Daily list printed on Pentland Ferries' timetable page, read 21 October 2026. The page prints no season dates and the same times for all seven days
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Crossing time
~70 min
Operator
Pentland Ferries
Map – Gills Bay Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult (16+), single | £23.00 |
| Child (5-15), single | £11.00 |
| Car, single (not including driver) | £55.00 |
| Motorcycle, single (not including rider) | £25.00 |
| Motorhome or caravan up to 5 m, single | £55.00 |
| Motorhome or caravan 5 m to 6 m, single | £77.00 |
| Motorhome or caravan 6 m to 8 m, single | £114.00 |
| Motorhome or caravan over 8 m, single | £150.00 |
| Bike rack, single | £6.00 |
| Orkney resident adult, single | £14.00 |
| Orkney resident child (5-15), single | £7.00 |
| Orkney resident car, single (not including driver) | £44.00 |
| Orkney resident motorcycle, single | £14.00 |
| Dog | Free |
| Pedal cycle | Free |
Prices are the single fares on Pentland Ferries' tariff page for 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027; the operator says to double a single fare for a return. Vehicle fares do not include the driver or passengers. Children under 5, dogs and cycles are free. The tariff page also lists fares from 1 April 2027 (adult £24, child £11, car £57) and a separate Orkney resident tariff, which needs registration for the Resident Discount Scheme and is applied automatically when a registered resident books. Vans over 7 m, commercial vehicles and freight cannot be booked online. All fares in pounds sterling (GBP).
The Gills Bay ferry is Pentland Ferries' car and passenger service across the Pentland Firth, from Gills Bay in Caithness to St Margaret's Hope on South Ronaldsay in Orkney. The company's timetable page gives the journey as 1 hour 10 minutes, and its website says the crossing is made by MV Alfred or MV Pentalina. Pentland describes itself as Orkney's own ferry company, and sells the crossing as a way to reach the islands in just over an hour.
One list covers the whole week. Boats leave St Margaret's Hope at 07:45, 11:30 and 17:00 and Gills Bay at 09:30, 13:30 and 18:45, Monday to Sunday alike. The timetable page prints no season dates and no weekend exceptions, so there is no separate winter list to find; any change would show on Pentland's own site first. Check-in closes 30 minutes before departure.
Fares are published for the year from 1 April 2026: £23 for an adult single, £11 for a child aged 5 to 15, £55 for a car without its driver and £25 for a motorcycle. Children under 5, dogs and bicycles are free. A return is twice the single. Orkney residents registered for the company's Resident Discount Scheme pay £14 for an adult and £44 for a car, and Pentland says that scheme became permanent from 1 April 2026. On 6 October 2026 the operator also opened bookings to 31 March 2028 and set the next year's fares, which rise by £1 for adults and £2 for cars; child and van fares stay as they are.
To reach Gills Bay, the terminal postcode is KW1 4YB, about four miles west of John o' Groats and roughly two and a half hours from Inverness by road, according to Pentland's directions page. Wick and Thurso are the nearest rail stations. At the other end, the company says the drive from St Margaret's Hope to Mainland Orkney over the Churchill Barriers takes about 20 minutes. Booking is online or on 01856 831226, and card is the only way to pay for travel.
- Arrive at the slipway a few minutes before departure; vehicle queues build quickly in summer.
- Check the operator's notices before travelling — tides, weather and maintenance affect sailings.
- Confirm accepted payment methods: several crossings are contactless-only.
Frequently asked questions
Pentland Ferries gives the journey time as 1 hour 10 minutes in both directions on its timetable page. Check-in closes 30 minutes before departure.
Gills Bay departures are 09:30, 13:30 and 18:45; St Margaret's Hope departures are 07:45, 11:30 and 17:00. The timetable page prints the same times for every day of the week and no season dates.
For travel from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 an adult single is £23, a child aged 5 to 15 is £11, a car without driver is £55 and a motorcycle £25. A return is double the single. Under-5s, dogs and cycles are free; a bike rack is £6.
Booking is by the website or by phone on 01856 831226, and all payment for travel is by debit or credit card. Without a booking you can pay by card at the shoreside office one hour before sailing. Vehicles over 7 m, commercial vehicles and freight cannot be booked online.
Pentland Ferries does not charge an amendment fee on bookings made direct. A full refund is given if you cancel at least 18 hours before travel; bookings made through third parties follow those agents' terms.
Yes. Registered residents pay £14 for an adult single and £44 for a car from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, applied automatically when they book. Pentland says the Resident Discount Scheme has been permanent since 1 April 2026.
The sat-nav postcode is KW1 4YB, about four miles west of John o' Groats. Pentland says Inverness is roughly two and a half hours away by road. The Orkney terminal is on Pier Road, St Margaret's Hope, KW17 2SW.
Dogs and cycles travel free. Pentland Ferries says MV Alfred has an indoor dog-friendly sun deck lounge and MV Pentalina an inside dog-friendly area; dogs can also stay in vehicles on the car deck.