About Orkney and how to get here

Get More information about visiting Orkney from VisitScotland's website HERE

Orkney consists of a group of 70 islands off the North Coast of Scotland, of which around 20 are inhabited. The islands are on the same latitude as Anchorage, Stockholm and St Petersburg. At midsummer, the sun barely sets.

The islands are famous for their archaeological sites, with a World Heritage Site around the neolithic village of Skara Brae, the stone circles of Stenness and Brodgar and the tomb of Maeshowe.

Orkney only became part of Scotland in 1468 and before that was a Viking Earldom which gave us the 12th century St Magnus Cathedral: the spiritual home of the Festival.

Orkney's natural heritage is second to none with major colonies of seabirds and seals, empty beaches and, at midsummer, a profusion of wild flowers.

For those with an interest in military history, Orkney played a significant role in both WWI and WWII and evidence of this exists across the islands.  2019 sees the 100th anniversary of the Scuttling of the German Fleet in Scapa Flow an extraordinary moment in history. 

Travelling to Orkney

By air

Our major sponsor Loganair,  operates direct flights to Kirkwall Airport from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Shetland, Manchester and Bergen. These services link via codeshare with flights operated by British Airways and can be booked via their website.

By ferry

NorthLink Ferries operate car ferry sailings from Aberdeen and Scrabster (near Thurso) whilst Pentland Ferries cross from Gills Bay (near John O'Groats).

John O'Groats Ferries offer a passenger only service with a package bus ticket from and to Inverness.

Travel in Orkney

You can travel between the Orkney Islands with Orkney Ferries and around the Mainland of Orkney with Stagecoach.