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How to get from Lerwick to Kirkwall by ferry ?

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

We know that planning a ferry trip from Lerwick to Kirkwall can be stressful, so we do our best to make your Lerwick to Kirkwall 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 Lerwick Kirkwall 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 Lerwick to Kirkwall simply enter your travel dates and start your search on Vivanoda.

Lerwick to Kirkwall Ferry Information

Port of departure
Lerwick
United Kingdom
Shetland Islands
Port of Arrival
Kirkwall
United Kingdom
Orkney Islands
Distance
103 mi
Ferry Companies
NorthLink Ferries
Frequency of crossings
3 crossings a week
Minimum crossing time
5 hours 30 min
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Ferry Lerwick Kirkwall: Fares, Timetables and Duration

To travel by ferry from Lerwick to Kirkwall, 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 Lerwick to Kirkwall route is £81. The average ferry crossing time from Lerwick to Kirkwall is 5 hours 30 min. The slowest ferries will take 5 hours 30 min to reach Kirkwall, while the fastest boats will arrive in Kirkwall in 5 hours 30 min. The first ferry leaves the port of Lerwick at 17:30.

Average price of a Lerwick to Kirkwall ferry crossing
£81
Price range of ferries Lerwick Kirkwall (Lowest price for 1 passenger and highest price for 1 passenger and a car)
£20 - £150
Average crossing time Lerwick Kirkwall
5 hours 30 min
Departure time of first ferry to Kirkwall
17:30
Arrival time of first ferry to Kirkwall
23:00

Why travel by ferry from Lerwick to Kirkwall?

Whether you're travelling alone, as a couple or with the family, a Lerwick to Kirkwall ferry can be a convenient and enjoyable option for getting to Kirkwall. Here are 3 reasons why we think a ferry from Lerwick to Kirkwall 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 Lerwick to Kirkwall 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 Kirkwall. 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 Kirkwall.
It's much less boring than on a plane
Generally speaking, to get to Kirkwall or anywhere else, the plane is the fastest way. But you are stuck in your seat, strapped in by your seatbelt, and there is almost no opportunity to travel. On the other hand, during the Lerwick Kirkwall crossing on the NorthLink Ferries ferry, you have total freedom in your activities, to eat, walk, entertain or rest. The services and the level of freedom during a flight are radically different!
For the comfort of a cabin
Although booking a cabin on the Lerwick to Kirkwall crossing is optional, it is a comfort that should be enjoyed. Like real hotel rooms, they offer travellers beds, bathrooms and, in some suites, portholes and balconies. While their use is most obvious on an overnight crossing, it is perfectly possible to book one during the day.

Which companies operate between Lerwick and Kirkwall?

If you want to travel between Lerwick and Kirkwall 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 Lerwick Kirkwall
NorthLink Ferries
NorthLink Ferries is a Scottish based ferry company operating between Scotland and the Northern Isles of Scotland. On Vivanoda, you can compare Lerwick-Kirkwall fares and book a NorthLink Ferries ticket between Lerwick and Kirkwall. NorthLink Ferries operates 3 crossings a week to Kirkwall from Lerwick and the journey time is 5 hours 30 min. More information about NorthLink Ferries
5 hours 30 min
3 crossings a week

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

Port of departure in Lerwick

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

Lerwick Ferry Terminal
Map

Port of arrival in Kirkwall

NorthLink Ferries ships arrive in Kirkwall from the following ports:

Kirkwall Aberdeen Terminal
Map
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FAQ (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)

If you take a ferry from Lerwick to Kirkwall, it will take you at least 5 hours 30 min to cover the 103 mi between Lerwick and Kirkwall.

This often depends on the season (there are fewer crossings between Lerwick and Kirkwall in winter) and the ferry company (NorthLink Ferries). There are currently 3 crossings a week between Lerwick and Kirkwall.

There are 1 ferry companies operating between Lerwick and Kirkwall: 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 Lerwick Kirkwall 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 Lerwick and Kirkwall, you will travel 103 mi.

To go by boat from Lerwick to Kirkwall, you can find prices ranging from £20 for the lowest, to £150 for the highest. The average price we observed was £81.

The first ferry leaves Lerwick at 17:30 for Kirkwall.

Experience a Lerwick to Kirkwall ferry crossing

If you have never been on a ferry before, it is difficult to imagine what a day at sea between Lerwick and Kirkwall 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 Lerwick to disembarking in Kirkwall. You will also find practical information about Lerwick and Kirkwall.

Boarding in Lerwick

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

  • Presentation at the port of Lerwick / You should arrive in the port of Lerwick well in advance. Please check this with your NorthLink Ferries company. After this time, the company may refuse you boarding.
  • Checking in for the Lerwick Kirkwall crossing / Go to the NorthLink Ferries desk at Lerwick 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 Kirkwall / Information messages are broadcast in the Lerwick 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 Lerwick to Kirkwall ferry

During the crossing, everyone can use the services on the NorthLink Ferries ship as they wish. 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.

Kirkwall is in sight, disembarkation imminent!

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

  • Approaching Kirkwall 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 Kirkwall from the outside deck.
  • Vacate your cabin. / If you have travelled from Lerwick to Kirkwall in the comfort of a cabin, you will need to vacate your cabin approximately half an hour before arrival in Kirkwall.
  • Leaving the ship and exploring Kirkwall / Driving out of the ship's garage is fairly quick. As a pedestrian, you will get out even faster. A customs check cannot be ruled out in Kirkwall. Finally, your stay in Kirkwall begins in earnest!

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