There are 5 ways to get from Aberdeen to Mainland by plane, ferry, bus, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly from Aberdeen Airport
best- Fly from Aberdeen Airport (ABZ) to Kirkwall (KOI)plane ABZ - KOI
2h 14m£100–310Bus, ferry
cheapest- Take the bus from Aberdeen Union Street to Inverness Union Streetbus
- Take the bus from Inverness Union Street to Scrabster Ferry Terminalbus
- Take the ferry from Scrabster Ferry Terminal to Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminalferry Nl1
10h 7m£15–92Ferry
- Take the ferry from Aberdeen Ferry Terminal to Kirkwall Orkney Hatston Ferry Terminalferry Nl2
6h 30m£20–36Train, bus, ferry
- Take the train from Aberdeen to Invernesstrain
- Take the train from Inverness to Broratrain
- Take the bus from Brora Station Square to Scrabster Ferry Terminalbus
- Take the ferry from Scrabster Ferry Terminal to Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminalferry Nl1
10h 46m£59–127Train to Inverness Dalcross Airport, fly
- Take the train from Aberdeen to Inverness Airport Stationtrain
- Fly from Inverness Dalcross Airport (INV) to Kirkwall (KOI)plane INV - KOI
4h 5m£133–311
Aberdeen Airport (ABZ) to Kirkwall (KOI) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Aberdeen to Mainland is to ferry which costs £20 - £40 and takes 6h 30m.
The fastest way to get from Aberdeen to Mainland is to fly which takes 2h 14m and costs £100 - £310.
Yes, there is a direct ferry departing from Aberdeen Ferry Terminal and arriving at Kirkwall Orkney Hatston Ferry Terminal. Services depart once daily, and operate Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The journey takes approximately 6h 30m.
The distance between Aberdeen and Mainland is 132 miles.
The best way to get from Aberdeen to Mainland without a car is to ferry which takes 6h 30m and costs £20 - £40.
It takes approximately 2h 14m to get from Aberdeen to Mainland, including transfers.
There are 118+ hotels available in Mainland.
What companies run services between Aberdeen, Scotland and Mainland, Orkney Islands, Scotland?
Loganair flies from Aberdeen Airport (ABZ) to Kirkwall (KOI) twice daily. Alternatively, NorthLink Ferries operates a ferry from Aberdeen Ferry Terminal to Kirkwall Orkney Hatston Ferry Terminal once daily. Tickets cost £20–36 and the journey takes 6h 30m.
- Website
- loganair.co.uk
Flights from Aberdeen Airport to Kirkwall
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £100–310
Flights from Aberdeen Airport to Kirkwall via Lerwick
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- £100–310
Flights from Inverness Dalcross Airport to Kirkwall
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £120–260
- Phone
- +44 344 811 0141
- Website
- scotrail.co.uk
Train from Aberdeen to Inverness
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 12m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £16–45
- Website
- https://www.scotrail.co.uk/
Train from Inverness to Brora
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- £14–45
- Website
- https://www.scotrail.co.uk/
Train from Aberdeen to Inverness Airport Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £12–40
- Website
- https://www.scotrail.co.uk/
- Phone
- +44 (0)131 510 4007
- ride@ember.to
- Website
- ember.to
Bus from Aberdeen Union Street to Inverness Union Street
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 9m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £1–35
- Website
- https://www.ember.to/
Bus from Inverness Union Street to Scrabster Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 28m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £1–40
- Website
- https://www.ember.to/
Bus from Brora Station Square to Scrabster Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 44m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £1–35
- Website
- https://www.ember.to/
- Phone
- 01224591381
- bluebird.enquiries@stagecoachbus.com
- Website
- stagecoachbus.com
Bus from Brora Station Square to Scrabster Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 8m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- £16–21
- Website
- https://www.stagecoachbus.com/
- Phone
- +44 845 600 0449
- info@northlinkferries.co.uk
- Website
- northlinkferries.co.uk
Ferry from Aberdeen Ferry Terminal to Kirkwall Orkney Hatston Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- £20–36
- Website
- https://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/
- Low
- £20–25
- Peak
- £31–36
Ferry from Scrabster Ferry Terminal to Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £13–19
- Website
- https://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/
- Low
- £13–17
- Peak
- £16–19
Want to know more about travelling around United Kingdom
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the UK: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide







