Gills Bay – St Margaret's Hope
Ferry to Orkney Islands
Gills Bay – St Margaret's Hope
Ferry to Orkney Islands
Gills Bay St Margaret's Hope ferry prices tend to range between £45* and £242*. The average price for ferries from Gills Bay St Margaret's Hope is typically £186*. The cheapest Gills Bay St Margaret's Hope ferry prices start from £45*. The average foot passenger price is £88*. And the average price for a car is £186*.
Pricing will vary depending on the number of passengers, vehicle type, route and sailing times. Pricing is taken from searches over the last 30 days and is exclusive of service fees, last updated October 25.
You can easily find cheap ferry tickets with our Deal Finder. We recommend booking in advance to get the best possible prices and availability. You can also check out our Special Offers page for the latest deals on Gills Bay ferries.
Yes, Direct Ferries offers a wide range of discounts all year around. When searching for ferries, senior discounts will be automatically applied if they are available. Just select your age range from the passenger options.
Students and graduates can get a 5% discount on ferry tickets. To take advantage of the discount, you need to register with our partner Student Beans and confirm your student or graduate status. You will then receive a discount code which can be entered during the payment process.
Resident discounts are available on a variety of Spanish and Italian ferry routes. Just click on the "Residents" option when this is displayed in our Deal Finder. The discount is automatically applied to the price. Bear in mind that proof of registration or an identity card with the correct address must be shown at check-in.
The first Gills Bay St Margaret's Hope ferry typically departs from Gills Bay at around 09:30. The last ferry usually departs at 18:45.
Yes, you can take a day trip between Gills Bay and St Margaret's Hope. Day trips from Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope by ferry are very popular due to the short journey time and many daily crossings. If possible, taking a vehicle is also a good way to explore the surrounding area outside the harbour at your own pace.
Yes, Pentland Ferries ferries allow cars on board ferries between Gills Bay and St Margaret's Hope. Use our Deal Finder to get live pricing for car ferries between Gills Bay and St Margaret's Hope.
Whether you can bring your campervan on the ferry from Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope depends on several factors like the ship & operator of your preferred crossing. For more information on travelling with campervans & caravans on ferries, use our Deal Finder or visit our blog, where you can find practical tips & travel inspiration for your next adventure.
Yes, you can bring a bicycle on a ferry from Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope with Pentland Ferries. Most ferry companies allow bicycles on board, but it is always best to check policies regarding bringing bicycles on the ferry. View our Deal Finder for more information.
Yes, foot passengers can travel with Pentland Ferries ferries between Gills Bay and St Margaret's Hope.
Pets are allowed on ferries travelling from Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope with Pentland Ferries. Please also note that your pet may have to stay in the vehicle during the journey unless the ferry operator supplies pet accommodation.
Use our Deal Finder to find out whether your preferred ferry is an overnight ferry. Here you can also find the current ferry timetables and crossing times. Please note that the duration of the night ferries are usually slightly longer than that of the day ferries.
Travel requirements can vary depending on the route, so it's important to check what documents you'll need before sailing. In most cases, a valid passport is required when traveling from Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope, along with any necessary visas or national ID cards. Requirements may differ based on your nationality and the destination country’s regulations. To avoid delays at check-in, you can find helpful information for your journey in our Check-in, Travel Documents & Tickets guide and in our blog post on tips and tricks for international travel.
Book your ferry tickets online with Direct Ferries using our Deal Finder. Just enter your departure and arrival ports and the date you’d like to travel to see all available options and prices. You’ll also be able to view alternative routes and times, so you can find the best deal to suit you.
Look out for early booking discounts or special ticket options such as upgrades or flexi-tickets that allow you to change or cancel your booking. To make your sailing as smooth as possible, make sure you enter all the required information correctly, such as number of passengers and vehicle specifications.
Once you’ve finalised your booking, you’ll receive a confirmation email. It depends on the ferry operator you book with as to how your boarding pass is issued and collected.
Whilst some ferry operators issue the boarding pass as soon as your booking is confirmed, others may ask you to check in at the port. There’s also the option for online check-in, which can be easily done via the Direct Ferries app, if available.
The ticket desks are usually located near the ferry terminals. To avoid any delays at the port, we’d recommend allowing some extra time to collect your tickets and to check-in.
During check-in, you must show your email confirmation, as well as an official photo ID, such as a passport or identity card. You might also be asked to provide documentation for your pet (vaccines, pet insurance etc.) or proof of residence, if you have booked your ticket with a resident discount.
There could be various reasons why there are no departures from Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope for the date you’ve requested. For example, a temporary timetable change, limited availability or seasonal changes in the timetable.
We recommend checking for alternative dates. Our Deal Finder automatically compares the desired route with alternative routes and dates, offering up-to-date real time options, all in one place.
The best time to book ferries from Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope is usually as early as possible. By booking in advance, you’ll not only get your tickets at the best available prices, but you’ll also get a better choice of departure times and cabin/seating options.
We’d recommend making your booking at least a few weeks in advance to benefit from the best offers. Bear in mind that prices may vary depending on the season and availability.
More routes than anyone else.
Compare fares, times & routes in one place.
Change plans easily with flexi tickets.
Book e-tickets & manage trips in-app.
Live ship tracking & real-time updates.
Top-rated customer support when you need it.
| Gills Bay - St Margaret's Hope Ferry Route summary | ||
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Scotland | |
| Destination | Orkney Islands | |
| No. of Operators | 1 | |
| Operators | Pentland Ferries | |
| Average Price | £186 | |
| Average Daily Sailings | 3 | |
| Average Weekly Sailings | 21 | |
| Average Sailing Duration | 1 h 15 m | |
| Fastest Sailing Duration | 1 h 15 m | |
| First Ferry | 09:30 | |
| Last Ferry | 18:45 | |
| Distance | 17 Nautical Miles | |
* Prices subject to change, pricing is taken from last 30 days, last updated 1 October 2025.
Most well known locally for the seals that are often found lying on the rocks, Gill’s Bay is found on the north coast of Scotland and serves as a gateway between mainland Scotland and the islands laying to its north. The pier is one of the prominent features of the area, providing the entrance for Pentland Ferries to operate among the docks. In recent times it has become the most commonly used departure point from the mainland across the Short Sea Crossing to the islands of Stroma, Swona and Orkney. The crossing is generally considered the quickest and safest way to get across the waters of Pentland Firth. The sailings on the ferry route run throughout the year and are thought to be a very reliable and comfortable service. Whilst in the area, it is thought to be worthwhile exploring the local wildlife; seals, wild dogs, porpoises are all often spotted among the rocks, whilst even a basking shark has been seen on occasion.
The Orkney Islands exude an image of beautiful hillside and verdant landscape, and St Margaret’s Hope is the epitome of a sleepy, quiet town that tempts many into wandering along its picturesque scenery. Only being a village may suggest a lack of amenities, but St Margaret’s Hope is drenched in fun things to do: a golf course is the perfect way to spend an afternoon, and for a touch of art and culture, an art gallery and museum offer an entertaining experience. Attractions aside, the most common pastime in the village is simply to walk around the scenic walking trails that adorn the mountainside – embark on the adventure with your camera to capture the glorious vistas afforded from the apex of the land. After a tiring day exploring the slopes and valleys that dominate the horizon, enjoy some quintessentially Scottish cuisine at the award winning restaurant, with seafood being a popular choice. Most choose to spend only a couple of days in the quaint village, but the short stay will live long in the memory.
