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Home / Europe / Orkney Islands / Kirkwall / Lerwick Kirkwall Ferry

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Ferry from Lerwick to Kirkwall

Depending on the season their are about 3 weekly sailings between Lerwick and Kirkwall. Northlink Ferries provides the ferry from Lerwick to Kirkwall. Lerwick Kirkwall ferries cost between $77 and $555, depending on ticket details. Prices exclude any service fees. Ferry timetables change seasonally, use our Deal Finder to get tickets, pricing, schedules and availability.

What's the ferry schedule from Lerwick to Kirkwall?

Lerwick Kirkwall ferries depart at around 17:30.

How long is the ferry from Lerwick to Kirkwall?

Ferries from Lerwick to Kirkwall sail in around 5 hours 30 minutes. Ferry duration can vary by ferry provider and can be impacted by weather conditions.

Lerwick Kirkwall Ferry Operator Schedules

There is 3 weekly sailings from Lerwick to Kirkwall provided by Northlink Ferries. Timetables can change from season to season.

Northlink Ferries provide 3 sailings weekly.

How much does the ferry cost from Lerwick to Kirkwall?

The price of a ferry from Lerwick to Kirkwall typically range between $76* and $551*. On average the Lerwick Kirkwall ferry is $242*. The cheapest Lerwick Kirkwall ferry prices start from $76*. The average price for a foot passenger is $83*. The average price for a car is $414*.

Pricing will vary depending on number of passengers, vehicle type, route and sailing times. Pricing is taken from searches over last 30 days and exclusive of service fees, last updated January 25.

What is the distance from Lerwick to Kirkwall?

The distance between Lerwick to Kirkwall is approximately 149 miles (239km) or 129 nautical miles.

Can I travel on the ferry from Lerwick to Kirkwall with a car?

Yes, Lerwick Kirkwall ferries allow cars onboard with Northlink Ferries between Lerwick and Kirkwall. To view car ferry tickets and prices between Lerwick and Kirkwall use our Deal Finder.

Can I travel as a foot passenger from Lerwick to Kirkwall?

Northlink Ferries allow foot passengers on Lerwick Kirkwall ferries.

Can I take my pet on the ferry from Lerwick to Kirkwall?

Northlink Ferries allow pets on ferries from Lerwick to Kirkwall. Please also note that your pet may have to stay in the vehicle during the journey.

For more information, please visit our Ferries from Shetland Islands to Orkney Islands page.
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Lerwick - Kirkwall Route summary
Departure Country UK
Destination Country UK
No. of Operators 1
Operators Northlink Ferries
Average Price A$184*
Average Weekly Sailings 1
Average Sailing Duration 5h 30m
First Ferry 17:30
Distance 129 nautical miles

* Prices subject to change, pricing is taken from last 30 days, last updated 2024-11-05.

Most popular questions

How long is the ferry from Lerwick to Kirkwall?

The typical crossing time for ferries from Lerwick to Kirkwall is approximately 5h 30m. This is a rough guide for ferry duration as it can differ on type of ship and operator.

Which ferry companies operate between Lerwick to Kirkwall?

There is 1 ferry operator for Lerwick to Kirkwall and this is
  • Northlink Ferries

How can I book ferry tickets from Lerwick to Kirkwall?

Ferries from Lerwick to Kirkwall are available for booking through our deal finder, with live prices, timetables and operators.

Lerwick Guide

The town of Lerwick is the main port, and capital, of the Shetland Islands in Scotland. The town which is located on the east coast of Shetland is roughly 160 km off the north east coast of Scotland, 340 km to the north of the city of Aberdeen and 370 km to the west of Bergen in Norway. The town has many amenities which one would normally expect to see in much larger towns on the British mainland which include leisure and entertainment facilities with a good selection of restaurants, bars and nightclubs. The town is centred around its busy harbour while Hay’s Dock was once the centre of Shetland’s fishing industry and boatbuilding and is now home to the splendid Shetland Museum and Archives.

The port, which lies at the crossroads of the North Sea and the north east Atlantic, is the UK's most northern port. The port has a new elevated passenger walkway to facilitate the new roll-on, roll-off ferries. There are daily ferry services operating between Lerwick and Aberdeen, regularly calling at Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands. The Shetland Islands Council also operate a ro-ro ferry service to Out Skerries and Bressay from a terminal in the centre of the town.


Kirkwall Guide

The town of Kirkwall is located in the Orkney islands and is the island's largest town and capital. The town's name is taken from the Norse name Kirkjuvage (Church Bay) which was later changed to Kirkvoe, Kirkwaa and then finally to Kirkwall. The Orkney's are located off the north east coast of Scotland and one of Kirkwall's most popular attractions is the sandstone St Magnus Cathedral, regarded as the finest medieval building in the north of Scotland. Other sites of interest in one of the best preserved examples of an ancient Norse town include the Bishop's Palace and Earl's Palace.

Kirkwall is now a thriving market town and has a busy centre with many shops and restaurants. Visitors will find a wide range of accommodation on the island that caters for long and short stays, bed and breakfast or self-catering. Ferry services from Orkney depart to Aberdeen (6 hours), Scrabster (90 minutes) and John O'Groats.

Lerwick to Kirkwall Ferry Timetables

Timetables between 13/1/2025 and 19/1/2025


Operator Departure Time Arrival Time Duration Sailing Days
Northlink Ferries 17:30 23:00 5 hours 30 minutes Thu, Sat
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