Ireland and Scotland Ferries

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Orkney Islands (Scotland)

The islands of the Orkney archipelago are rich in archaeological relics, including "burial chambers and standing stones built before the Great Pyramids of Egypt." The tourist office describes "vast colonies of unusual birds mingle over extraordinary landscapes: sea-pounded cliffs, rich green pasturelands and vivid carpets of flowers." 

The Orkney Tourist Board
Learn where to go, what to see, and what's happening in this chain of 70 islands. (Don't miss Europe's oldest houses on Papa Westray.)

John O'Groats Ferries
From May through September, several ferries per day connect John O'Groats, Scotland with Burwick, Orkney. The crossing takes 40 minutes, and you can ride a connecting bus from Burwick to Kirkwall.

Orkney Ferries
Seven vessels run between the Orkney "mainland" and 13 smaller islands.

Northlink Ferries
Year-round ferries connect Stromness (Orkney) to Scrabster (Caithness) in 1 hour 30 minutes. An overnight ferry operates on the Aberdeen (Scotland) - Kirkwall (Orkney) - Lerwick (Shetlands) route several nights per week.

Inner Hebrides (Scotland)

The Inner Hebrides are located close to the West Coast of Scotland, within easy reach of the mainland. Islay is famous for its whisky; Skye has given its name to a breed of terrier; Muck's unappealing name belies its grassy slopes and its role as a breeding place for dolphins and killer whales. Most visitors head for Skye, the largest island of the Hebrides.

Isle of Skye
This island is 50 miles (80 km) long, but the tourist office emphasizes the fact that no point is more than 5 miles (8 km) from the sea.

Caledonian MacBrayne
Calmac operates a ferry between Maillaig (on the mainland) and Armadale, with a 30-minute travel time. Inter-island routes connect Skye with Raasay and the Western Islands of North Uist and Harris.

Next page: Outer Hebrides, Shetlands

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