Travelling to Orkney
Although apparently isolated and far away, Orkney is in fact very well served by transport links, both by air and sea. There are good daily year-round connections by air from all four major airports in Scotland and by ferry to Caithness. Ferries to Aberdeen and Shetland run several times per week.
Land travel to the ports is facilitated by good roads as well as bus and rail services which tie in with some ferry times. Contrary to the advice given by some travel agents, no passport is needed by UK citizens, prices are reasonable, and there are a variety of services.
By Air
 Today
it is not necessary to go to the lengths that the first airborne
visitors had to. In 1910, a kirkwall resident was surprised
to find two young Germans from Munich on his doorstep. They
had gone for a flight in their balloon, hoping to reach Switzerland.
Much to their consternation the weather changed and they crossed
the North Sea, landing at the back of Park Cottage, Kirkwall,
after seeing the lights of the town!
British Airways operate several flights into Kirkwall Airport
(KOI) everyday, through its franchise partner, Loganair, from
Aberdeen, Inverness, Edinburgh and Glasgow. There are also
daily flights to and from Shetland. Saab 340 aircrafts which
carry 34 passengers with a cruising speed of 250kt at 20,0000ft
are used.
British
Airways:
Flights details, information and booking can
be found online.
Telephone: 0870 850 9850 (24 hours)
Information can also be obtained from the BA desk
at Kirkwall Airport.
Telephone: (01856) 873611
www.ba.com
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Information can also be obtained from the BA desk at Kirkwall
Airport.
Tel (01856) 873611
Ridgeway
Travel:
The local travel agent, will also be delighted to help
with travel arrangements to and around Orkney.
67-69 Albert Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HQ,
Telephone: (01856) 873359 Fax: (01856) 872680
www.ridgewaytravel.co.uk
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By Sea
 Regular sea links to Scotland have been operated for many
centuries. Today the main routes are from Stromness to Scrabster,
St Margaret’s Hope to Gills Bay and Kirkwall to Aberdeen
and Lerwick. There is also a passenger ferry in summer from
Burwick to John O’Groats. All sailings are subject to
weather conditions.
NorthLink operate MV Hamnavoe between Scrabster and Stromness
which takes about 1½ hours to cross the Pentland Firth,
passing the Old Man of Hoy on the way. She crosses at least
twice daily, and carries up to 180 cars and 500 passengers.
NorthLink also operate MV Hjaltland and MV Hrossey, between
Aberdeen, Kirkwall and Lerwick. These vessels call several
times per week all year round.
The Smyril Line vessel MV Norrõna provides connections
to the Faeroes, Iceland, Hantsholm and Bergen. This vessel
now calls at Scrabster and Lerwick during the summer.
Northlink Ferries: Car and passenger ferry service to Orkney - from Aberdeen to Kirkwall and Scrabster to Stromness.
Kiln Corner, Ayre Road, Kirkwall KW15 1QX
Telephone: 0845 6000 449 Fax: (01856) 879588
www.northlinkferries.co.uk
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 Pentland Ferries operate year-round services from St Margaret’s
Hope to Gills Bay in Caithness. The trip takes about 1 hour
and there are three services per day.
From spring 2008 a catamaran with a passenger capacity of
350 will operate the route with a crossing time of 45 minutes.
John o’Groats Ferries operate a summer passenger service
between John o’ Groats and Burwick in South Ronaldsay.
Coach services meet the sailings at Burwick for transport to
Kirkwall, while there is a special bus service from Inverness
to John o’Groats. Several variations on day trips are
available.
John
o'Groats Ferries: Passenger
service between John o’ Groats and Burwick in
South Ronaldsay. Runs from 1st May to 30th September.
John o’Groats, Caithness KW1 4YR
Telephone: 01955 611353 Fax: 01955 611301
www.jogferry.co.uk
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Getting to Scrabster: The A9 trunk road north from Perth is not a good road, and it takes about 6 hours to drive the 250 miles north from Edinburgh or Glasgow. The part north of Inverness is very scenic but windy and can be very busy in summer. |
