Photo: Sebastian Schuster / UnsplashPentland Ferries
More about Pentland FerriesCheck fares on Direct Ferries
Opens Direct Ferries, a ferry booking site. Or book direct with Pentland Ferries.
- Operator
- 1
Checked against pentlandferries.co.uk on 10 November 2026
Are you planning a trip to Orkney? The Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope ferry takes you across the Pentland Firth, from Caithness to South Ronaldsay in Orkney.
Pentland Ferries sails this route, and they will get you to Orkney in just over an hour. You can compare the crossing on Ferryu.
- To Orkney in just over an hour with Pentland Ferries
- The crossing is across the Pentland Firth
- Sails from Gills Bay in Caithness to St Margaret's Hope in South Ronaldsay, Orkney
- The sea crossing is on a purpose-built car and passenger ferry
At a glance
- Vehicles
- Cars
- Pentland Ferries
- Arrives
- St Margaret's Hope (Orkney)
- Scotland
Who sails this route
Photo: Sebastian Schuster / UnsplashSailing with Pentland Ferries
Pentland Ferries make the sea crossing on a purpose-built car and passenger ferry. With the trip to Orkney taking just over an hour, you will soon be on your way.
If you have particular dates in mind, book early for the best choice of sailings.
Before you travel
Your journey starts at Gills Bay in Caithness and ends at St Margaret's Hope in South Ronaldsay, Orkney. Be sure to plan your route to the harbour and arrive in good time for your sailing.
Weather in St Margaret's Hope
- Warmest month: August, average high 14°C.
- Wettest month: October, about 116 mm of rain.
- Sea at its warmest in August, about 13°C.
Temperature
- Air, average daily low to high (1991–2020)
- Sea surface, monthly average (2023–2024)
Rain
Average total for the month, mm (1991–2020)
Temperature
- Air, average daily low to high (1991–2020)
- Sea surface, monthly average (2023–2024)
Rain
Average total for the month, mm (1991–2020)
Show the numbers
| Month | High °C | Low °C | Rain mm | Sea °C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.2 | 5.1 | 97.9 | 8.5 |
| February | 6.6 | 4.6 | 82.1 | 7.9 |
| March | 6.8 | 4.9 | 76.1 | 7.5 |
| April | 7.7 | 6.0 | 55.3 | 8.0 |
| May | 9.1 | 7.6 | 50.8 | 9.7 |
| June | 11.1 | 9.7 | 55.2 | 11.5 |
| July | 12.9 | 11.6 | 58.8 | 12.9 |
| August | 13.6 | 12.3 | 72.4 | 13.4 |
| September | 13.0 | 11.4 | 84.8 | 13.4 |
| October | 11.3 | 9.5 | 115.5 | 12.3 |
| November | 9.4 | 7.4 | 114.4 | 10.9 |
| December | 7.8 | 5.7 | 100.3 | 9.6 |
1991–2020 averages, ERA5 via Open-Meteo, read at the grid point nearest the port (9 km away). Sea surface: 2023–2024 averages from the Open-Meteo Marine Weather API, which has no sea temperatures before late 2022.
Questions answered
How long is the ferry from Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope?
To Orkney in just over an hour. (Pentland Ferries, pentlandferries.co.uk)
Can I take my car?
Yes.
The sea crossing is onboard a purpose-built car and passenger ferry. (Pentland Ferries, pentlandferries.co.uk)
Compare routes to Scotland
Who sails each route and how long the crossing takes.
| Route | Operator | Crossing |
|---|---|---|
| Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope This route | Pentland Ferries | – |
| Aberdeen to Kirkwall | NorthLink Ferries | – |
| Aberdeen to Lerwick | NorthLink Ferries | – |
| Ardrossan to Brodick | CalMac Ferries | About 55 minutes |
| Largs to Cumbrae | CalMac Ferries | – |
| Mallaig to Armadale | CalMac Ferries | About 45 minutes |
| Oban to Castlebay | CalMac Ferries | About 5 hours |
| Oban to Craignure | CalMac Ferries | About 45 minutes |
| Scrabster to Stromness | NorthLink Ferries | About 90 minutes |
| Uig to Lochmaddy | CalMac Ferries | About 105 minutes |
| Uig to Tarbert | CalMac Ferries | About 100 minutes |
| Ullapool to Stornoway | CalMac Ferries | About 2½ hours |
| Wemyss Bay to Rothesay | CalMac Ferries | About 35 minutes |
More ferries to Scotland
Facts on this page come from: