Scrabster – Stromness
Ferry to Orkney Islands
Scrabster – Stromness
Ferry to Orkney Islands
Scrabster Stromness ferry prices tend to range between £47* and £284*. The average price for ferries from Scrabster Stromness is typically £237*. The cheapest Scrabster Stromness ferry prices start from £47*. The average foot passenger price is £49*. And the average price for a car is £237*.
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 Scrabster 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 Scrabster Stromness ferry typically departs from Scrabster at around 08:45. The last ferry usually departs at 19:00.
Yes, you can take a day trip between Scrabster and Stromness. Day trips from Scrabster to Stromness 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, Northlink Ferries ferries allow cars on board ferries between Scrabster and Stromness. Use our Deal Finder to get live pricing for car ferries between Scrabster and Stromness.
Whether you can bring your campervan on the ferry from Scrabster to Stromness 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 Scrabster to Stromness with Northlink 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 Northlink Ferries ferries between Scrabster and Stromness.
Pets are allowed on ferries travelling from Scrabster to Stromness with Northlink 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 Scrabster to Stromness, 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 Scrabster to Stromness 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 Scrabster to Stromness 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.
| Scrabster - Stromness Ferry Route summary | ||
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Scotland | |
| Destination | Orkney Islands | |
| No. of Operators | 1 | |
| Operators | Northlink Ferries | |
| Average Price | £237 | |
| Average Daily Sailings | 2 | |
| Average Weekly Sailings | 13 | |
| Average Sailing Duration | 1 h 30 m | |
| Fastest Sailing Duration | 1 h 30 m | |
| First Ferry | 08:45 | |
| Last Ferry | 19:00 | |
| Distance | 26 Nautical Miles | |
* Prices subject to change, pricing is taken from last 30 days, last updated 1 October 2025.
The small town of Scrabster is located on Thurso Bay in Caithness, on the Scottish north east coast. It is situated around 2 km from Thurso, 26 km from Wick and 180 km from Inverness. The town's harbour was the base for a ferry operation that carried military explosives to Scapa Flow during the Second World War. The service continued until 1945 and was operated using a 40 ft King's Lynn pilotcutter, named Mermaid, which was built in 1908. Following the war the harbour has continued to play an important role in the town's growth and prosperity. It is the most northerly port on the Scottish mainland and is an important fishing port. For several decades it was also the port of choice for the Queen and her family when they disembarked from the Royal Yacht Britannia every August when they visited the Queen Mother at her Highland home, Castle of Mey, 11 miles from Scrabster. Today, visitors can follow in their footsteps, as the Castle is open to visitors.
Ferries from the port depart to Stromness in Orkney.
Located in the south west of Orkney, in Scotland, Stromness is a town and sea port that is centred around its main street which is characterised by houses and shops built from local stone. The town can trace its history back to the 16th century where records show that an inn was located on the site of the current town. During the 17th century the town became increasingly important when England was at war with France. The town's quays and harbour are located to the north of the town and are now accessed by a new coastal road which has alleviated the amount of harbour traffic in the northern parts of the town.
There is a ferry service from Stromness to the Scottish mainland via the port of Scrabster and operates around three times each day with a crossing time of around 1 hour and 30 minutes.
