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to and from Shetland. NorthLink The main ferry e n k Loganair use Saab 340 air- operator is NorthLink r O t i s

craft which carry 34 passen- Orkney & Shetland Ferries i gers with a cruising speed of who operate MV Hamnavoe V 250kt at 20,000ft. Kirkwall between Scrabster in Airport is open seven days Caithness and Stromness. per week and is equipped This large ferry takes about with an Instrument Landing 1½ hours to cross the System, which has greatly Pentland Firth, passing the improved reliability of Old Man of Hoy on the way. flights in poor visibility. She crosses at least twice MV “Hrossey” at Hatston Terminal, Kirkwall on a midsummer evening daily, and carries up to 180 Flight details, information cars and 500 passengers. GETTING TO ORKNEY AIR Today it is not neces- and bookings can be found There are various interesting Although apparently isolat- sary to go to the lengths that online, or by calling British package deals including ed and far away, Orkney is the first airborne visitors had Airways. accommodation on offer. in fact very well served by to. In 1910, the author’s Tel 0870 850 9850 (24 hours) NorthLink also operate MV transport links, both by air grandfather was surprised to www.ba.com Hjaltland and MV Hrossey, and sea. There are good find two young Germans Information can also be had which run between daily year-round connec- from Munich on his from the BA desk at Aberdeen, Kirkwall and tions by air from all four doorstep. They had gone for John o’Groats Ferries Getting to Scrabster The Kirkwall Airport. Lerwick. These vessels call major airports in Scotland a flight in their balloon, hop- operate a summer passenger A9 trunk road north from Tel (01856) 872233 several times per week all and by ferry to Caithness. ing to reach Switzerland. service between John o’ Perth is not a good road, and year round. The Smyril Line Ferries to Aberdeen and Much to their consternation Groats and Burwick in it takes roughly 6 hours to Ridgway Travel, 67-69 vessel MV Norrõna provides Shetland run several times the weather changed and South Ronaldsay. Coach drive the 250 miles north Albert Street, Kirkwall, onward connections to the per week. they crossed the North Sea, services meet the sailings at from Edinburgh or Glasgow. Orkney KW15 1HQ, the Faeroes, Iceland, Hantsholm landing at the back of Park Burwick for transport to The part north of Inverness local travel agent, will also and Bergen. Land travel to the ports is Cottage, Kirkwall, after see- Kirkwall, while there is a is very scenic and less busy, be delighted to help with facilitated by good roads as ing the lights of the town! special bus service from though still tortuous in travel arrangements to and NorthLink Orkney & well as bus and rail services Inverness to John o’Groats. places. around Orkney. Shetland Ferries Ltd, Kiln which tie in with some ferry British Airways (franchised Several variations on day Tel (01856) 873359 Corner, Ayre Road, Kirkwall times. Contrary to the to Loganair) operate several trips are available. There are plenty of good Fax (01856) 872680 KW15 1QX advice given by some travel flights into Kirkwall Airport John o’Groats Ferries, John hotels and B&Bs to stay in www.ridgwaytravel.co.uk Reservations 0845 6000 449, agents, no passport is need- (KOI) every day, from o’Groats, Caithness KW1 4YR Caithness overnight, and Tel (01856) 885500 ed by UK citizens, prices are Aberdeen, Inverness, Tel 01955 611353 indeed some time exploring SEA Regular sea links to Fax (01856) 879588 reasonable, and there are a Edinburgh and Glasgow. Fax 01955 611301 this area is strongly recom- Scotland have been operated www.northlinkferries.co.uk variety of services. There are also daily flights www.jogferry.co.uk mended. for many centuries. Today Loganair SAAB 340 in British Airways colours at Kirkwall Airport the main routes are from Pentland Ferries operate MV “Hamnavoe” in Hoy Sound on a “coorse” day Stromness to Scrabster, St year-round services from St Margaret’s Hope to Gills Margaret’s Hope to Gills Bay and Kirkwall to Bay in Caithness. The trip Aberdeen and Lerwick. takes about 1 hour and there There is a lso a passenger are three services per day. ferry in summer from Pentland Ferries Ltd, Pier Burwick to John o’Groats. Road, St Margaret’s Hope, All sailings are subject to Orkney KW17 2SW weather conditions, and dis- Tel (01856) 831226 ruption due to storms can Fax (01856) 831614 occur in winter especially. www.pentlandferries.co.uk

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some sailings of the Hamnavoe. It should be noted that the timetables are not always synchronised and thus it is important to check out such expected connec- tions in advance. All of the times may be checked out on the websites listed here.

PRIVATE CAR From John o’Groats Ferry “Pentland Venture” in harbour Edinburgh or Glasgow it is about 40 miles by motorway BUSES AND TRAINS The Orkney Bus is operat- to Perth, from where Land transport links from ed in partnership with John Inverness is 114 miles and Edinburgh and Glasgow to O’ Groats Ferries, and runs should take roughly two Aberdeen and Thurso are daily from Inverness and to hours, through some of operated by Scottish John o'Groats and back Scotland’s most spectacular CitiLink and by First when the ferry is running. scenery. The A9 should be ScotRail. Details of services Tel: 01955 611353 tackled with care, patience and timetables are available www.jogferry.co.uk and attention as it can be from the companies. very busy. There are many Rapsons claims to be good viewpoints and places Scottish CitiLink Coaches Scotland’s largest independ- to stop for a meal. Ltd, Buchanan Bus Station, ent coach operator and run Killermont St, Glasgow G2 services all over the From Inverness to Scrabster 3NP Highlands, 1 Seafield Road, is 111 miles. This road takes Tel 08705 505050 Inverness IV1 1TN about 2 hours and offers Fax 0141 332 4488 Tel (01463) 710555 many good stop-off opportu- www.citylink.co.uk Fax (1463) 711488 nities at the attractive towns, www.rapsons.com villages and sites of interest ScotRail Railways Ltd, Connections There are along the route. When time Caledonian Chambers, 87 coach connections between allows, a slightly more Union Street, Glasgow G1 Thurso train station and leisurely journey can 3TA Scrabster as well as become a delightful part of Tel 08457 048 4950 between Wick and Gills Bay. the Orkney experience. www.scotrail.com Citilink buses also meet John o’Groats Ferries Summer Passenger Ferry Service - 1 May to 30 September Day Tours & Short Breaks Direct Coaches from Inverness John o’Groats Ferries, Caithness Tel 01955 611 353 [email protected] www.jogferry.co.uk

Cross in only 40 minutes!

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Travel & Holiday Centre

When your travel agent says WHERE?! - call Orkney’s leading travel agent. Whether it’s business or pleasure, Ridgway Travel will take care of your trip to or from Orkney. Whichever way you decide to travel our experienced staff will make it easy...and cheaper!...all with friendly helpful service.

We offer THE TOTAL CARE CONCEPT ...Ferry Tickets ...Plane Tickets 67-69 Albert Street, ...Bus Tickets Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1HQ ...Accommodation Tel (01856) 873359 ...Car Hire and Parking Fax (01856) 872680 ...Tailor Made Holidays ...Travel Insurance www.ridgwaytravel.co.uk

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