Orkney

With hundreds of miles of coastline, beautiful beaches and views as far as the eye can see, you’ll have no trouble finding your own space in Orkney. These enchanting islands off Scotland's north coast await you. See 5,000 year old sites in the UNESCO Heart of Neolithic Orkney, stroll along idyllic beaches and dramatic sea cliffs, get up close to amazing wildlife and reconnect with nature on the St Magnus Way. Don't miss the Isle of North Ronaldsay, now officially a Dark Sky Island. And don't forget to sample Orkney's delicious local produce while exploring the brand new Taste of Orkney Food & Drink Trail!

Celebrate Scotland's Year of Stories 2022 and discover some fascinating Orcadian stories from Neolitic secrets and wartime to sagas and creativity.

Your Orkney story awaits! Reset your mind, body and soul and write your own story. Find your perfect island and join us over a peaceful holiday break.

And if you can't visit this year, you can experience the islands from your own home, thanks and sample the finest products, from food & drink to crafts, all available to order online.

Orkney Travel Information

How to get to Orkney

Orkney has great transport links from across the UK, and can be reached by plane or ferry, with connections by bus, car or train.

Planes fly direct to Kirkwall from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness with Loganair, with flights lasting up to one hour, with connections from Birmingham, Belfast City, Bristol, Exeter, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich and Teesside.

Choose from four ferry routes, with up to 12 sailings daily, depending on season. Travel times vary, with the John O' Groats Ferry from John o’Groats to Burwick (40 minutes), Pentland Ferries from Gill's Bay to St Margaret's Hope (one hour) and NorthLink Ferries from Scrabster to Stromness (90 minutes) or Aberdeen to Kirkwall (six hours).

Find how to travel to Orkney by plane or ferry and use our Orkney journey planner!

Check out Loganair Fly Safe simple steps to healthy flying and 10 ways to travel safely with NorthLink.

How to get around Orkney

Orkney’s road, flight and ferry network is good, with public transport connections stopping at major attractions, towns and villages. Famously, the world’s shortest scheduled flight is between Westray and Papa Westray, and takes less than two minutes!

Hire cars and bikes to explore the islands, with taxis available too. Four islands can be reached by road from Orkney Mainland thanks to the Churchill Barriers. The islands are relatively flat, offering good cycling, including along the Prehistoric Loop Ride.

Plan your travel around Orkney by car, bus, ferry or plane.

Plan your escape to Orkney!

You can find out more about what to see and do in Orkney, and how to get the best of your break to the islands.

Find more information on Orkney