Orkney

The fery to Shetland leaves Orkney around midnight and a cabin is the best way to do the journey. On the way back it leaves Shetland late afternoon arriving in Orkney near midnight. There are other ferries to see the smaller islands in Orkney and Shetland. I would imagine if you're really not a good sailor a quick plane flight would be better. The quickest ferry to Orkney is from Gills Bay but some prefer the Scrabster one and there's a view of the Old Man of Hoy on that journey. Check out Pentland Ferries and Northlink for all the details. These are "working" boats" delivering everything and friends advise that livestock is more likely to be moved early autumn to the mainland, another thing to bear in mind.

The campsites on all the islands are very accommodating about arrival times but contact them first and make bookings just in case. We arrived back at midnight from Shetland but we already had a gate code and pitch number at the Pickaquoy site in Kirkwall.

 edit There's no municipal site at Lerwick now so you need to use the community run sites dotted around Shetland, they are very good.

Many apologies - I meant to type mainland Scotland of course! 

Tinny there are night time sailings to Shetland - thats what I did and I was a bit naughty as there were no cabins - so I er used my own .  A risk I know but I was worried about the dogs - although there are kennels.  On the way back I pitched up at the port on Orkney as what with them loading my outfit in the wrong place arrival was very delayed while they found the drivers of all the vehicles blocking my exit! Not very clever as they knew 2 caravans were getting off the boat at Orkney and there WERE only 2 caravans on the crossing!  The Irish crossings are notoriously bad - and I daresay it can be bad to Shetland but as I say I was very lucky.  Lying down with a sea pill is key - AND also sailing on a full stomach.  A north sea ferry captain once told me brits are daft as they think sailing on an empty stomach will help and it doesn't.  I now always have food and nibbles handy - haven't been as bad since. 

It is very light at night up there - I am glad to say - bedtime is bedtime for me so I don't take any notice! 

We got on the ferry early at Lerwick and had a meal before it left the harbour. We booked recling seats and had a good journey, I managed to get out on the top deck to watch Sumburgh Head fading into the distance, we later sailed past Fair Isle which was a wonderful sight. In bad weather it would be a different story. OH isn't good on large boats so dosed up with his usual Sea legs, you could book a day cabin if you prefer to lie down. 

Remember you are nearer to Norway than the UK!

Anyway, back to Orkney....

Thanks all. It's useful info. I've been studying the ferry timetables and looking at sites. The possibility of a trip to Shetland needs a lot more consideration yet.

I'm currently waiting for a map to arrive to get a better idea of distances and locations. The maps of the islands included in road atlases aren't a lot of use. 

An Orkney or Shetland guide book is the best, I've got a large Orkney guide by Chris Tait but the tourist office has various useful ones.

www.visitorkney.com

My favourite guide was "Shetland - Jill Slee Blackadder" a Colin Baxter Island Guides.  I can't remember if the map came with it but it was in matching colours!  Other guide books are available.  Although it sounds really weird the Bus Shelter on Unst is worth a visit!  I was sent by a friend who had read about it somewhere - but very comically she thought it was in the Outer Hebrides and expected me to find it on Uist!  The bus shelters there may be practical but they are the ugliest I have seen! 

Thanks. It's all duly noted and stored away.

Here's the bus stop! If you look in stories under "authors" you'll see two by me about Orkney and Shetland.