Undiscovered Scotland

 

Most of Orkney's northern islands benefit from excellent services provided by the three main car ferries operating from Kirkwall. Papa Westray is less fortunate, only receiving visits from the Earl Sigurd or Earl Thorfinn twice a week. And being without a roll-on roll-off terminal it relies on cargo or vehicles being lifted on or off by crane. But there is a rather more frequent alternative.

For many, the most conenient sea route to Papa Westray is via the normal ferry service from Kirkwall to Westray and then a connecting minibus service to Gill Pier, at the northern end of Pierowall. Here you board the passenger only ferry Golden Mariana for the short crossing of the Papa Sound to the pier at Moclett, at the southern end of Papa Westray. For current fare and timetable information, and for bookings, contact Orkney Ferries via their website.

The Golden Mariana was built in 1973 in Devon and spent her early years on pleasure trips from Ullapool. From the mid 1980s she operated a variety of services in and around Orkney, and in recent years has provided the current feeder service, indirectly linking Papa Westray into Orkney's network of ferry services.