Scotland

Compare ferries from Scotland to Orkney Islands

There are 3 ferry routes operating between Scotland and Orkney Islands offering you combined total of 46 sailings per week. Northlink Ferries operates 2 routes, Aberdeen to Kirkwall runs 4 times per week & Scrabster to Stromness about 3 times daily. Pentland Ferries operates 1 route, Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope which runs 3 times daily.

As the frequency and duration of crossings on some routes varies we would advise that you do a live search for crossings from Scotland to Orkney Islands to get the most up to date information.

Scotland Orkney Islands Ferry Map

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Ferries from Scotland to Orkney Islands

About Scotland:

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.

About Orkney Islands:

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.