Ferries to The Orkneys
Travelling to Orkney has never been easier with four ferry services to the islands during the summer months and daily flight connections from all the major Scottish cities.
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Northlink Ferries offer frequent crossings from Aberdeen to Kirkwall and from Scrabster to Stromness, and from Lerwick in the Shetlands to Kirkwall.
Pentland Ferries also offer a frequent one-hour crossing from Gill’s Bay on the Scottish mainland through the Pentland Firth to St Margaret’s Hope.
The Islands of Orkney are a group of 70 islands and skerries six miles from the north-east tip of the Scottish mainland. The largest , known as Mainland, is home to most of the total 20,000 population but the main north islands of Shapinsay, Gairsay, Stronsay, Wyre, Rousay, Egilsay, Eday, Sanday, Westray, Papa Westray and North Ronaldsay and the south islands of Graemsay, Hoy, Burray, Flotta and South Ronaldsay are also populated.
Although popular with visitors, the islands are by no stretch of the imagination crowded and you will often find you have a whole beach or hill to yourself. No wonder visitors return again and again.
Tens of thousands of seabirds nest on the cliffs in the summer months, and the extensive coastline and heathland provide wonderful feeding grounds and habitat for birdlife.
The largest mammals in evidence are the Grey and Common Seals which can be seen all around the shores of Orkney. Porpoises, whales and dolphins are also common around our shores, but best spotted from a boat or ferry.
Sightseeing
There is evidence of human habitation in Orkney from over 6,000 years ago and there is a large number of archaeological sites throughout the islands with the Knap of Howar on Papa Westray being the oldest dwelling house in the U’.
On Mainland Orkney the sites of Maeshowe, Ring of Brodgar and Skara Brae were given World Heritage Status, and these are some of the most visited attractions in Orkney. Other sites to visit and explore include Neolithic tombs and dwellings to Pictish brochs and Viking settlements.