St Margaret's Hope – Gills Bay
Ferry to Scotland
St Margaret's Hope – Gills Bay
Ferry to Scotland
The St Margaret's Hope Gills Bay ferry route connects Orkney Islands with Scotland. Currently there is just the 1 ferry company operating this ferry service, Pentland Ferries. The crossing operates up to 21 times each week with sailing durations from around 1 hour 15 minutes.
St Margaret's Hope Gills Bay sailing durations and frequency may vary from season to season so we’d advise doing a live check to get the most up to date information.
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Most well known locally for the seals that are often found lying on the rocks, Gill’s Bay is found on the north coast of Scotland and serves as a gateway between mainland Scotland and the islands laying to its north. The pier is one of the prominent features of the area, providing the entrance for Pentland Ferries to operate among the docks. In recent times it has become the most commonly used departure point from the mainland across the Short Sea Crossing to the islands of Stroma, Swona and Orkney. The crossing is generally considered the quickest and safest way to get across the waters of Pentland Firth. The sailings on the ferry route run throughout the year and are thought to be a very reliable and comfortable service. Whilst in the area, it is thought to be worthwhile exploring the local wildlife; seals, wild dogs, porpoises are all often spotted among the rocks, whilst even a basking shark has been seen on occasion.
