Scrabster Ferry

Scrabster Ferry

Location Map ( geo)

The ferry in 2003

View gallery (4)

From:

Scrabster, Thurso

To:

Strmoness (Orkney)

Distance:

46.5 km (28.9 miles)

County

Caithness • Orkney

Current Operator

Northlink Ferries

Toll

from £57.40 (Car+driver, 2009)

On road(s)

A9 • A965

Crossings related to the A9

Stirling Bridges • Tay Bridge (Perthshire) • Coronation Bridge (Pitlochry) • Dunkeld Bridge • Edendon Bridge • Bridge of Tilt • Dalnaspidal Bridge • Daviot Bridge • Conon Bridge • Tomatin Viaduct • Dalreoch Bridge • Alvie Bridge • Almond Bridge • Pass of Killiecrankie • Dornoch Firth Bridge • Bridge of Allan • Kessock Bridge • Carrbridge • Cromarty Bridge • Bonar Bridge • The Mound • Dunbeath Bridge • Findhorn Bridge • Brora Bridge • Golspie Bridge • Slochd Bridge • A9 Garry Bridge • A9 Tummel Bridge • Helmsdale Bridge • A9 Spey Bridge • Dalmagarry Bridge • Bannockburn Bridge • Thurso Bridge • Latheronwheel Bridge • Berriedale Bridge • A9 Dulnain Bridge • Allt Geallaidh Bridge • Larbert Bridges • Dalnamein Bridge • Crubenmore Bridge • Balnagown Bridge • Evelix Bridge • Balavil Bridge • Boathouse Bridge

Crossings related to the A965

Hoy and Graemsay Ferry • Aberdeen - Lerwick and Kirkwall Ferry • Bridge of Waithe

Crossings related to the NCN1

Union Bridge (Tweed) • Cramond Bridge • Tay Road Bridge • Forth Road Bridge • Humber Bridge • Black Bridge (Lairg)

The Scrabster Ferry is one of two crossings of the Pentland Firth from the Scottish mainland to Orkney, the other being the Pentland Ferry.

Crossing

The crossing takes approximately 90 minutes, and is made two or three times a day each way.

History

P&O Scottish Ferries operated ferry services between Stromness and Scrabster from 1971 until 2002. P&O Scottish Ferries was itself formed from the North of Scotland, Orkney & Shetland Steam Navigation Company, which P&O took over in 1971.

In 2002, the contract for the Orkney and Shetland ferries was won by Northlink Ferries, initially a joint venture between Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) and RBS, now a wholly owned subsidiary of David MacBrayne Ltd (CalMac), and ultimately owned by the Scottish Government.

In 2012, NorthLink Ferries Ltd lost the contract for the Northern Isles services. The contract was awarded to Serco Group, who have continued with the existing NorthLink Ferries branding.