 Part of the attraction of Orkney is that
it is an island group far away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Getting to Orkney requires some time and a little thought, so the best advice
we can give is to make the travelling part of your holiday experience!
Thankfully, Orkney is well-served by a variety
of travel options and each have their own merits:
- By Sea -
enjoy views of the spectacular north east coast of Scotland and see Orkney's
beautiful island contours slowly coming into view.
- By Air -
swift and handy, but book well in advance to secure any special fares that
are available.
- By Land -
travel on some of the best driving roads in Britain, especially quiet off-season,
or let the 'train take the strain' - either way, the views are great!
We hope eventually to enhance the information
given on this page, with timetable details and interactive maps planned
for the future. In the meantime, we hope it gives you an overview of travelling
to Orkney. Have a wonderful holiday! |
By
Air
British Airways
British Airways fly to Kirkwall Airport
under the name of 'British Airways Express'. There are many route permutations
and connecting services, but there are no Sunday flights. British Airways
Express fly from Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness, with connections
from London (Heathrow), Birmingham and Manchester.
Special air fares are available under the 'Highland
Rover' promotion on domestic Scottish routes - tickets are on offer outwith
Scotland. In addition, British Airways Express also offer short 'Airbridge'
flights from Wick to Kirkwall, in addition to the flights available within
the Orkney Isles - Loganair operates these services.
It's essential to book well in advance if travelling
during the peak season. Away from the summer peak things are considerably
quieter, and early spring and late autumn offer another time to visit Orkney
in more uncrowded circumstances. |
By
Land
By Road
CAR: The main road to the north-east of
Scotland is the A9, which you can get on from the end of the Scottish motorway
system heading north. Roads to Wick (for John O' Groats) and Thurso (for
Scrabster) are well signposted, but allow plenty of time for your journey
as the scenery is spectacular (mainly for your passengers!), and the road
is very twisty at times.
COACH: Coach services are available from Scottish Citylink, and connect
from all major UK cities via the National Express network. An overnight
stop in Glasgow, Edinburgh or Inverness may be required if travelling from
England. The Orkney Bus Direct coach service leaves Inverness Bus Station,
Stance No.10, every day from May 1 - 6 September at 1420 hours, meeting
up with the 1800 hours ferry from John O' Groats (arriving in Kirkwall at
1930 hours). The Orkney Bus Direct leaves Kirkwall every day at 0900 hours,
arriving in Inverness at 1345 hours.
By Rail
Connections from many destinations are available across the rail network,
and we suggest you contact an enquiry bureau for detailed information. The
Scotrail Telephone Enquiry Bureau (0345 484 950 - or 44 141 335 4263 from
overseas) will provide information, as will the area rail network information
bureaux. |
