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Lerwick to Kirkwall Ferry

This ferry crossing is available with Northlink Ferries. Lerwick Kirkwall ferries cost between $67.77 and $371.71, depending on booking details. Prices exclude any service fees. Please note that ferry schedules can vary by season and operator. We recommend that you use our Deal Finder to get live pricing and availability for Lerwick Kirkwall ferries.

What is the ferry schedule from Lerwick to Kirkwall?

The Lerwick Kirkwall ferry typically departs from Lerwick at around 17:30.

How long is the ferry from Lerwick to Kirkwall?

The average duration of a Lerwick Kirkwall ferry is around 5h 30m. The fastest sailings are approximately 5h 30m. Sailing times can vary; durations often differ between ferry operators, type of ship and can be impacted by weather conditions.

Lerwick Kirkwall Ferry Operator Schedules

There is 1 weekly sailing from Lerwick to Kirkwall provided by Northlink Ferries. Timetables can change from season to season.

How much does the ferry cost from Lerwick to Kirkwall?

Lerwick Kirkwall ferry prices typically range between $67.77* and $371.71*. The average price is typically $182.89*. The cheapest Lerwick Kirkwall ferry prices start from $37.52*. The average price for a foot passenger is $68.93*. The average price for a car is $226.77*.

Pricing will vary depending on the number of passengers, vehicle type, route, and sailing times. Prices exclude service fees.

What is the distance from Lerwick to Kirkwall?

The distance between Lerwick and Kirkwall is approximately 148.7 miles (239.3km) or 129.2 nautical miles.

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

Northlink Ferries allow cars to travel on Lerwick Kirkwall ferries. Use our Deal Finder to get the latest pricing for car ferries between Lerwick and Kirkwall.

Are foot passengers allowed on the ferry from Lerwick to Kirkwall?

Foot passengers are allowed on ferries between between Lerwick and Kirkwall with Northlink Ferries. Please note that the availability of foot passenger services may vary between ferry operators. Use our Deal Finder to get live pricing for foot passenger ferries.

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

Pets are welcome on board Lerwick Kirkwall ferries with Northlink Ferries. Please also note that your pet may have to stay in the vehicle during the journey unless the ferry operator supplies pet accommodation.

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.

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.