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2026 Timetables

The MV Hamnavoe sailing past the Old Man of Hoy

2026 ferry timetables

Below you can find 2026 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.

2nd January to 31st March 2026
Aberdeen – Kirkwall – Lerwick (Northbound)

Excluding 5th to 17th January, 2nd to 15th February, and 3rd to 15th March 2026 when ships undergo scheduled maintenance and operate to an amended timetable.

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

2nd January to 31st March 2026
Lerwick – Kirkwall – Aberdeen (Southbound)

Excluding 5th to 17th January, 2nd to 15th February, and 3rd to 15th March 2026 when ships undergo scheduled maintenance and operate to an amended timetable.

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

1st April to 31st October 2026
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 2026
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

 

 

1st November to 31st December 2026
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 2026
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 Tuesday 22nd December 2026 and Tuesday 29th December 2026 there will be additional (festive) northbound Kirkwall calls.

1st January to 31st December 2026
Stromness to Scrabster / Scrabster to Stromness

2026 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 Monday 5th to Saturday 17th January 2026 MV Hamnavoe will be away for scheduled maintenance at dry dock. There will be extra AB-KI-LE and LE-KI-AB sailings during dry dock.
* On Saturday 8th August 2026 (County Show day), the afternoon sailings will take place at 1745 and 20:00.
* Sunday 9th August 2026 (the day after County Show) is a 3 trip day.

Christmas and New Year period

There will be no Aberdeen-Kirkwall-Lerwick or Lerwick-Kirkwall-Aberdeen sailings on Thursday 24th December 2026, Friday 25th December 2026, Thursday 31st December 2026 or Friday 1st 2027.

There will be no Stromness to Scrabster or Scrabster to Stromness sailings on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th December 2026, and no sailings on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd January 2027 – 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 2026 Timetables and Visitor Fares sheet

Download a printable 2026 Timetables and Islander Fares sheet

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