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Orkney Islands by Car and Ferry: 4-Day Plan You Can Actually Do

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The 4-day version for June: every day fits real transit, opening hours and daylight.

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4
days
50 km
road distance
8.7 h
time in transit
11
curated stops

💡 Good to know for this plan

Before you go · check live details

This is a planning draft. Check these changing details for your dates before booking or travelling.

Day 1 Scrabster ferry terminal → Stromness & Neolithic Orkney

3 curated stops
Transit
3h53
Finish
~15:20
Temperature
10.1°C–12.5°C
Rainy days
~11
Daylight
18.1h
Travel connectionsIndicative times · check before travel

Transport is not booked. Confirm departures, local transfers and vehicle pickup before travel.

  1. 07:45–07:45
    Transfer
    Scrabster ferry terminal → Scrabster vehicle check-in
    Continue with the journey car and its confirmed NorthLink booking.
    Planning allowance: 0 min
    Check source
  2. 07:45–10:15
    Transfer
    Scrabster vehicle check-in → Stromness ferry terminal
    NorthLink Scrabster–Stromness
    Departs 08:45 · At the gate by 07:45
  3. 10:15–10:30
    Transfer
    Stromness ferry terminal → Stromness & Neolithic Orkney
    Disembark with the car and clear the terminal.
    Planning allowance: 15 min
    Check source
10:30
Ring of Brodgar historicenvironment.scot read more map ↗
50 min · Stromness & Neolithic Orkney · Free
open: 24 hours
11:50
Skara Brae historicenvironment.scot map ↗
50 min · Stromness & Neolithic Orkney · Combi with Skaill House adult £12.50, conc £10, child £7.50
open: Daily Apr-Sep 9:30AM-5:30PM, Oct-Mar 10AM-4PM
13:20
Stromness Museum stromnessmuseum.org.uk read more map ↗
Discover Orkney's natural history, maritime exploits, and wartime stories.
60 min · Stromness & Neolithic Orkney · Adult £7.50, conc £5, child free
open: Apr-Oct Mon-Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun 11AM-4PM
14:20
Julia's Cafe juliascafe.co.uk
Enjoy a quick, tasty meal near your transport hub.
60 min · Stromness & Neolithic Orkney
open: Daily 9:30AM-4:30PM
Overnight here
e.g. Brown's Hostel · Point of Ness Caravan & Camping Site
Find a stay → Tours & tickets for the evening →

Day 2 Kirkwall

3 curated stops
Transit
0h41
Finish
~13:15
Temperature
10.1°C–12.5°C
Rainy days
~11
Daylight
18.1h
09:25
St Magnus Cathedral orkneymuseums.co.uk read more map ↗
Marvel at the impressive Romanesque architecture of this 300-year project.
50 min · Kirkwall · Free
open: Mon-Sat 9AM-5PM, Sun 1-5PM
10:25
Grain Earth House read more map ↗
Enter an Iron Age chamber via a 5-m underground passage.
50 min · Kirkwall
11:25
Scapa Distillery scapawhisky.com read more map ↗
Tour the distillery producing slightly peaty single malts since 1885.
50 min · Kirkwall · Basic tour £25
open: Mar, Oct Tue-Sun, Apr-Sep daily 10AM-5PM
12:15
Dil Se dilserestaurantorkney.com
Taste North Indian and Bangladeshi flavors in a cozy setting.
60 min · Kirkwall
open: Daily noon-2PM, 5-11PM
Overnight here
e.g. Kirkwall Youth Hostel · Orcades Hostel
Find a stay → Tours & tickets for the evening →

Day 3 St Margaret's Hope

2 curated stops
Transit
1h00
Finish
~12:00
Temperature
10.1°C–12.5°C
Rainy days
~11
Daylight
18.1h
09:25
Italian Chapel facebook.com read more map ↗
Admire the ornate decor of this chapel built by Italian prisoners of war from Nissen huts.
50 min · St Margaret's Hope · Adult £4
open: Apr-Sep daily 9AM-5:30PM
11:10
Olav's Wood search map ↗
Walk through a rare mixed woodland area with a 30-minute loop trail.
50 min · St Margaret's Hope
Overnight here
e.g. Sands Hotel · Murray Arms Hotel
Find a stay → Tours & tickets for the evening →

Day 4 St Margaret's Hope → Gills Bay ferry terminal

1 curated stop
Transit
3h05
Finish
~12:55
Temperature
10.1°C–12.5°C
Rainy days
~11
Daylight
18.1h
Travel connectionsIndicative times · check before travel

Transport is not booked. Confirm departures, local transfers and vehicle pickup before travel.

  1. 09:50–09:50
    Transfer
    St Margaret's Hope → St Margaret's Hope vehicle check-in
    Continue with the same journey car and its confirmed Pentland Ferries booking.
    Planning allowance: 0 min
    Check source
  2. 09:50–12:40
    Transfer
    St Margaret's Hope vehicle check-in → Gills Bay vehicle deck
    Pentland Ferries St Margaret's Hope–Gills Bay
    Departs 11:30 · At the gate by 10:45
    Check source
  3. 12:40–12:55
    Transfer
    Gills Bay vehicle deck → Gills Bay ferry terminal
    Disembark with the car and clear the terminal.
    Planning allowance: 15 min
    Check source
09:00
St Margaret's Hope Waterfront orkney.com map ↗
Stroll along the village waterfront and see its sheltered bay before the ferry.
50 min · St Margaret's Hope · Free

Orkney Fossil and Heritage Centre

St Margaret's Hope
Add travel dates to check opening hours.

Explore Orkney fossils, geology and local history in Burray. Check the centre's opening hours before visiting.

details

🚗 Rental cars for this trip →

🔍 Check before you book

Every stop is a real, sourced place, but opening hours change, roads close and businesses move. Check anything you're paying for before you book.

Sources (5)

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