Four of us will be going to the Orkneys in late May for the Orkney Folk Festival. Festival events are held in many locations but the main events are in Stromness. We are staying in Kirkwall. Since this is our first trip to the Orkneys we also want to visit the tourist sites on the islands. Is there adequate bus service on the mainland or do we need to rent a car?
Posted by
Last Frontier aka Alaska 🏔️
3223 posts
Another option is to hire a driver for the day to drive you where you want to go.
Also, in Rick Steves book, I think he recommends tour guide.
Posted by
Costa Mesa, CA, USA
503 posts
I would recommend renting a car. Bus service isn"t nrarly as frequent as that in other European cities - Kirkwall isn't that bug! Driving is quite easy and you'll have the flexibility to do what you want when you want and thus maximize your time there!
Posted by
Costa Mesa, CA, USA
503 posts
sorry about the spelling errors! due to an injury I'm typing with one hand!!!
Posted by
Peterborough, ON, Canada
1546 posts
Driving is easy in Orkney and the best way by far to see the sights. If you need an automatic, reserve early - we got the last one (well at least the last we could find) even with early booking.
If you plan on seeing Maes Howe, go early in the trip. When we got there they were fully booked for the day so we had to make a reservation for a time slot the next day. Luckily we had another few days there.
Posted by
Chicagoland
279 posts
Another recommend for renting a car. Orkney is really easy to drive, since the roads have very little obstruction to see what’s in front of you, and they are nicely paved and relatively wide.
Posted by
OP
Glenwood Springs
8 posts
Thanks for all of the replies. It seems obvious that renting a car is our best option. However, since the week we will be on the Orkneys is the week of the Orkney Folk Festival (which we are attending) this is the busiest week for car rental. I have tried at least four companies so far and I can't find any available vehicles. We are flying home from Kirkwall so I tried renting a car in Inverness, ferrying it to Orkney, and leaving it at the Kirkwall Airport. Unfortunately, that option is not available either. Does anyone know of a secret rental agency or have any suggestions for us. Thanks.
Mike
Posted by
Tucson
4154 posts
This info on taxis might be helpful. Please note that the link to Orkney public transportation is not at all useful.
Also tour and transport companies might be helpful for the non-festival part of your trip. I think this is the company I used. I was the only person the day I went, but the price was not increased because of that. An advantage was that I could choose where we went. Perhaps your group could do a bespoke tour.
Whatever you do, have a meal at Cafelolz in Kirkwall. And have some bere bannock and cullen skink. I had my first at the cafe at Skara Brae. Yes, it is that kind of a memory.
Edited to add: I took the train from Edinburgh to Thurso/Scrabster, spent the night, then walked on the NorthLink Ferry to Stromness. From the ferry terminal I took the local bus to Kirkwall. I flew back to Aberdeen from Kirkwall. I did the train-ferry-bus thing because I had the time and wanted to see some land and sea. Flying both ways may be more efficient for you. There is an easy bus between the little bus terminal in Kirkwall and the airport.
Posted by
New York City, NY, USA
5678 posts
You might reach out to the Tourist Information Centre. There is an email at this link. Tell them who you have tried. They may know of others or have a recommendation. And they will have current information on bus service etc for the festival.