Ferries from Scotland to Orkney Islands with directferries.ie

Ferry from Scotland to Orkney Islands

There is currently just the 1 ferry route running between Scotland and Orkney Islands operated by 1 ferry company – Pentland Ferries. The Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope ferry crossing operates Daily with a scheduled sailing duration from about 1 hour 15 minutes.

Whilst we’ve taken great care to ensure the information on this page is correct, as the frequency and duration of crossings on all routes can vary from time to time we’d advise that you get a live quote for current availability on this Scotland Orkney Islands crossing between Gills Bay and St Margaret's Hope.

Why use Direct Ferries?

Ferries from 4412 routes and 901 ports worldwide

Trusted by over 2.5 million customers

We arrange over 1.2 million ferry crossings / year

We check up to 1 million prices for our customers daily

About Scotland

Scotland is the northernmost of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, sharing a 60 mile long land border with England to the south and separated from Northern Ireland by the North Channel of the Irish Sea.

Scotland is a vibrant, exciting country, with a wide range of cultures and an extraordinarily rich heritage.

What makes Scotland such a hugely popular tourist destination is the sheer range of attractions and activities packed into such a small and accessible country.

Whether using organised tours or exploring at your own pace, you can revel in the lively, cosmopolitan entertainment of the towns and cities, enjoy the wealth of artistic and cultural activities running throughout the year, sample some of the best cuisine in the world, explore the country's dramatic and colourful history and natural heritage, spectate from the sidelines or take a more active role in a wide variety of sporting pursuits.

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.

Ferries from Scotland to Orkney Islands

Customer Service

Need help?

Visit our customer service page to find useful information on travelling by ferry, our FAQs, and how to contact us for help with your booking