Getting to Orkney means first getting to the far north of Scotland, unless you fly or take the long ferry from Aberdeen. From Inverness it is about two and a half hours by road to the ferry ports in Caithness.
Routes at a glance
| From | How | Time | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scrabster (near Thurso) | NorthLink ferry to Stromness | about 1½ hours | around £20–25 on foot; car fare extra — book ahead |
| Gills Bay (near John o’ Groats) | Pentland Ferries to St Margaret’s Hope | about 1 hour | around £20 on foot; car fare extra — book ahead |
| Aberdeen | NorthLink ferry to Kirkwall | about 6 hours | from around £25–40 on foot |
| Edinburgh / Glasgow / Aberdeen / Inverness | Loganair flight to Kirkwall | about 45 min – 1½ hours | varies widely; book early |
| Inverness | Car or coach to Scrabster / Gills Bay | about 2½–3 hours | coach around £20–25 |
| Inverness | Train to Thurso, then bus or taxi to Scrabster | about 4 hours | from around £15–25 |
Times and prices are approximate and change with season and booking date — check operators for current timetables and fares.
By ferry
There are two short crossings of the Pentland Firth. NorthLink sails from Scrabster to Stromness, passing the Old Man of Hoy — one of the most scenic ferry journeys in Britain. Pentland Ferries runs a catamaran from Gills Bay to St Margaret’s Hope on South Ronaldsay, 25 minutes’ drive from Kirkwall. Both carry cars and should be booked ahead in summer. A small passenger-only ferry has also operated in summer from John o’ Groats — check whether it is running. NorthLink’s larger ships link Aberdeen with Kirkwall several evenings a week and continue overnight to Shetland. The Pentland Firth is one of the roughest stretches of water in Europe; sailings are occasionally delayed or cancelled.
By air
Kirkwall Airport, three miles from the town, has Loganair flights from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness, with a bus to the town centre. Flying is expensive but saves a full day each way. Small inter-island planes continue to the northern isles — including the two-minute hop between Westray and Papa Westray, the world’s shortest scheduled flight.
Getting to the ferry ports
From Inverness, the A9 runs up the east coast to Thurso and Scrabster, about 110 miles; Gills Bay is slightly further. Coaches from Inverness connect with the Scrabster sailings. The Far North Line train to Thurso takes around four hours through empty country; Scrabster is two miles from the station by bus or taxi.
Getting around Orkney
A car is the easiest way to link the scattered sites, and can be hired in Kirkwall and Stromness — reserve early. Roads are quiet and mostly two-lane. Buses connect Kirkwall, Stromness, the airport and St Margaret’s Hope regularly, with seasonal services to Skara Brae and the Ring of Brodgar; without a car, a guided tour is the surest option. Orkney Ferries sails to Hoy and the northern isles; book vehicles ahead. The islands are fairly flat and good for cycling — when the wind allows.
