Whalsay Ferry

Linga at the Laxo terminal

The Whalsay ferry runs throughout the day from Laxo on Mainland to Symbister on Whalsay. There are normally two vessels on the service, with the Out Skerries Ferry also providing a handful of additional crossings at times. Under certain weather conditions, Laxo terminal is difficult to access safely, and so the service operates to and from Vidlin on the mainland instead. Vidlin terminal is primarily used by the Out Skerries service. Laxo terminal lies on the shore below the B9071, accessed via a short spur road. It has a small terminal building behind the large car park. This car park is used both by visitors crossing on foot, and also a few islanders who leave their cars on the mainland, although the fares are generally low enough that few residents do this. The terminal at Symbister is in the large harbour complex, and uses one of the inner piers with limited facilities at the pierhead.

The crossing takes about half an hour from Laxo, or forty minutes from Vidlin. The two main vessels maintain a regular service with half hourly departures from either port. The larger vessel, Linga, has a passenger cabin and viewing deck above the car deck, while the older, smaller vessel, Hendra, has an unusual windowless cabin below the car deck.

Current and former Vessels

Name	IMO	Operator	Dates	Notes
Linga	9242170	Shetland Islands Council	2002-date	23 cars
Hendra	8200254	Shetland Islands Council	1982-date	12 cars
Geira	8712489	Shetland Islands Council	1988-2005	15 cars
Kjella		Shetland Islands Council	1980-1998	12 cars
Fivla		Shetland Islands Council	?-1982
Fylga	7347342	Shetland Islands Council	?-1982
Grima	7328205	North Company	1975-1976
Earl of Zetland	5095804	North Company	?-1975