Travelling to Hoy can be quite an adventure...

Hoy is accessed from Orkney mainland by way of a short sea crossing provided by Orkney Ferries 

Vehicle & Passenger Ferry departs HOUTON, terminates LYNESS ~ advance booking required

Passenger & Cycle Ferry departs HOUTON, terminates LONGHOPE

The ferry journeys are also pleasant ~ watch out for Dolphins, Porpoises and Seals, you may even see a pod of Orcas...

Traveline Scotland where you can plan any public transport journey within Scotland; for journeys from other places in the UK use Transport Direct.

Travel by Coach or Train to Thurso then use the local bus service to Gill's Bay and Scrabster for Pentland and Northlink ferries

The Orkney Bus offers a "peak" season coach & ferry service from Inverness to Kirkwall via John O'Groats at £42 return.

Northlink Ferries from Aberdeen to Kirkwall (6 hours.30) or Scrabster to Stromness (1 hour.30)

Pentland Ferries from Gill's Bay to St. Margaret's Hope (45 mins - 1 hour) with a connecting coach service from Inverness to Kirkwall operated by Orkney Coaches Tel: 01856 870555

Local car hire available from Drive Orkney ~ Orkney Car Hire ~ W.R. Tullock

Road & Vehicle Ferry

Northlink Ferries service operates from Scrabster to Stromness (1 hour.30) or Aberdeen to Kirkwall (6 hours.30)

Pentland Ferries (1 hour) from Gill's Bay to St. Margaret's Hope.

P & O offer an extensive ferry service to mainland Scotland from Europe, Ireland and UK.

Fly, Drive & Ferry

Air fares to Orkney seem expensive considering the time in the air, however it is possible to secure lower cost flights with British Airways or Flybe to Kirkwall.

EasyJet, and Ryanair are well known for their economy fares and provide a good service to Scotland's airports while 5th Gear Scotland and Arnold Clark offer competitive car hire from around £100 per week.

Northlink Ferries service operates from Scrabster to Stromness (1 hour.30) or Aberdeen to Kirkwall (6 hours.30) and Pentland Ferries (1 hour) from Gill's Bay to St. Margaret's Hope.

Fly to Kirkwall from most airports via Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverness

Kirkwall scheduled arrivals & departures

Charter flights telephone 01856 872420

Buses and Taxis are available at Kirkwall Airport

Local car hire available from Drive Orkney ~ Orkney Car Hire ~ W.R. Tullock

Northlink Ferry by The Old Man of Hoy	Pentland Ferry passing Cantick Head

Passing Traffic

Travelling from London? Parkward Cars provide a reliable chauffeur driven service to & from London's Airports & Stations 

Travelling through Aberdeenshire? The Museum of Scottish Lighthouses in Fraserburgh and Rattray Head Lighthouse B&B and Ratty's Tearoom are a must for anyone blazing the Lighthouse trail

Staying on mainland Orkney...

Bankburn House Private B&B Sitiuated on the outskirts of St Margaret's Hope convenient for the Airport and Pentland Ferries terminal.

Harbourside & Millers House 3 star Guest House overlooking Stromness harbour close to Northlink Ferries terminal. Fabulous breakfast menu - best ever away from home!

Straigona Private B&B East Mainalnd close to the Airport, convenient for Kirkwall and Pentland Ferries terminal

Island hopping...

Rousay, Egilsay & Wyre

Taversoe Hotel 3*B&B Stunning sea views across the garden from the bedroom, lounge and dining room. Nice bar, good food and BIG fluffy towels!

Shapinsay

Girnigoe Private B&B (formerly 4*) A traditional 200 year old Orkney farmhouse situated in the north of the island with lovely sea views over Veantro Bay.

Westray

No1 Broughton 4*B&B stands at the water's edge looking across the sweep of Pierowall Bay and out to Papa Westray. Lovely breakfast served in the conservatory overlooking the sea.