'plane Connecting flights from London (change at Aberdeen/Inverness) land at Kirkwall Airport,Orkney (see below). There are flights at Kirkwall for other islands in the group (see map in 'Ferry routes' link below).
coach Passengers using the National Express service from and to the south, change to Scottish Citylink (SC) at Inverness. SC runs the 3h 48m northern leg to and from Thurso. The coach runs direct on to the ferry quayside.
train 'Far North' terminus for rail travellers bound for Orkney via the Scrabster ferry. A shuttle bus connects Thurso with the ferry quay (2mls/3km). See Ferry routes for details of sailings. Depending on the service, expect train changes at Edinburgh and Inverness.
ferry A free shuttle bus runs the 20mls/32km to John O'Groats for the foot passenger/May 1-Sept 30 only ferry. It is possible to get to the Pentland Ferries service at Gills Bay, though for footpassengers, the local Wick/Thurso bus timetable presents service gaps of 1h to 3h.
The Orkney Bus times/fares (below) refer (May 1-Sept 2 and foot passengers only) bus+ferry+bus package from Inverness to Kirkwall. The package includes express bus from Inverness to John O'Groats, ferry to Orkney, and bus link on Orkney to Kirkwall.
Victoria Coach Station via Inverness 2 a day/jny 17h 39m
NatExp+ Citylink
£49
£71.50/£76.50
£52.85/£56.85A
First/last:
from London 0900/2300 to London 0730/1630
Inverness Bus Stn to Kirkwall (May 1 - Sept 2) 1/2 a day/jny 5h 10m
Orkney Bus
£30
£42
£-
First/last:
to/from Inverness (0730)1420/0900(1615)
King's Cross Station via Inverness 3 a day/jny 19h 59m
1st cl
£166.00
£332
£166.50
Std cl
£77A/£124.50
£-
£-
First/last:
from London 0615/1500 to London 0657/1644
London Gatwick/Heathrow airports details to follow
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