Pentland Ferries
Pentland Ferries
4
About
Pentland Ferries is a family run business which operates a ferry crossing across the Pentland Firth. The purpose-built catamaran, MV Alfred, sails from St Margaret's Hope in Orkney to Gills Bay in Caithness running three return crossings per day in each direction. The journey takes just one hour making it the shortest sailing to or from Orkney with your car. Accommodation onboard includes spacious seating areas, a cafe, outdoor seating, and an indoor dog-friendly sundeck lounge. There is lift access from the car deck to the lounges. The ship carries 98 cars, or 54 cars with 12 articulated vehicles/coaches and 430 passengers. The only ferry operator to hold a Green Tourism Award, the ship is more than 60 per cent more efficient in terms of fuel consumption and emission levels than other comparable ferries operating in Scotland.
Duration: < 1 hour
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  • 287Loges
    Sydney, Australia570 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good value
    Took the car to Orkney on the ferry as John O Groats ferries had ceased operating. Cost for 2 adults and car was the same as a day tour would have been with JOG if they had still been operating. Plus was we had car and managed to see a lot more attractions. Loading and unloading was quick and well managed. Ferry was smooth sailing and plenty of seats inside and out. Highly recommended.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 12 June 2024
  • Paul B
    Chirnside Park, Australia1,123 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Book in advance - fast service
    A great Ferry service for getting to The Orkney Islands. Well organised in loading and unloading the vehicles. Great views as you leave Scotland (mainland) and head to the islands. The port of St Margarets Hope is great as you can see the southern most area and also cross the barriers put in by Churchil to stop enemy boats traversing through the islands. Although the Ferryvarrived in Gills Bay late they made up time and we were not too late into Orkney. Highly recommend as they are cheaper for vehicles!
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 16 June 2024
  • RMFerguson
    Bath, United Kingdom124 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great way to get to Orkney
    We booked in advance and then turned up early, as there's a (slow) charger for electric cars at the ferry terminal and we wanted to give the car a boost (we had no problems charging on Orkney - but weren't sure in advance). While the car charged, we had the chance to watch the seals and walk along the coast. Loading cars onto the ferry was straightforward thanks to the staff, and it was a lovely day, so the crossing was calm and uneventful – as it was when we returned at the end of the week. A very relaxing way to arrive on Orkney.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 24 July 2024
  • Hazel M
    12 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Highly Recommend
    We travel to Orkney regularly for holidays and Pentland Ferries are always our first choice. The booking is easy, the price is very reasonable; the staff at the ferry points and on board are pleasant, friendly and efficient. There's on-board catering, the ferries are well maintained and clean, and it's a short easy trip over the water from St Gills Bay with great views. A no-brainer for us I have to say!
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 3 August 2024
  • Paul T
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great service !
    Hello ! Great company with an outstanding customer services . Due to a storm, the ferry was canceled, nevertheless, they manage to arrange new booking for all passengers…. In high season. Thanks to all the team
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 12 August 2024
  • Li S
    Ely, United Kingdom1,013 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Ferry Ferry Good!
    Great service. Everything ran on time, helpful marshals ensure they squeeze the full capacity of cars on, how they fit us in I'll never know! Clean comfortable lounges. Used the cafe both ways, basic but nice. Toilets were immaculate. Ferry ferry good!
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 3 September 2024
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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles238 reviews
Excellent
140
Very good
57
Average
19
Poor
4
Terrible
18

RollsRoyceOxford
Oxford34 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
Very good service, well organised and efficient with clear guidance over Covid. Needed to change my booking which was done very quickly and easily over the phone. Toilets clean. Lots of hand sanitiser around the boat. Only criticism is of the website. Although you must provide a password it doesn't allow you to change a booking online, and phones were understandably busy due to changing restrictions. Also took me a very long time to navigate around the frustratingly unlabelled pages. Really wanted to check what time I had to be there but kept finding pages on how the boat was built or the journey. Very interesting but not what I wanted in a hurry. However, a very smooth and efficient crossing and well worth it.
Written 9 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Maria W
Forres, UK1,327 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Love going to Orkney by ferry, and the staff are always friendly. However, when it's a bit rough, the smell of greasy food from the on board cafe is a lot to contend with. Loos at St Margarets bay were flooded at the car park, bin was overflowing with paper and loo was covered in diarrhoea.

It's a lovely trip and apart from the state of the loos, can recommend it. The loos at the car park at Gills bay are always clean.
Written 29 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mike BR
Haddington, UK7,474 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021
Apart from being the shortest (1 hour) & cheapest ferry to Orkney it was incredibly well organised to get your car on & off. Public area's of the ship were spotless with comfortable seating both inside and outside , Toilets were spotless and there was a small play area for children. Good little cafe selling great hot & cold filled rolls and drinks. were able to watch dolphins chasing the ship and seals sunbathing on the beaches of the small islands we past.
Written 19 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Capn Birdseye
Bolton, UK159 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020 • Couples
Pent land ferries is the only ferry to use to get to Orkney. The staff are friendly. And the check in is easy and quick. The indicator and loading of the ferry is rapidly done.
Also the ferry is the quickest to Orkney being only a hour only crossing. With a warm and comfortable cabin were you can view the journey as well as being up top.
There is hot Coffee and food available.
Apart from some people wearing muzzles due to the scamdemic. You would think we were in normal times.

Written 30 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Duncan M
1 contribution
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Family
The ferry had ran aground two weeks before our booked sail but for some reason they did not email us with this information. Local people probably were well aware as the news carried the story but we were on vacation from Canada and were not looking at the local news. We couldn’t get to Orkney in time to cancel our B & B so forfeited the cost. After complaining to Pentland they were amazing in there response and gave us a generous refund. Fantastic customer service.
Written 13 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stephen C
Wollongong, Australia794 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
Luckily for us this was another seamless ferry transfer to mainland from Orkney via Gills bay. Pentland use a different type of ferry to Northlinks that is a twin hull catamaran style, boarding also a little different but worked equally efficiently. I think the twin hull may be a Iittle better in rougher weather conditions but for us it wasn't tested as it was a glorious day with calm conditions.
On board had a few light snack/meal options and these were fine, staff friendly.
Enjoyed this shorter crossing a little more than scrabster to stromness and whilst happy to have done both would probably opt for the shorter route.
Great crossing and recommended.
Written 19 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

EzzyP
Dorset, UK104 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
First trip over ran to time but we were boarding with a long caravan that we had to reverse on not a problem as my husband is a farmer but where it rises on the tailgate there is a risk of grounding no one helped us in this regard instead I had to get out to check this surely not advised for safety? Surely not my job! Then when I said to hubby to stop as there was a risk of a lorry door hitting the side of the van if he went further back( we were the last boarding so no space issues) the member of staff challenged me and then thought belittling me was the way to go forwards. I may not load vehicles all day long but I know how to speak to people! Our return journey was a nightmare after mechanical issues two morning sailings didn't happen by the time we were due to board it was backlogged why weren't we informed before arriving to sit around for 4 hours??!! Poor planning could have been so better managed. All for the princely sum of £400!! Would I recommend probably not definitely don't prebook take your chances so you have other options when it goes pear shaped as it does! Other companies sail to the islands.
Written 6 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dmhLondon
London, UK308 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2021 • Couples
This is a great ferry. We know it is punctual as we’ve watched it from our holiday window for the past 4 days regular as clockwork. On the car ferry deck the cars have plenty of space so no need to worry if you need good door clearance for passengers. There’s a small Costa coffee bar dispensing drinks - but limited food. Ample indoor seating as well as well as pleasant sun decks. The crossing from St Margaret’s Hope to Gills Bay is about an hour. A good option for reaching Orkney.
Written 21 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paul Symonds
Haverhill, UK475 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2020
Went for a trip on this large Twin hulled Boat to the Orkney Isles. Reasonably good crossing in fair weather. We boarded as foot passengers and were boarded before the vehicles which was a nice touch. We were also off the boat before the vehicles which allowed a little more time. The cost each way is £16 per person £32 return by foot.
Written 27 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rich_Opool
Hartlepool, UK49 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Solo
Absolutely SHOCKING customer service.
They cancelled my booking 13hrs before sailing, saying that they couldn't fit me and my vehicle on the vessel. It was a MOTORBIKE!!
Which left left me scrambling around at 9pm trying to find another ferry onto Orkney.

They are overbooking customers and then telling people they can leave their cars on the mainland and travel as pedestrians.

Do yourself a favour and just book with Northlink from Scrabster. They are miles better.
Written 12 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We would really appreciate if you would contact us at operations@pentlandferries.co.uk so that we can fully investigate why this happened.
Written 22 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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PENTLAND FERRIES (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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