News and Updates

We would like to advise customers that, to accommodate the Parish Cup Match between Papa Westray & Sanday, there has been change to the advertised timetable.

The Sanday service will divert to Westray in the morning, and will travel to Sanday via Westray in the afternoon.

The amended sailing times are as follows:

Morning

Depart Kirkwall 0900

Arrive Sanday 1025

Depart Sanday 1035

Arrive Westray 1115

Depart Westray 1125

Arrive Kirkwall 1250

Afternoon

Depart Kirkwall 1510

Arrive Westray 1635

Depart Westray 1645

Arrive Sanday 1725

Depart Sanday 1740

Arrive Kirkwall 1905

All other Outer North Isles sailings are unaffected.

We would like to advise customers that, in order to accommodate the additional sailing to Sanday via Papa Westray, we will be operating a three island service in both the morning and afternoon on Sunday 4th May

Amended sailing times are as follows

Depart Kirkwall – 08:20

Depart Stronsay – 10:10

Depart Sanday – 10:55

Depart Eday – 11:15

Arrive Kirkwall – 12:40

Depart Kirkwall – 15:20

Depart Eday – 16:45

Depart Sanday – 17:15

Depart Stronsay – 18:00

Arrive Kirkwall – 19:40

We would like to advise customers that, to accommodate the Parish Cup match between Sanday and Papay, we will be running an additional sailing on Sunday 4th May

Timetable will be as follows

Depart Kirkwall – 08:00

Arrive Papa Westray – 09:50

Depart Papa Westray – 10:20

Arrive Sanday – 11:15

Depart Sanday – 15:50

Arrive Papa Westray – 16:45

Depart Papa Westray – 17:15

Arrive Kirkwall – 19:05

We are pleased to be able to offer three late sailings over the summer period for Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre

These are scheduled for Saturday 14th June, Saturday 12th July and Saturday 9th August.

Sailing times will be as follows:

- Depart Rousay 22:00
- Depart Tingwall 22:35
- Depart Rousay 23:10 – on request
- Depart Wyre 23:20 – on request
- Depart Egilsay 23:40 – on request
- Arrive Rousay 23:55

On request sailings must be booked and paid in advance either over the phone or online.

We would like to remind customers that it is advisable to book all journeys even if you are travelling as foot passengers without vehicles.

We have recently noticed a large influx of foot passengers on our services. Prebooking avoids disappointment and ensures customers are guaranteed their space onboard.

This is particularly important as we move into our busiest time of year.

- We would like to encourage our passengers to book travel as far in advance as possible -

You can make bookings online - Orkney Ferries, or you can phone any of our offices to make your bookings - Orkney Ferries | Contact Us.

We would like to remind customers as we move into our busiest time of year, there are limited car parking facilities at our Houton terminal.

To avoid disappointment, where possible we would like to encourage passengers wishing to travel from Houton as foot passengers to make use of the ample long stay car parking facilities in Kirkwall and to utilise bus services from Kirkwall & Stromness that go directly to the Houton terminal.

- Further information on car parking facilities can be found here - Parking and Car Parks (orkney.gov.uk).

- Further information on the bus timetables can be found here (Service 2 & Service 5) - Bus Services (orkney.gov.uk).

Orkney Ferries offer customers a way to receive disruption and cancellation messages to a smart phone or computer via Telegram.

Telegram is a free and simple messaging app with a focus on speed and security.

You can use Telegram on smartphones, tablets, and even computers. It’s very easy to use and only requires a name and mobile phone number to create an account.

To receive updates from please download the Telegram app from your app store, set up your account and then return to this page and select our unique link, which you can access by clicking here - Orkney Ferries Telegram Channel

Once on the channel you will be messaged with any updates on disruptions or cancellations in real time.