Getting around Orkney: with and without a car

Not yet assessed Our reading of the sources below, not an official rating.

Paying for local transport in Orkney

ScotRail (Scotland’s trains).ScotRail runs most trains within Scotland. Its tickets page refused automated access, so check ticket types and any Scotland-only offers on its site.ScotRail tickets (opens in new tab)

Without a car

Getting here

By ferry

NorthLink Ferries sails from Scrabster, near Thurso, to Stromness (about 90 minutes) and from Aberdeen to Kirkwall (about 6 hours), with some sailings continuing to Lerwick in Shetland. Pentland Ferries crosses from Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope (about 70 minutes). Both take cars, foot passengers and bicycles. ¹

NorthLink: timetables (opens in new tab) · Pentland Ferries (opens in new tab)

By air

Loganair flies direct to Kirkwall from Aberdeen and Dundee (about 50 minutes), Edinburgh and Glasgow (about 1 hour) and Inverness (about 45 minutes), and from Sumburgh in Shetland. Kirkwall Airport, run by Highlands and Islands Airports, is about 5 km south-east of Kirkwall. ²

Loganair (opens in new tab) · Kirkwall Airport (HIAL) (opens in new tab)

By train and bus to the ferry

Trains run to Aberdeen and to Thurso, the nearest station to Scrabster, and buses connect with the ferries at Aberdeen, Scrabster and Gills Bay. ³

Visit Orkney: getting here (opens in new tab)

Once you are there

A car helps

Visit Orkney says most visitors bring their own vehicle. There are petrol stations in Kirkwall, Stromness, Dounby, Finstown and Quoyloo, and car hire and taxi firms on the islands. ⁴

Buses

Stagecoach runs the Mainland buses, with routes passing the Ring of Brodgar, the Stones of Stenness and the Italian Chapel. Services stop when the Met Office issues an amber weather warning. ⁵

Island ferries

Orkney Ferries links the Mainland with 13 island communities. Book as early as you can, on foot or with a car, particularly in summer. ⁶

Inter-isles flights

Loganair flies from Kirkwall to Westray, Papa Westray, Eday, Stronsay, Sanday and North Ronaldsay in eight-seat Islander aircraft, including the shortest scheduled flight in the world, Westray to Papa Westray. ⁷

Stops near each area

From our area guides (Orkney): the stations and stops listed for each base. See each area's Getting there page for more.

Kirkwall & central Mainland

Kirkwall Airport: Loganair flights. Flights to Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and the North Isles
Kirkwall ferry terminal: NorthLink Ferries. Sailings to Aberdeen, about 6 hours, and on to Lerwick in Shetland
Kirkwall: Stagecoach buses. Mainland routes to Stromness, past the stone circles, and over the Churchill Barriers
Kirkwall pier: Orkney Ferries. Ferries to Shapinsay and the North Isles

Kirkwall & central Mainland: getting there

Stromness & the West Mainland

Stromness ferry terminal: NorthLink Ferries. Crossings to Scrabster near Thurso, about 90 minutes
Stromness: Stagecoach buses. Routes to Kirkwall passing near the Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar
Bay of Skaill: Car or bike. Skara Brae and Skaill House; car parks at the visitor centre
Stromness pier: Orkney Ferries. Ferries to Moaness on Hoy and to Graemsay

Stromness & the West Mainland: getting there

Scapa Flow, the South Isles & Hoy

St Margaret's Hope pier: Pentland Ferries. Crossings to Gills Bay in Caithness, about 70 minutes
Churchill Barriers road: Stagecoach buses. Kirkwall to St Margaret's Hope via the Italian Chapel
Houton pier: Orkney Ferries. Ferries to Lyness on Hoy, Longhope on South Walls and Flotta

Scapa Flow, the South Isles & Hoy: getting there

North Isles: Rousay, Westray & beyond

Tingwall pier: Orkney Ferries. Short crossings to Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre
Kirkwall pier: Orkney Ferries. Ferries to Westray, Papa Westray, Sanday, Eday, Stronsay and North Ronaldsay
Kirkwall Airport: Loganair inter-isles. Flights to Westray, Papa Westray, Eday, Stronsay, Sanday and North Ronaldsay

North Isles: Rousay, Westray & beyond: getting there

No timetables or fares are copied here: check the operator or Traveline for the day you travel. Taxis and ride-hailing apps operate in most towns, but we have no sourced coverage data for rural areas, so do not count on one at short notice.

With a car

We hold no sourced driving notes for Orkney beyond the general rules.

General rules (driving on the left, licences, roundabouts, speed limits in mph, parking, tolls, EV charging): Driving in Britain. Charge points: Zapmap (opens in new tab).

To and from other regions

Straight-line distance from our region centres, and the fastest train time that National Rail publishes on its destination pages (not a timetable; it may include a change). Where we found no figure we say so. The full table is on getting between regions.

Distance and fastest published train time from Orkney to other regions
To or from	Straight line	Fastest train (National Rail)	Notes

Figures retrieved 25 Oct 2026 for the intercity data. Timetables change.

Official links

Visit Orkney (orkney.com) (opens in new tab): the official visitor site
NorthLink Ferries (opens in new tab): Scrabster, Aberdeen and Lerwick sailings
Pentland Ferries (opens in new tab): Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope
Orkney Ferries (opens in new tab): inter-island ferries
Loganair: Orkney inter-isles (opens in new tab): flights to six North Isles
Orkney Islands Council: bus services (opens in new tab): timetables and weather warnings
Historic Environment Scotland (opens in new tab): tickets for Skara Brae and Maeshowe

More on Orkney: Orkney guide · how to get there

Questions people ask

Can I get around Orkney without a car?

We have not yet assessed getting around Orkney. The official links below, and the region guide, are the place to start.

Do I need to check a driving zone in Orkney?

We found no charging or low emission zone for Orkney in the official pages we read. Check the council site before you drive in.