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By Air

The main airport in Orkney is Kirkwall Airport (KOI), located on the largest island, Mainland. Several airlines offer flights to Kirkwall from mainland Scotland. Airlines like Loganair typically operate flights to Orkney. For more information: Loganair | The UK's largest regional airline

• From Aberdeen: You can take a direct flight to Kirkwall (around 1 hour).

• From Inverness: Flights are available to Kirkwall as well (approximately 1 hour).

• From Edinburgh: There are also flights, typically with a stopover, as direct flights might not be as frequent.

• From Glasgow: Occasionally, flights operate, but these may involve a connection.

Getting to Orkney is easy, with several travel options available. You can fly into Kirkwall Airport from major UK cities, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Inverness. Alternatively, ferry services run from the Scottish mainland, with routes from Scrabster to Stromness, Gills Bay to St. Margaret’s Hope, and Aberdeen to Kirkwall. Or if you like take a train to Thurso or Aberdeen, then connect to ferry services. This scenic route allows you to experience the beauty of Scotland before reaching Orkney

Travel options to Orkney

By Ferry

Traveling to Orkney by ferry offers several options, each with varying travel times and departure points.

The NorthLink Ferries

• Ferry from Scrabster (near Thurso): The NorthLink Ferries operate ferries from Scrabster (near Thurso) on the Scottish mainland to Stromness in Orkney. The ferry crossing takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes.

• Ferry from Aberdeen: You can also travel by ferry from Aberdeen to Kirkwall. This service is longer, taking about 7 hours, but it’s a scenic way to approach Orkney by sea. NorthLink Ferries run this route as well.

For more information: Ferry to the Orkney and Shetland islands | NorthLink Ferries

Pentland Ferries – MV Pentalina

• Route: Operates between Gills Bay in Caithness on the Scottish mainland and St Margaret's Hope on South Ronaldsay in Orkney. The crossing takes just over an hour.

For more information: Pentland Ferries - Travel to Orkney- Car & Passenger ferry

By Train and Ferry

If you’re coming from further south in the UK, you can take a train to Thurso (on the northern coast of Scotland) and then board the ferry to Orkney. The journey would involve taking a train to Inverness or Aberdeen, then continuing by bus or train to Thurso, and finally catching the ferry to Stromness. For more information: Trains to Orkney and Shetland

By Car

If you’re planning to drive, you can take your car on the ferry from Scrabster or Aberdeen. Having a car can be convenient for exploring the islands, as many of Orkney’s attractions are spread out.