MAINLAND ORKNEY TO CANTICK HEAD LIGHTHOUSE

Useful telephone numbers:-

Cantick Head: 01856 701255 Email cantick@gmail.com

Northlink Ferries: 0845 6000 449

Pentland Ferries: 01856 831226

Orkney Ferries: 01856 811397 HOUTON - LYNESS - HOUTON

Cards accepted at Houton terminal and on board – not American Express, Electron, Solo or Diners Cards

Last ferries from Houton:

Saturday 16:15, Monday-Friday 17:30

Sundays: May 4th - June 8th 16:50 June 15th - August 17th 19:00 August 24th -September 28th 16:50

Overnight Accommodation Mainland Orkney:

Straigona Private B&B Tankerness convenient for Kirkwall Airport- Stephen & Shona: Tel 01856 861328

West End House Private B&B St Margarets Hope by Pentland Ferries terminal - Maggie: Tel 01856 831399

Driving Directions:-

STROMNESS to HOUTON PIER - 8 miles/13 km approx

Leave Stromness on the A965 to KIRKWALL

About 3 miles out of Stromness you will see a RIGHT turn signposted A964, FERRY and ORPHIR

You will be travelling up hill, around a tight bend and steeply down hill to another bend/junction with the sea on your right at all times. As you come off the "tight" bend you will see the ferry terminal below and to your right, at the bottom of the hill turn RIGHT at the FERRY & WATERSIDE HOUSE signpost.

KIRKWALL to HOUTON PIER - 10 miles/16 km approx

From C0-OP, LIDL or TESCO Supermarkets

Turn RIGHT out of the supermarket, turn RIGHT at the roundabout, RIGHT again on to A964 signpost ORPHIR

Continue through ORPHIR, 30 mile speed limit, and on to HOUTON PIER. About 9 miles/14km out (1 mile from Houton) you will see the bay ahead and to the left The Houton Inn, a large low building with red tiled roof which is adjacent to the ferry terminal.

A short distance before the right bend and up hill road you will see a FERRY signpost, at this point if you proceed straight ahead you will leave the main road and continue down to the Ferry terminal, "technically" a left turn

LYNESS to CANTICK HEAD

From the ferry terminal proceed to the T junction and turn left. Continue for about 8 miles/13 km, the sea will always be on your LEFT

After 8 miles/13 km you will come to the Ayr a man made causeway. At the beginning of the causeway you will see a signpost right to BRIMS and the LIFEBOAT MUSEUM, orientation note only DO NOT turn right

Continue across the Ayr, the sea will be on your LEFT and RIGHT, and proceed straight ahead up the hill, "technically" a RIGHT turn off the main road, proceed up the hill and to the end of the road where you will find Cantick Head Lighthouse Cottages

NOTE if you wish to visit the shop (closes 6pm)  DO NOT drive up the hill, continue on the road around the bend and take the first LEFT turn down to the pier (signpost TOILETS) where you will find GROAT'S on the left and public toilets to the right.

IF you visit the shop OR miss the up hill turn off - continue through Longhope village to the Medical Centre, from here you can take any road to the RIGHT or proceed straight ahead along the coast road.

Whichever route you choose you will eventualy reach a T junction and should be able to see the Lighthouse; at the T junction turn LEFT, proceed to the end of the road where you will find Cantick Head Lighthouse Cottages

Safe journey!