Getting to Stromness and Touring the Island
The adventure starts when your journey to Orkney begins. Plane, boat, car, bus or train - whatever your mode of transport, your journey to Orkney will be stress-free, with some wonderful views guaranteed to help you relax along the way. It is an essential part of the Orkney experience. Once you're here, getting around our islands is easy too with a well tested transport network keeping everything on track.
Travel by plane
Watching the islands appear beneath you as the plane starts its descent is a magical way to see Orkney for the first time. It only takes an hour to fly direct from Edinburgh and there are several daily flights from Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and London. For international travelers, there are excellent connections to many airports.
Find out more at www.flybe.com and www.ba.com
| Route | Journey Time |
|---|---|
| London to Kirkwall (with connections) | 3-4 hours |
| Glasgow/Edinburgh to Kirkwall | 1 hour |
| Aberdeen to Kirkwall | 50 minutes |
| Inverness to Kirkwall | 45 minutes |
| Sumburgh (Shetland) to Kirkwall | 35 minutes |
Travel by boat
As you sail towards Orkney, the islands appear to rise from the sea and you will see a landscape unchanged in thousands of years. On your journey, Orkney's wildlife will keep you company from the sky and the sea as you approach your destination. Bring your binoculars! There are four ferry routes to choose from and between 4 and 12 sailings a day depending on the season.
| Route | Journey Time | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Scrabster (near Thurso) - Stromness | 90 minutes | www.northlinkferries.co.uk |
| Aberdeen - Kirkwall | 6 hours | www.northlinkferries.co.uk |
| Gills Bay - St Margaret's Hope | 60 minutes | www.pentlandferries.co.uk |
| John O'Groats - Burwick (May- Sept, foot passengers only) | 40 minutes | www.jogferry.co.uk |
Once you're in Orkney
Exploring Orkney and island hopping are easy. With good roads, lots of travel options and the close proximity of key visitor attractions, you can afford to be spontaneous. Jump on a bus, take a ferry or book a plane and you'll experience a different island every day.
Exploring the islands by boat
All the inhabited islands can be reached by Orkney Ferries. You can enjoy sailing between Hoy, Graemsay, Flotta, Rousay, Egilsay, Wyre, Shapinsay, Stronsay, Sanday, Eday, Westray, Papa Westray and North Ronaldsay. Foot passengers can just jump aboard and buy their tickets on the spot. Bikes go free on ferries, so simply turn up and pay the same as a foot passenger. It is advised that car travel be booked in advance.
Exploring the islands by plane
The quickest way to reach Eday, North Ronaldsay, Sanday, Stronsay, Westray and Papa Westray is by air. There are flights from Kirkwall Airport and on a clear day the views are simply marvellous. Take the world's shortest scheduled flight between Westray and Papa Westray - timed at less than two minutes!
Exploring by road
Cars and bikes are available to hire locally. You can reach four different islands without getting your feet wet if you take the road over the giant causeways known as the Churchill Barriers. Alternatively, you can join a coach tour or take a local Stagecoach bus to your destination of choice.
