St Margaret's Hope – Gills Bay
Ferries to Scotland
St Margaret's Hope – Gills Bay
Ferries to Scotland
Pentland Ferries provides the ferry from St Margaret's Hope to Gills Bay. St Margaret's Hope Gills Bay ferries cost around $47 and $415, depending on ticket details. Prices exclude any service fees. Ferry schedules change seasonally, use our Deal Finder to get the latest ferry ticket information for St Margaret's Hope Gills Bay ferries.
St Margaret's Hope Gills Bay ferry sailings typycally depart from St Margaret's Hope at around 07:45. The last ferry leaves at 17:00.
The St Margaret's Hope Gills Bay ferry trip can take around 1 hour 15 minutes. Crossing times can vary between ferry operator and seasons.
There are around 21 weekly sailings from St Margaret's Hope to Gills Bay serviced by Pentland Ferries. Timetables can vary by season and operator.
St Margaret's Hope Gills Bay ferry prices typically range between $47* and $415*. The average price is typically $181*. The cheapest ferries from St Margaret's Hope to Gills Bay start from $47*. The average price for a foot passenger is $82*. The average price for a car is $348*.
Ferry price can vary based on booking factors such as number of passengers, vehicle type sailing times. Pricing is taken from searches over last 30 days and exclusive of service fees, last updated July 25.
The distance between St Margaret's Hope to Gills Bay is approximately 19 miles (31km) or 17 nautical miles.
Yes, Pentland Ferries allow cars on board ferries between St Margaret's Hope and Gills Bay. Use our Deal Finder to get live pricing for car ferries between St Margaret's Hope and Gills Bay.
Foot passengers can travel on the St Margaret's Hope to Gills Bay ferry with Pentland Ferries.
Pets can travel on ferries from St Margaret's Hope to Gills Bay with Pentland Ferries. Pets may have to stay in the vehicle during the journey depending on the operators guidelines.
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| St Margaret's Hope - Gills Bay Ferry Route Summary | ||
|---|---|---|
| Departure Country | Orkney Islands | |
| Destination Country | Scotland | |
| No. of Operators | 1 | |
| Operators | Pentland Ferries | |
| Average Price | $181 | |
| Average Daily Sailings | 3 | |
| Average Weekly Sailings | 21 | |
| Average Sailing Duration | 1 h 15 m | |
| Fastest Sailing Duration | 1 h 15 m | |
| First Ferry | 07:45 | |
| Last Ferry | 17:00 | |
| Distance | 17 Nautical Miles | |
* Prices subject to change, pricing is taken from last 30 days, last updated 1 July 2025.
Most well known locally for the seals that are often found lying on the rocks, Gill’s Bay is found on the north coast of Scotland and serves as a gateway between mainland Scotland and the islands laying to its north. The pier is one of the prominent features of the area, providing the entrance for Pentland Ferries to operate among the docks. In recent times it has become the most commonly used departure point from the mainland across the Short Sea Crossing to the islands of Stroma, Swona and Orkney. The crossing is generally considered the quickest and safest way to get across the waters of Pentland Firth. The sailings on the ferry route run throughout the year and are thought to be a very reliable and comfortable service. Whilst in the area, it is thought to be worthwhile exploring the local wildlife; seals, wild dogs, porpoises are all often spotted among the rocks, whilst even a basking shark has been seen on occasion.
