Travelling with a car from London to Orkney Islands

1. Can I take my car to Orkney?
2. Is there a car ferry to Orkney?
3. Do you need a car to visit Orkney?
4. How do you get from London to Orkney?
5. How much is the ferry to Orkney?
6. How much is the ferry from Thurso to Orkney?
7. Can you see the Northern Lights from the Orkney Islands?
8. How long does it take to drive around Orkney?
9. Can I fly to Orkney?
10. Is it worth going to Orkney?
11. What do you wear to the Orkneys?
12. How do you get around Orkney?

Can I take my car to Orkney?

Drive to Orkney

If you wish to drive, head north to the ferry ports of either Aberdeen, Scrabster, Gills Bay, or John O'Groats (passenger ferry only June-September).

Is there a car ferry to Orkney?

NorthLink Ferries also sail from Scrabster on the north coast of Scotland to Stromness in Orkney. This is the only ferry crossing to take you past the breathtaking Old Man of Hoy. The 90 minute crossing takes place up to three times a day.

Do you need a car to visit Orkney?

How to get around the Orkney Islands. I would 100% recommend hiring a car to travel around the Orkney Islands. Taxis are available but you really need your own wheels to see this beautiful island properly.

How do you get from London to Orkney?

Train, ferry • 16h 25m

1. Take the train from London Kings Cross to Inverness.
2. Take the train from Inverness to Thurso.
3. Take the ferry from Scrabster Ferry Terminal to Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminal Nl1.

How much is the ferry to Orkney?

Lerwick – Kirkwall

How much is the ferry from Thurso to Orkney?

The cheapest way to get from Thurso to Orkney Islands is to ferry which costs £14 - £21 and takes 3h 34m.

Can you see the Northern Lights from the Orkney Islands?

Orkney is a great place to witness the Northern Lights, with autumn and winter the ideal time of year. That said, clear, dark skies are needed, in addition to the right levels of atmospheric activity.

How long does it take to drive around Orkney?

Regardless of which one you choose, you won't have to worry about getting to and from either of the “cities” because they are only 20 minutes away from each other. (Plus it only takes about 45 minutes to drive around the entire Orkney mainland).

Can I fly to Orkney?

Loganair provides scheduled flights Edinburgh to Orkney, as well as from Inverness, Glasgow and Sumburgh (Shetland). We also operate scheduled island-hopping flights within Orkney, linking Mainland with the isles of Eday, North Ronaldsay, Sanday, Stronsay, Westray and Papa Westray.

Is it worth going to Orkney?

For the most part, the mainland of Orkney is rather flat and not that scenic, but there are some cliffs (on the north side I think) that are spectacular with lots of birds. The Orkneys are defintely worth the time, IF you've got it.

What do you wear to the Orkneys?

What to wear/what to pack:

• Pants or jeans.
• Long skirts.
• Socks.
• Long sleeve shirts or blouses.
• Umbrella.
• Light jacket or fleece.
• Standard footwear.
• Waterproof luggage.

How do you get around Orkney?

Whether by bus, car, bike, ferry or plane - travelling around Orkney is very straightforward. Travelling around Orkney is very straightforward. Our roads are quiet and we have excellent bus and inter-island ferry services, along with an inter-island air service, ensuring all corners of the islands are accessible.