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Timetables

MV Hamnavoe sailing to Orkney and passing Hoy

2025 ferry timetables

Below you can find 2025 timetables for the NorthLink passenger ferries. Timetables for the freight vessels can be found on the Freight website.

Sailings may be subject to weather related or technical delays – visit Service Update for current sailing information.

Check-in opens 120 minutes prior to departure at Aberdeen and Lerwick and 90 minutes prior to departure at Hatston, Stromness and Scrabster. Car drivers are recommended to check-in at least 1 hour prior to departure.
Check-in closes 30 minutes prior to departure at all ports and if you have not checked in at least 30 minutes prior to departure you will not be allowed on board.
Passengers travelling should at all times be aware that changes may be introduced at short notice. Those who are booked on affected sailings will be contacted.

1st April to 31st October 2025
Aberdeen – Kirkwall – Lerwick (Northbound)

Dep Aberdeen Arr Kirkwall Dep Kirkwall Arr Lerwick
Mon 19:00 – – 07:30
Tue 17:00 23:00 23:45 07:30
Wed 19:00 – – 07:30
Thu 17:00 23:00 23:45 07:30
Fri 19:00 – – 07:30
Sat 17:00 23:00 23:45 07:30
Sun 17:00 23:00 23:45 07:30

1st April to 31st October 2025
Lerwick – Kirkwall – Aberdeen (Southbound)

Dep Lerwick Arr Kirkwall Dep Kirkwall Arr Aberdeen
Mon 17:30 23:00 23:45 07:00
Tue 19:00 – – 07:00
Wed 17:30 23:00 23:45 07:00
Thu 19:00 – – 07:00
Fri 17:30 23:00 23:45 07:00
Sat 19:00 – – 07:00
Sun 19:00 – – 07:00

On Friday 6th June 2025 (Junior Inter County) there will be an additional northbound Kirkwall call.
On Sunday 8th June 2025 (Junior Inter County) there will be an additional southbound Kirkwall call.
On Friday 11th July 2025 (Island Games) there will be an additional northbound Kirkwall call.
On Saturday 19th July 2025 (Island Games) there will be an additional southbound Kirkwall call.

 

 

1st November to 31st December 2025
Aberdeen – Kirkwall – Lerwick (Northbound)

Dep Aberdeen Arr Kirkwall Dep Kirkwall Arr Lerwick
Mon 19:00 – – 07:30
Tue 19:00 – – 07:30
Wed 19:00 – – 07:30
Thu 17:00 23:00 23:45 07:30
Fri 19:00 – – 07:30
Sat 17:00 23:00 23:45 07:30
Sun 17:00 23:00 23:45 07:30

1st November to 31st December 2025
Lerwick – Kirkwall – Aberdeen (Southbound)

Dep Lerwick Arr Kirkwall Dep Kirkwall Arr Aberdeen
Mon 19:00 – – 07:00
Tue 19:00 – – 07:00
Wed 17:30 23:00 23:45 07:00
Thu 19:00 – – 07:00
Fri 17:30 23:00 23:45 07:00
Sat 19:00 – – 07:00
Sun 19:00 – – 07:00

On Monday 22nd December 2025 and Monday 29th December 2025 there will be additional (festive) southbound Kirkwall calls.
On Tuesday 23rd December 2025 and Tuesday 30th December 2025 there will be additional (festive) northbound Kirkwall calls.

1st January to 31st December 2025
Stromness to Scrabster / Scrabster to Stromness

2025 Pentland Firth timetable
Stromness to Scrabster / Scrabster to Stromness
Peak Timetable (dates marked in pink)
Departure Time Arrival Time
Stromness to Scrabster 06:30 08:00
Scrabster to Stromness 08:45 10:15
Stromness to Scrabster 11:00 12:30
Scrabster to Stromness 13:15 14:45
Stromness to Scrabster 16:45 18:15
Scrabster to Stromness 19:00 20:30

Stromness to Scrabster / Scrabster to Stromness
Weekend Timetable (dates marked in dark blue)
Departure Time Arrival Time
Stromness to Scrabster 09:00 10:30
Scrabster to Stromness 12:00 13:30
Stromness to Scrabster 16:45 18:15
Scrabster to Stromness 19:00 20:30

Stromness to Scrabster / Scrabster to Stromness
Off Peak Timetable (dates marked in light blue)
Departure Time Arrival Time
Stromness to Scrabster 06:30 08:00
Scrabster to Stromness 08:45 10:15
Stromness to Scrabster 16:45 18:15
Scrabster to Stromness 19:00 20:30


* On Sunday 12th January 2025 the ferry will sail on the afternoon sailing only.
* On Sunday 13th July 2025 (Island Games), the 12:00 sailing is moved to 13:00.
* On Saturday 9th August 2025 (County Show day), the afternoon sailings will take place at 1745 and 20:00.
* Sunday 10th August is a 3 trip day.

Christmas and New Year period

There will be no Aberdeen-Kirkwall-Lerwick or Lerwick-Kirkwall-Aberdeen sailings on Wednesday 24th December 2025, Thursday 25th December 2025, Wednesday 31st December 2025 or Thursday 1st 2026.

There will be no Stromness to Scrabster or Scrabster to Stromness sailings on Thursday 25th and Friday 26th December 2025, and no sailings on Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd January 2026 – sailings on dates marked in grey above.

Dry Dock

Whilst passenger ships undergo scheduled maintenance annually in January, February and March, all ships may operate to an amended timetable.

 

Download a printable 2025 Timetables and Visitor Fares sheet

Download a printable 2025 Timetables and Islander Fares sheet

Header image: MV Hamnavoe sailing to Orkney and passing Hoy photo © Copyright Nick McCaffrey