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Orkney Island Travel Help - Taxis from Thurso to Scrabster

Posted by (Salem, Oregon USA) on

We are traveling by train from Kyle of Lochalsh to Thurso on May 13 (Saturday) and then directly on to Stromness on Orkney via the NorthLink ferry. Our train is scheduled to arrive in Thurso at 17:50 and we need to check in at the ferry terminal in Scrabster by 18:30 for a 19:00 sailing. The ferry terminal is only a few miles from the railway station but I am nervous about not making the ferry connection if there are any delays. Does anyone have any advice about this tight timeline?

I've made a tentative taxi reservation with Highland Cabs to pick us up at the railway station upon arrival but I'm nervous about their reliability. The weblink they sent me to track my reservation directed me to a web site that my browser said was insecure so I was reluctant to open the page. In addition, they suggested using the Taxi Booker app which has some very bad reviews. Does anyone have any experience with Highland Cabs? Are they a legitimate company? Are there other taxi services that anyone can recommend in Thurso?

Posted by
1869 posts

Since you are asking for very specific information, you might have better luck getting a response if you put your question in the Scotland trip advisor forum. (Most people using the Scrabster ferry are probably driving, not taking the train to Thurso. )

Posted by
1476 posts

Hi, Karl,

Why not ring them before you depart the U.S. to make/confirm your reservation, and then confirm again the night before your scheduled pickup. Their telephone number from the U.S. is 011 44 1847 555555. Once you're in Scotland, it's 01847 555555.

Have you made arrangements for your travels once you've arrived in Stromness?

Best wishes,

Mike (Auchterless)

Posted by
27 posts

Thanks Mike,
I'll follow your suggestions. We have booked a hotel in Stromness for 2 nights and a private full-day tour (we are a party of 4 retired couples) on the day after we arrive. If I wasn't still paranoid about contracting covid (my wife and I both got sick last July while traveling in Europe) I would take a tour with a larger group.
Karl

Posted by
3124 posts

You might enjoy joining the Facebook group "ORKNEY PAST &PRESENT" (spacing as shown). It's a private group, but you don't have to have any special qualifications except an interest in Orkney. You can post questions like this and get helpful answers from people who live there.

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