Rally Chat Recommendations for Orkney touring sites and ferries

[Maggiesimps]

Has anyone any ideas regarding touring sites on the Orkney’s please? Also, which is the best ferry to use?

 

[Gellyneck]

We use Pentland Ferries from St Gills Bay.
The campsite in Kirkwall is centrally located with a walk to supermarkets/shops/bus station/etc

Otter Spotter is your man for Orkney/Shetland.

 

[bigtwin]

Orkney (there is only one) has a number of campsites but the two main ones (both council run and very good too) are the Orkney Caravan Park in Kirkwall and the Point of Ness Caravan and Camping site (great views of the ferries coming and going) in Stromness.

Don’t forget to visit the north isles too where you’ll find a CAMpRA accredited aire and some of the best beaches in Scotland.

Ian

PS Has anyone visited the Channels?

 

[Kelsae2]

There is also the council site near Birsay Community Centre. A short walk down to Birsay past the Birsay tea room.

 

[bigtwin]

Don’t forget to visit the north isles too where you’ll find a CAMpRA accredited aire and some of the best beaches in Scotland.

Sorry, that should have said:

“…… a CAMpRA accredited aire on Sanday …….”

Ian

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Kelsae2]

Which ferry to use depends which end of the Orkney mainland you want to arrive at.
Using the Pentland Ferries catamaran from Gills Bay to St Margarets Hope lets you drive over the Churchill Barriers, pass the Italian Chapel etc.
If you use the Northlink ferry from Scrabster to Stromness this passes the Old Man of Hoy and lands you near the Stromness campsite.

 

[bigtwin]

Which ferry to use depends which end of the Orkney mainland you want to arrive at.
Using the Pentland Ferries catamaran from Gills Bay to St Margarets Hope lets you drive over the Churchill Barriers, pass the Italian Chapel etc.
If you use the Northlink ferry from Scrabster to Stromness this passes the Old Man of Hoy and lands you near the Stromness campsite.

One on the way there and the other on the way back; best of both.

Ian

 

[L' Hobo]

Which ferry to use depends which end of the Orkney mainland you want to arrive at.
Using the Pentland Ferries catamaran from Gills Bay to St Margarets Hope lets you drive over the Churchill Barriers, pass the Italian Chapel etc.
If you use the Northlink ferry from Scrabster to Stromness this passes the Old Man of Hoy and lands you near the Stromness campsite.

When I went to Orkney & Shetland about 10-15 years ago, Gills Bay route was a lot cheaper.

 

[bigtwin]

When I went to Orkney & Shetland about 10-15 years ago, Gills Bay route was a lot cheaper.

I don’t think there’s much in it these days but I like to support Pentland Ferries are they are a family run business that doesn’t receive any subsidies (unlike the other (Northlink) crossing).

Ian

 

[Revolvor]

VandM are members on here.

Motorhome | Campervan | Stopover | Aire | Peedie Farm | Campsite | Scotland

Motorhome and Campervan Stopover Aire on Peedie Farm Rousay. Perfectly situated to explore the archaeology, bird reserves and natural wonders on Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre in the Orkney archipelago.

www.peediefarm.co.uk

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Kelsae2]

We are looking at visiting the North Isles this time and missing out the mainland. I am checking out the places to stay on each of the islands, so that is useful information about Rousay.

 

[Gellyneck]

Which ferry to use depends which end of the Orkney mainland you want to arrive at.
Using the Pentland Ferries catamaran from Gills Bay to St Margarets Hope lets you drive over the Churchill Barriers, pass the Italian Chapel etc.
If you use the Northlink ferry from Scrabster to Stromness this passes the Old Man of Hoy and lands you near the Stromness campsite.

And the Pentland route is more sheltered.
Northlink have been known to follow the Pentland route but still use their usual terminals during/after severe storms.

 

[Kelsae2]

Agree with Gellyneck , never had a bad sailing with Pentland Ferries.

 

[Hedgewitch]

Pentland Ferries outward, Northlink return, following the route which Kelsae2 suggests although I'll throw a spanner in the works: Pentland have had some safely issues in the past couple of years of which a grounding in July 2022 was the most serious.

Hopefully they have now learnt from this, and the Master continually taking a route far too close to rocks "to give the tourists a better view" is now sticking to the agreed crossing channel.

BBC article
Marine Accident Investigation branch
MAIB Report

 

[CAB96]

Rousay is brilliant.


The council publish a list of cruise ships. Useful when planning the 'big' tourist sites like Kirkwall cathedral, the Stones, the Chapel etc.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Suzukikettle]

Beautiful Orkney so full of history and things to see and places to visit we were there last year had a fantastic time. We were fortunate to have a local born islander Bigtwin as our guide to the island cheers Ian.