Ferries from
Shetland Islands to Orkney Islands
Ferries from
Shetland Islands to Orkney Islands
The Lerwick to Kirkwall ferry is the main ferry route from Shetland Islands to Orkney Islands. Sailing frequency can change throughout the year and often sailings increase during peak season.
Ferries from Shetland Islands to Orkney Islands sail approximately 2 times per week and are operated by Northlink Ferries.
Shetland Islands to Orkney Islands ferries sail in approximately 5 hours 30 minutes.
Yes, you can travel by car on the ferry from Shetland Islands to Orkney Islands with Northlink Ferries.
The distance between Shetland Islands and Orkney Islands is 149 miles (239km) and 129 nautical miles.
Shetland Islands to Orkney Islands ferry prices can vary depending on number of passengers, vehicle type, route and sailing times. Prices exclude service fees.
The Lerwick to Kirkwall ferry ferry sails approximately 3 times weekly with a crossing time of 5 hours 30 minutes.
We recommend booking in advance for the cheapest ferry prices and availability. Visit our Special Offers page to take advantage of all the latest ferry discounts.
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The Shetland Islands are a Scottish archipelago situated to the northeast of the British mainland, close to Norway. Comprising over 100 islands, of which 15 are inhabited, Shetland boasts a rugged and unique landscape of immaculate beaches, clear blue seas and dramatic clifftops. Also, given their proximity to the Norwegian coast, there are Scandinavian influences to be found everywhere from place names to the local dialect. Like most Scottish islands, the Shetlands are home to a great number of historical sites including picturesque castles, fascinating Pictish wheelhouses and mysterious standing stones. They are also a top destination for birdwatchers, as they’re populated by a wide range of seabird colonies. Travelling by ferry is a popular way to explore Scotland’s beautiful archipelagos and, from the Lerwick ferry terminal in the southeast of Shetland’s main island, there is a choice of sailings to the Orkney Islands and the Scottish mainland.
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.
