Sheffield to Orkney by train and ferry

Last updated: April 2026

The Orkney islands are not the most accessible destination, but worth visiting. They’re a great destination if you love neolithic sites, a rough climate and long summer days (or short winter ones). There are also plenty of options to explore cliffs and beaches on foot or by bike. Travelling from England and continental Europe to Orkney by train and ferry is definitely possible, but lends itself especially to lovers of ‘slow travel’. Because the ferry is weather dependent, try to be flexible and allow time for possible delays. Below, you will find my recommended route for travelling from northern England to Orkney using trains and an overnight ferry.

Booking tickets

Below, I have outlined the route my husband and I take annually to travel to Orkney by train and ferry. The description includes some tips for both directions and compares this journey to flying. We usually travel as 2 people with 2 bikes. For longer train routes like this, it’s necessary to reserve bike spots in advance at the time of buying your passenger ticket. We booked our tickets through Trainpal, which meant getting 1/3rd of the price off with a Railcard! Getting a Railcard is definitely worth it if you regularly travel within the UK by train. On this route, I suggest getting refunable tickets. Also keep in mind that the ferry to Kirkwall (Orkney’s capital) does not sail every day. In summer, ferry tickets are a bit more expensive and cabins do sell out.

Sheffield to Orkney

Train 1: Sheffield > Edinburgh Waverley

Train 2: Edinburgh Waverley > Aberdeen

Optional overnight stay in Aberdeen

Ferry: Aberdeen > Kirkwall

The first time we travelled from Sheffield to Orkney, we left late in the afternoon and arrived in Aberdeen around 22:00. We had a minor delay on the first train, so we had to hurry a little in order to catch the second one. The first train came all the way from Penzance, so this route if also suitable for people travelling from the south of England. Getting from Sheffield to Aberdeen will take between 6 and 7 hours, with a transfer in either York or Edinburgh. Because we arrived so late, we booked a B&B in Aberdeen. We used next day to cycle to Drum Castle and have lunch at Foodstory in the city. After that, we boarded the ferry about an hour before departure at 17:00 and arrived in Kirkwall at 23:00.

When taking an early train from Sheffield in the morning, you can make it to Kirkwall within one day. This is what we did another trip to Orkney. It still allows for a decent amount of leeway time in case of train disruptions. I would advise against booking a cabin, pod or recliner chair on the way to Orkney, since you’re not spending a full night on the ferry.

Another option is to stay overnight in Edinburgh, which we did most recently. This ended up being a good decision, because the ferry left a few hours early due to incoming bad weather. If we had tried to travel all the way to Aberdeen in one day, we would not have been on time for the early departure.

Orkney to Sheffield

Ferry: Kirkwall > Aberdeen

Train 1: Aberdeen > Edinburgh

Train 2: Edinburgh > Sheffield

On the way back, it’s much more doable to travel within one day, as the ferry arrives in Aberdeen as early as 07:00. We always use the morning to get breakfast at Foodstory (can you tell how much we love that place?!). For the way back, it’s worth booking a place to sleep on the ferry.

A cabin adds quite a lot to the total price of your ticket, so it’s only really worth the money if you desperately need a good night’s sleep and are able to fill all the beds. If you’re good at sleeping on a plane or bus, reserving a pod is the cheaper option. Be aware that the pod spaces sell out quite quickly in summer. Another option is to reserve a recliner seat, but these are not made to be slept in. An additional downside is that most recliner seats are in a busy part of the ferry with bright lighting and blaring tv’s. The final option is to simply sleep on the floor (many people do this). Be sure to bring a sleeping bag or something else to keep you warm and comfy. The normal chairs on the passenger deck are not suitable to sleep in.

Ferry vs. flight

You’d be surprised how many of the Orkney islands have an airport! The main one (Kirkwall Airport) is on the biggest island. However, most direct flights to Orkney leave from elsewhere in Scotland. If you travel from abroad, you will always have a layover. From Sheffield you’d need to travel to Manchester, followed by taking two flights. A one-way flight costs at least £225 per person from Edinburgh (reference date: April 2026). By comparison, the ferry costs £20-£42 for a foot passenger depending on the season. The price of train tickets depends on how far in advance you book them, and of course having a Railcard helps. Either way, taking the train and ferry to Orkney is likely to be much cheaper than flying!

Main recommendations

• Book your train tickets to and from Aberdeen in advance.
• If possible, opt for flexible or refundable train tickets in case of delays.
• Especially outside of summer, take into account that the ferry may leave up to 3 hours early because of changing weather conditions.
• Do not book a cabin on the way to Orkney, but do book one if you want to sleep well on the way back to Aberdeen.
• If you want to save money on the way back, bring a sleeping bag and find a place to lay down in the middle of the ferry, where you feel the least rocking.
• Bring travel tablets if you tend to get seasick, as the ferry is quite small.

Conclusion

In general, travelling from England to Aberdeen takes about the same time in both directions, with 1 or 2 changes. The total travel time to Orkney from Sheffield is roughly 12 hours. Aside from the overnight ferry on the way back (due to not having a good night’s sleep or a rough crossing), I usually enjoy the journey. If you want to visit the island, I would always recommend to travel to Orkney by train and ferry. The views from the train between Edinburgh and Aberdeen are especially good!

* This post includes an affiliate link. Buying a Railcard through this link or booking your train ticket through this link helps maintain The Sustainable Travel Guide, as we both receive a small discount on our next train journeys (at no extra cost to you). I only share affiliate links for brands that I support, consider sustainable, and buy from myself.