Travel
Flights!
We've worked out that the fares for the BA flights to Orkney from Edinburgh are released in small groups of seats. If a 'single' ticket is more than £110, we would advise waiting for a week or two until more of the cheaper seats are released. Reachable seven days a week by sea or by air: as the Visit Orkney website says, Orkney is closer than you think.For those travelling to Orkney from Ireland, you could fly to Aberdeen and get the evening ferry from there to Orkney. This is a compromise between speed and expense.
Again, the Visit Orkney website has good information and advice on this. Whether you are going to arrive at the airport or one of the harbours, please feel free to let us know and we will arrange for someone to meet you there.Travel By Air
Daily flights to Kirkwall are run by Loganair (part of British Airways) from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness. On a clear day, the approach from the air allows an amazing view of the islands of Orkney. Flight durations are 90 minutes from Edinburgh or Glasgow, 45 minutes from Aberdeen and just 30 minutes from Inverness. If you are traveling from Ireland, here are some of your options: easyJet have daily flights between Belfast International and Edinburgh and Glasgow. FlyBe have daily flights between Belfast City and Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness. RyanAir have daily flights between Dublin and Edinburgh. They also have flights between Dublin and Aberdeen on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We'd advise that you check your flights link up properly before you book them.Travel By Sea
There are a few different options for getting to Orkney by sea. From Aberdeen:Our recommended route, for ease and comfort, is the NorthLink Ferries service from Aberdeen, which leaves at 5pm, arriving in Kirkwall at 11pm. On the return journey, the boat leaves Kirkwall at 11.45pm, getting in to Aberdeen at 7am the next morning, and so probably requires a berth. The boat takes both cars and foot passengers. Crossings to Kirkwall currently run on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, returning to Aberdeen on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The boat has restaurants, bars, a children's play area and a cinema. There are also cabins available, which are more necessary on the return journey to Aberdeen. See the NorthLink website for further information on fares and timetables. From the north of Scotland:
NorthLink Ferries sail from Scrabster to Stromness, in the west of Orkney. There are three sailings a day on weekdays and two at weekends. The journey takes 1.5 hours and the boat takes both cars and foot passengers. Pentland Ferries sail from Gill's Bay to St Margaret's Hope, in the south of Orkney. There are four sailings a day. The journey takes 1 hour and the boat takes both cars and foot passengers. They will hopefully have a brand new catamaran operating on this route by the summer. The John O' Groats ferry to Orkney sails from John O'Groats to Burwick, in the south of Orkney. There are four sailings a day between 1st June and 2nd September. The journey takes 40 minutes and the boat takes foot passengers only. A bus meets the boat at Burwick and will take you in to Kirkwall.