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How to get from Kirkwall to Lerwick by ferry ?

Looking for the perfect Kirkwall to Lerwick ferry ticket? You've come to the right place. Taking a ferry from Kirkwall to Lerwick is a convenient and enjoyable way to travel.

We know that planning a ferry trip from Kirkwall to Lerwick can be stressful, so we do our best to make your Kirkwall to Lerwick ferry booking as quick and easy as possible.

With Vivanoda, our easy to use platform, you can compare prices, routes and services of different ferry companies like NorthLink Ferries. This way you can find the best deal on a Kirkwall Lerwick ferry ticket to suit your needs and budget, whether you're travelling alone, as a couple or with your family.

Most NorthLink Ferries ships offer on-board facilities such as cabins, restaurants, shops, Wi-Fi and more. Often they also offer facilities for people with reduced mobility.

To find the best deals on ferries from Kirkwall to Lerwick simply enter your travel dates and start your search on Vivanoda.

Kirkwall to Lerwick Ferry Information

Port of departure
Kirkwall
United Kingdom
Orkney Islands
Port of Arrival
Lerwick
United Kingdom
Shetland Islands
Distance
103 mi
Ferry Companies
NorthLink Ferries
Frequency of crossings
4 crossings a week
Minimum crossing time
7 hours 50 min
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Ferry Kirkwall Lerwick: Fares, Timetables and Duration

To travel by ferry from Kirkwall to Lerwick, you'll find tickets range from £20 for one person if you're travelling without a car to £150 if you're travelling with your car. The average price we've seen on the Kirkwall to Lerwick route is £82. The average ferry crossing time from Kirkwall to Lerwick is 7 hours 45 min. The slowest ferries will take 7 hours 45 min to reach Lerwick, while the fastest boats will arrive in Lerwick in 7 hours 45 min. The first ferry leaves the port of Kirkwall at 23:45.

Average price of a Kirkwall to Lerwick ferry crossing
£82
Price range of ferries Kirkwall Lerwick (Lowest price for 1 passenger and highest price for 1 passenger and a car)
£20 - £150
Average crossing time Kirkwall Lerwick
7 hours 45 min
Departure time of first ferry to Lerwick
23:45
Arrival time of first ferry to Lerwick
07:30

Why travel by ferry from Kirkwall to Lerwick?

Whether you're travelling alone, as a couple or with the family, a Kirkwall to Lerwick ferry can be a convenient and enjoyable option for getting to Lerwick. Here are 3 reasons why we think a ferry from Kirkwall to Lerwick is an ideal way to travel.

So you don't have to worry about the amount of luggage
With the train, bus or plane, an excess of one free piece of luggage is often applied and each additional piece of luggage generates an additional cost. For the Kirkwall to Lerwick crossing, as long as all your luggage is contained in your car, no supplement is required. If you are travelling without a car, then you will be restricted in your movements throughout the journey to Lerwick. However, it is worth asking the NorthLink Ferries staff if the ship has a luggage storage facility where you can leave your bags until you reach Lerwick.
For the comfort of a cabin
Although it is not compulsory to make the crossing from Kirkwall to Lerwick by booking a cabin, you are depriving yourself of a comfort that the ferry is the only mode of transport to offer. Like real hotel rooms, they offer travellers beds, bathrooms and, in some suites, portholes and balconies. Even on a day crossing, enjoying the privacy of a cabin is still possible and much more comfortable than sitting in a lounge.
To enjoy the incredible sea view
Generally, when we go on holiday by the sea, we look for a sea view as much as possible (at the restaurant, at the hotel, on a hike...). During the Kirkwall Lerwick crossing, whether you are on deck, dining in the restaurant or relaxing in the comfortable lounges of the NorthLink Ferries ship, you will simply have a front row seat to the incredible spectacle that the sea offers. Everywhere, large windows give you an extraordinary view of the azure blue sea to make the most of its soothing power.

Which companies operate between Kirkwall and Lerwick?

If you want to travel between Kirkwall and Lerwick by ferry, there are a number of companies to choose from including NorthLink Ferries who run regular services between the two cities. You can find out more about the different shipping companies on this route and their departure times here.

NorthLink Ferries Kirkwall Lerwick
NorthLink Ferries
NorthLink Ferries is a Scottish based ferry company operating between Scotland and the Northern Isles of Scotland. On Vivanoda, you can compare Kirkwall-Lerwick fares and book a NorthLink Ferries ticket between Kirkwall and Lerwick. NorthLink Ferries operates 4 crossings a week to Lerwick from Kirkwall and the journey time is 7 hours 50 min. More information about NorthLink Ferries
7 hours 50 min
4 crossings a week

Where do the ferries leave from in Kirkwall? Where do the boats arrive in Lerwick?

Port of departure in Kirkwall

NorthLink Ferries ferries depart for Lerwick from the following ports in Kirkwall:

Kirkwall Aberdeen Terminal
Map

Port of arrival in Lerwick

NorthLink Ferries ships arrive in Lerwick from the following ports:

Lerwick Ferry Terminal
Map
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FAQ (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)

If you take a ferry from Kirkwall to Lerwick, it will take you at least 7 hours 50 min to cover the 103 mi between Kirkwall and Lerwick.

This often depends on the season (there are fewer crossings between Kirkwall and Lerwick in winter) and the ferry company (NorthLink Ferries). There are currently 4 crossings a week between Kirkwall and Lerwick.

There are 1 ferry companies operating between Kirkwall and Lerwick: NorthLink Ferries.

Yes, absolutely, direct crossings are offered by NorthLink Ferries.

Before booking, compare the prices of NorthLink Ferries on our website Vivanoda. Then book the crossing of your choice easily and securely on our partner's website.

If you want to change or cancel your Kirkwall Lerwick ferry booking, you can do so easily by contacting our partner who manages your booking. Please note that, depending on the fare conditions, some tickets are non-refundable or non-changeable. It is important to take this into account when booking your ticket.

During your crossing between Kirkwall and Lerwick, you will travel 103 mi.

To go by boat from Kirkwall to Lerwick, you can find prices ranging from £20 for the lowest, to £150 for the highest. The average price we observed was £82.

The first ferry leaves Kirkwall at 23:45 for Lerwick.

What is a Kirkwall to Lerwick ferry crossing like?

If you have never been on a ferry before, it is difficult to imagine what a day at sea between Kirkwall and Lerwick would be like. To help you immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a NorthLink Ferries ferry cruise, here we explain the different stages of the journey, from boarding the ship in Kirkwall to disembarking in Lerwick. You will also find practical information about Kirkwall and Lerwick.

Boarding in Kirkwall

Here are the steps to embark before your Kirkwall Lerwick ferry journey begins:

  • Arrival time in Kirkwall port / You should arrive in the port of Kirkwall well in advance. Please check this with your NorthLink Ferries company. After this period, the company is entitled to refuse you boarding.
  • Checking in for the Kirkwall Lerwick crossing / Go to the NorthLink Ferries desk at Kirkwall ferry terminal to check in with your passport or ID card and your booking number. If you are travelling by car, please stand in the reserved lanes. Check-in will take place directly from your vehicle.
  • Boarding the ferry to Lerwick / Information messages are broadcast in the Kirkwall ferry terminal to invite you to board. By car, follow the instructions of NorthLink Ferries staff to board and park your vehicle on board.

On board the Kirkwall to Lerwick ferry

On the NorthLink Ferries ship, everyone has their own travel philosophy. Some will want to relax in one of the reclining lounges, others will want to make the most of all the services offered on board or simply enjoy the view of the sea from the ship's deck.

Disembarking the ferry in Lerwick

Finally you will find some information for the arrival of the ferry in Lerwick:

  • Approaching Lerwick Harbour / You will be allowed to return to the ship's garage once the ferry has docked. There is no point in rushing. In the meantime, we advise you to enjoy the arrival in Lerwick from the outside deck.
  • Vacate your cabin. / If you have travelled from Kirkwall to Lerwick in the comfort of a cabin, you will need to vacate your cabin approximately half an hour before arrival in Lerwick.
  • Leaving the ship and exploring Lerwick / Driving out of the ship's garage is fairly quick. Pedestrian passengers get off the boat even faster. A customs check cannot be ruled out in Lerwick. Finally, your stay in Lerwick begins in earnest!

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