This service is managed by Marine Services and Transportation
Ferry services
Internal and external ferry services connect Orkney to the outer isles and the Scottish mainland. Timetables and fares can change, so always check with the operator before you travel. For information on free or discounted ferry travel, see our concessionary travel page.
Internal ferry services
Internal ferry services between the Orkney Mainland and thirteen of the smaller islands are operated by Orkney Ferries Limited. For timetables, bookings and fares, visit the Orkney Ferries website or call:
Related resources
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Orkney Ferries(opens in new tab)
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Isles residents concessionary travel scheme leaflet
This document contains information about the isles residents concessionary travel scheme operated by Orkney Islands Council. The scheme provides eligible permanent residents aged 65 or over, or those meeting disability criteria, with 24 single trips per year for local ferry or inter-island air travel. Cardholders must carry their personal smartcard when travelling to access free trips and avoid paying standard non-refundable fares. You can contact the Transportation Service by calling (01856) 873535 or emailing transport@orkney.gov.uk for help with lost cards, changes in circumstances or further details.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Route Statistics: Orkney Ferries(opens in new tab)
External ferry services
Two operators run ferry services between Orkney and the Scottish mainland.
NorthLink Ferries
NorthLink operates passenger and vehicle services between Stromness and Scrabster, and between Kirkwall and both Lerwick (Shetland) and Aberdeen. For information, visit the NorthLink Ferries website or call:
Pentland Ferries
Pentland Ferries operates a passenger and vehicle service between St Margaret's Hope and Gills Bay on the Caithness coast. For information, visit the Pentland Ferries website or call:
Rail links
There are two main rail routes to the north of Scotland. The North Highland Line runs from Inverness to Thurso and Wick. East Coast services run from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee to Aberdeen.
For rail travel information, visit the ScotRail website or call: