How to get toBishop’s and Earl’s Palacescar-free
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Visit Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces car-free
Travel a greener way and enjoy 25% off at Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces (open April to September only).
Once you’re on Orkney, it’s easy to visit car-free. The palaces are in the centre of Kirkwall, Orkney’s largest town.
Our recommended route gives more bus details and further advice for getting to Orkney by ferry.
Check out our recommended route (below) and then use our journey planner (above) for door-to-door train, bus and walking routes.
Discount: Enjoy 25% off entry when you arrive car-free: by train, bus or bike. Simply book online with code GOOD25 and show bus/train ticket or bike on arrival. This will entitle you to 25% off the standard adult, child or concession admission price. Historic Environment Scotland Members can also add the Good Traveller card to your history hunter game collection.
Find out about multi-trip bus tickets and how to use rural buses.
Scotrail have various special offers, such as Rail and Sail tickets and kids’ tickets and activities.
For more money-saving tips see our handy guides to UK trains and buses.
View the UNESCO listed nature reserve and remote request stops from your Far North Line window. Learn more with audio or visual guides.
From your ferry you might admire wildlife such as nesting puffins, lounging seals or even orcas, plus the rock formation Old Man of Hoy.
Cycle path National Route EV12 passes the palaces. Plan your cycle route here.
The St Magnus Way footpath goes through Kirkwall. The town itself has lots of scenic alleyways. Explore with an online walking tour.
Taxis can be booked in advance with Orkney Cabs – 01856 875000.
Get accessibility information for visiting Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces. Read our guide to accessibility on public transport.
Discover more offers and days out near Orkney. See other Historic Environment Scotland sites you can visit car-free with Good Journey.
Header image © Historic Environment Scotland.
Getting to Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces car-free
Here's our recommended route to Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces. To get bus and train times and walking routes use our journey planner.
From across Orkney by bus
There are direct buses to Kirkwall from:
- Bus X1: St Margaret’s Hope (30 mins for Gills Bay ferries), Stromness (30 mins for Scrabster, Graemsay & Hoy ferries)
- Bus 2: Houton (25 mins, for ferries from Hoy & Flotta), Orphir (35 mins)
- Bus 3: Orkney (30 mins)
- Bus 6: Evie (35 mins), Rendall (20 mins), Tingwall (25 mins, for Rousay, Egilsay & Wyre ferries)
- Bus 7: Birsay (40 mins), Dounby (25 mins), Harray (25 mins), Twatt (30 mins)
- and other villages.
It’s then about a 5-minute walk from Kirkwall Travel Centre to the palaces.
From across Orkney by ferry
There are direct ferries to Kirkwall operated by Orkney ferries from:
Eday (75 mins), Papa Westray for North Ronaldsay (2 hrs 15 mins), Sanday (85 mins), Shapinsay (45 mins), Stronsay (1.5-2 hrs) and Westray (85 mins). Book and check for service updates before you depart.
You arrive at Shapinsay ferry terminal in Kirkwall. It’s then about a 10-minute walk to the palaces.
Ferry options to Kirkwall, Orkney Islands
Gills Bay ferries
Ferries leave about 3 times per day and take about 70 minutes. Check the seasonal timetables. There are direct buses from: John o’ Groats (10 mins buses 77, 80, 280), Wick (40 mins, bus 77). The ferry connects with bus X1 to Kirkwall (30 mins).
Scrabster ferries
Ferries leave about 3 times per day and take about 90 minutes. Check the seasonal timetables. There are direct buses from John o’ Groats (bus 80, 65 mins) and Thurso (bus X99, 5 mins and bus 80, 15 mins). The ferry connects with bus X1 to Kirkwall (30 mins).
Aberdeen ferries
Ferries leave once per day and take about 6 hours. Check the seasonal timetables. There are many direct buses and trains to this large city. The ferry connects with bus X10 to the centre of Kirkwall (2 mins).
Example journeys
See below for three example journeys from Inverness via Thurso and one from Aberdeen.
Inverness (07.00) via Gills Bay → Kirkwall (15.20): train - bus - ferry - bus
Trains depart Inverness at around 07.00 and arrive in Thurso at about 11.00, Monday to Saturday. The journey takes roughly 4 hours.
Overall, trains leave about 4 times per day (about 1 on Sundays) on the scenic Far North Line from: Dingwall (3 hrs, 10 mins), Georgemas Junction (10 mins), Helmsdale (75 mins), Invergordon (3 hrs), Lairg (2 hrs), Tain (2.5 hrs) and Wick (30 mins). Search for train times and cheaper tickets with Good Journey.
Bus 280 and bus 80 leave from RBS in Thurso. Buses leave at about 11.30 and take approximately 40 minutes, meaning you arrive around 12.10 at the Gills Bay ferry terminal road end.
It’s then about a 5-minute walk from the bus stop to the ferry terminal.
Book the ferry in advance and arrive at least 30 minutes early. It sets sail around 13.30 and arrives around 14.40, after about a 70-minute crossing.
Bus X1 leaves the ferry terminal at about 14.50. After a 30-minute ride it arrives at about 15.20.
It’s then about a 5-minute walk from Kirkwall Travel Centre to the palaces, giving you an hour to go round…
Inverness (14.20) via Scrabster → Kirkwall (21.30): bus - ferry - bus
Bus X99 departs Inverness bus station at about 14.20 and arrives at Scrabster ferry terminal around 18.00. The journey takes about 3 hours and 40 minutes, travelling via Brora and Helmsdale (2 hrs), Lybster (75 mins) and Wick (40 mins).
Ferries depart at about 19.00 from Scrabster ferry terminal. Check-in closes around 30-minutes earlier. It’s about a 90-minute passage, so you arrive at around 20.30.
Bus X1 departs at about 21.00 from the ferry terminal ‘Travel Centre’ (or bus X10 later). The journey takes roughly 30 minutes, so you arrive at Kirkwall Travel Centre at around 21.30. Otherwise, book Orkney Cabs – 01856 875000.
The palace is about a 5-minute walk away, but you will need to wait until morning to visit.
Inverness (14.00) via Scrabster → Kirkwall (21.30): train - taxi - ferry - bus
Trains depart Inverness at about 14.00 and arrive in Thurso at about 17.50, Monday to Saturday. The journey takes around 3 hours and 40 minutes. Search for train times and cheaper tickets with Good Journey.
Prebook a taxi to Scrabster ferry terminal. The journey should take about 5-10 minutes. You could try: Highland – 01389 614614 (Highland taxi fares are included in Rail & Sail tickets), Caithness Cabs – 01847 895677, Violet’s Taxis – 01847 893374 or Pentland Cabs – 01847 895474.
Ferries depart at about 19.00 from Scrabster ferry terminal. Check-in closes around 30-minutes earlier. It’s about a 90-minute passage, so you arrive at approximately 20.30.
Bus X1 departs at about 21.00 from the ferry terminal ‘Travel Centre’ (or bus X10 later). The journey takes around 30 minutes, so you arrive at Kirkwall Travel Centre at about 21.30. Otherwise, book Orkney Cabs – 01856 875000.
The palace is about a 5-minute walk away, but you will need to wait until morning to visit.
Aberdeen (16.30) via Jamieson's Quay→ Kirkwall (23.15): ferry - bus
North Link ferries run overnight, leaving early evening. Check the departure times and a schedule description. It’s about a 6-hour voyage from Aberdeen (Jamieson’s Quay) or Lerwick (Holmsgarth) in Shetland.
Timetable from Aberdeen to Kirkwall and Lerwick
- Tuesday: Summer – Aberdeen via Kirkwall to Lerwick.
- Thursday: Aberdeen via Kirkwall to Lerwick.
- Saturday: Aberdeen via Kirkwall to Lerwick.
- Sunday: Aberdeen via Kirkwall to Lerwick.
Timetable from Lerwick to Kirkwall and Aberdeen:
- Monday: Summer – Lerwick via Kirkwall to Aberdeen.
- Wednesday: Lerwick via Kirkwall to Aberdeen.
- Friday: Lerwick via Kirkwall to Aberdeen.
You arrive at Hatston ferry terminal, located near Kirkwall at about 23.00.
Bus X10 leaves the ferry terminal at 23.10. The journey takes a couple of minutes to reach Kirkwall Hotel. Otherwise, book Orkney Cabs – 01856 875000.
The palace is about a 5-minute walk away, but you will need to wait until morning to visit.
About Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces
Kirkwall was once a bustling Norwegian port. Today you can see the only episcopal palace ever built in Norse Scotland.
For any queries about visiting contact Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces on 01856 871 918 or [email protected]
Address: Bishop's and Earl's Palaces, Watergate, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1PD. Visit Website