Peak ferry fares scrapped for Scotland's northern isles

In Tuesday’s budget announcement, finance secretary Shona Robison announced the end to the long-standing system of seasonal pricing routes between Orkney, Shetland and mainland Scotland.

Island residents will pay the low-season fare throughout the year from April, a move estimated to cost £5.4 million over the next three years.

Read more: No room at the cabin on overnight ferry to Scottish island - so I took the cargo ship instead

It means a family of four travelling in summer with a car and cabin would save about £278.

The change follows sustained pressure from politicians across the northern isles, including Orkney Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur MSP and Shetland’s SNP candidate Hannah Mary Goodlad.

Mr McArthur said: “Having called on the government to scrap peak fares on Northern Isles ferry services, I welcome the commitment given in today’s budget.

“These are lifeline services for islanders, and having scrapped peak fares on ScotRail services, it is only right that the Scottish Government match this commitment for our publicly funded Northern Isles ferry routes.”

Findings from a Transport Scotland consultation last year also found year-round low fares emerged as a key demand from islanders.

Ministers are also understood to be considering reserving a quota of cabins and vehicle space for islanders on peak sailings.

Concerns have repeatedly been raised about limited cabin space for passengers and insufficient freight capacity for vehicles and goods to and from the Northern Isles, particularly in peak tourist season.

Shetland, which has a population of about 20,000, welcomed some 90,000 visitors in 2024 alone, and that’s excluding the cruise ship passengers. The lack of adequate cabin space has resulted in overcrowding on sailings, with some islanders unable to secure bookings for essential travel, including for work or medical appointments.