Pentland Ferries to Orkney
The new purpose built catamaran, MV Pentalina, took over the Pentland Firth route from the MV Claymore on her arrival in Orkney. The catamaran will provide an even faster service and a greater carrying capacity reducing the crossing time between St. Margaret's Hope and Gills Bay to under an hour.As the ship turns around Needle Point St Margaret's Hope village comes into view. The third largest settlement on the Orkney Islands and the main settlement on South Ronaldsay St Margaret's Hope is a peaceful place to stay and a good starting point for many of the attractions throughout the Orkneys. |
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Once you arrive at St Margaret's Hope it is a twenty minute car journey across the famous Churchill barriers, past the Italian Chapel onto Mainland Orkney where you can catch the ferries to the outer islands or visit places like Maes Howe, Skara Brae, and the Ring of Brodgar.
Throughout the crossing there is the opportunity to see a wide selection of local wildlife including seals, porpoises, killer whales, puffins and other sea birds. As you pass the uninhabited islands of Swona and Stroma watch out for the feral cattle on Swona, now recognised as a separate breed after being left alone on the island since 1974. As you set off from Gill's Bay in Caithness you will see the islands of Stroma and Swona in the distance. Both common seals and grey seals can be seen basking on the shores of Stroma and Swona and you may well see the now famous feral cattle of Swona which were left to run wild over thirty years ago and are now a recognised breed.
When you pass along the firth depending on the time of year look out for porpoises, orca, dolphins and Minke whales. Between May and August on rare occasions huge basking sharks can also be seen The cliffs running along the islands are inhabited by huge numbers of seabirds including puffins, fulmars, great skua, razor bills, guillemots and gannets to name but a few, can be seen nesting, roosting and flying around throughout the journey.
Pentland Ferries History
Pentland Ferries is a family run business, owned by Andrew and Susan Banks who established the business in 2001. Currently the company owns two ships, the MV Pentalina and MV Pentalina-B. The company owned the MV Claymore for 7 years before selling it in April 2009.
Pentland Ferries was started by its present managing director, Andrew Banks in 1997. He attempted to start a ferry service between the Cromarty Firth at Invergordon and Orkney. Being unable to generate enough freight, or get a subsidy, the service was abandoned and the vessel laid up.
Feeling the short sea route had potential, even although it had been tried and abandoned by Orkney Islands Council in 1989, after protracted negotiations, Banks obtained a 99 year lease on the Gills Bay terminal, about 3 miles west of John o' Groats. After two years work improving the site, Pentalina-B started the service in May 2001, sailing to St Margaret's Hope.
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