Aberdeen to Kirkwall Ferry

The Aberdeen Kirkwall ferry route connects Scotland with Orkney Islands. Currently there is just the 1 ferry company operating this ferry service, Northlink Ferries. The crossing operates up to 4 times each week with sailing durations from around 6 hours.

Aberdeen Kirkwall sailing durations and frequency may vary from season to season so we’d advise doing a live check to get the most up to date information.

Aberdeen - Kirkwall Ferry Operators

Aberdeen Kirkwall Average Prices

Prices shown represent the average one way price paid by our customers. The most common booking on the Aberdeen Kirkwall route is a car and 1 passenger.

Aberdeen Guide

The Granite City, as Aberdeen is sometimes called is located in the north east of Scotland, and is Scotland's third most populous city. The city's two universities help to make the city a lively place to spend time. The city also plays an important role in the North Sea oil industry with the city's heliport being one of the busiest in the world.

Aberdeen has a long sandy beach located between the River Dee and the River Don. To the south of the River Dee there are steep rocky cliff faces with pebbly beaches and deep inlets. The area is good for rock climbing and a result of some of the granite outcrops having been quarried in the past.

The city's harbour started out as a fishing port and then moved on to steam trawlers and the oil industry. it is now a major port of departure for the Baltic and Scandinavia with major exports including fertiliser, granite, and chemicals.

Kirkwall Guide

The town of Kirkwall is located in the Orkney islands and is the island's largest town and capital. The town's name is taken from the Norse name Kirkjuvage (Church Bay) which was later changed to Kirkvoe, Kirkwaa and then finally to Kirkwall. The Orkney's are located off the north east coast of Scotland and one of Kirkwall's most popular attractions is the sandstone St Magnus Cathedral, regarded as the finest medieval building in the north of Scotland. Other sites of interest in one of the best preserved examples of an ancient Norse town include the Bishop's Palace and Earl's Palace.

Kirkwall is now a thriving market town and has a busy centre with many shops and restaurants. Visitors will find a wide range of accommodation on the island that caters for long and short stays, bed and breakfast or self-catering. Ferry services from Orkney depart to Aberdeen (6 hours), Scrabster (90 minutes) and John O'Groats.