness.
