Getting around Orkney takes a little more planning than getting around a city. Bus services on the Mainland run to fixed timetables. Ferries arrive at different piers depending on where you’ve sailed from. Late-evening options can also be limited. Booking ahead takes the guesswork out of all of it.
Hopon Cars arranges Kirkwall taxi services for residents, visitors and businesses who want a confirmed car and a clear price before they travel. We cover journeys around Kirkwall town centre, to Hatston Pier and Kirkwall Airport, and out to Stromness, St Margaret’s Hope, Houton and villages across the Mainland.
We arrange journeys across Orkney through available local transport operators. Our job is to make booking simple. You tell us where you’re going, we confirm availability, and you receive a fixed-fare quote before anything is booked.
That approach fixes the problems people mention most when looking for a taxi in Kirkwall:
A short hop across town, a ferry connection or a group day out all follow the same simple process. Call +44 20 3504 1438, email hoponcars@gmail.com or book online, and we’ll handle the rest.
You’ll see the full price before you confirm. Any additional luggage requirements can be discussed when booking, so we can give you an accurate fixed-fare quote. The fare you agree is the fare you pay.
You won’t have to hope a car is free. Once a local operator accepts your journey, you get a written confirmation. If we can’t cover your date or vehicle size, we’ll tell you straight away so you can make other plans.
Share your sailing or flight details when you book. We use them to time your pickup around your arrival. That matters in Orkney, where weather regularly affects timetables. For flights, see our dedicated Kirkwall Airport transfers page.
Pre-booked taxi journeys are available for early-morning and late-night travel, subject to driver availability. Booking ahead is the most reliable way to secure a car outside normal hours.
You can request larger vehicles for families, groups and cruise passengers, subject to availability on your date.
Every area we serve is listed below, so you know your route is covered before you book. You can book online, by phone or by email. Every booking comes with a reference number.
Share your pickup point, destination, date, time, number of passengers and luggage. We check availability with local operators and send you a fixed quote. Once your booking is accepted, you’ll receive an email confirmation containing your journey details and booking reference.
If your plans change, contact us as early as possible and we’ll update the booking. Early notice makes it much easier to rearrange cars, especially during the busy summer months.
Your car meets you at the agreed point: your home, a hotel, a pier or the airport. For ferry pickups, we agree a clear meeting place when you book. Hatston, Kirkwall Pier and Stromness are all laid out differently, so a fixed meeting point saves time.
Your journey goes directly to your destination. You can request child seats when booking, subject to availability. Payment methods are confirmed with your quote, so you’ll know how to pay before you travel. Business accounts are available on request.
Our booking team answers calls and emails personally. Questions about your journey go to someone who can actually change the booking.
Visitors and cruise passengers use a private car to see Orkney at their own pace instead of joining a crowded coach.
Business travellers book for meetings, site visits and travel connections. Regular corporate journeys are covered by our business travel transfers.
Families and groups value the extra space and the option to request child seats.
Residents use us for appointments at the Balfour hospital, shopping trips and visits to family, as well as nights out in town.
Students and event visitors book around term dates, the St Magnus International Festival, the County Show and the Ba’ game at Christmas and New Year, when parking in town fills quickly.
Orkney’s ferry terminals aren’t interchangeable. Always check your ticket for the departure point before booking your taxi.
Hatston sits on the northern edge of Kirkwall, a few minutes’ drive from the town centre. It handles NorthLink Ferries sailings to and from Aberdeen and Lerwick, and it’s the main berth for larger cruise ships.
Kirkwall Pier is the harbour in the town centre itself. Orkney Ferries’ inter-island services leave from here, including the Shapinsay ferry. Don’t confuse it with Hatston, because the two are separate locations.
Stromness is about 15 miles west of Kirkwall, roughly a 25-minute drive. It’s the Orkney terminal for the NorthLink ferry to Scrabster.
This route crosses the Churchill Barriers and passes the Italian Chapel on Lamb Holm. St Margaret’s Hope is where Pentland Ferries sails to and from Gills Bay.
Houton, in Orphir, connects with Hoy and Flotta. Tingwall serves Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre. Both are useful pickup and drop-off points if you’re travelling on to the smaller islands.
Cruise passengers berthing at Hatston, or coming ashore into Kirkwall harbour, can book our cruise port transfers for shore excursions.
Our local taxi service in Kirkwall covers St Magnus Cathedral, the Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces, the Orkney Museum, the harbour front and local hotels. Highland Park Distillery, on the southern edge of town, is another popular short trip.
The airport is around three miles from the town centre. Full details on flight pickups and drop-offs are on our Kirkwall Airport transfers page.
These villages put you close to Maeshowe, the Ring of Brodgar, the Standing Stones of Stenness and Skara Brae. If you’re visiting the Brough of Birsay, check tide times first, because the causeway floods at high water.
Orphir is home to the Orkneyinga Saga Centre and the Round Church. Deerness offers clifftop walks out to the Gloup and Mull Head.
There’s no railway in Orkney. The nearest stations are Thurso and Wick on the Scottish mainland, which connect with the Scrabster and Gills Bay ferries. Our station transfers and long distance taxi pages explain onward travel options.
Which vehicles are available depends on the local operators free on your date. When you book, we’ll confirm exactly what type of car you’ll get.
During the April to October cruise season, larger vehicles are in high demand. Book as early as you can.
We work only with operators who hold the taxi or private hire licences required by Orkney Islands Council, along with appropriate insurance for carrying paying passengers. Licence details can be provided on request.
Reliability in Orkney means planning for the weather. In winter we allow extra time for journeys to ferries and flights. If conditions are likely to affect your trip, we’ll contact you before your pickup time.
Step 1 – Choose how to book. Use our online form, call +44 20 3504 1438 or email hoponcars@gmail.com.
Step 2 – Share your journey details. Include your pickup point, destination, date, time, passengers, luggage and any flight or sailing number.
Step 3 – Receive your fixed quote. You’ll see the full fare before committing to anything.
Step 4 – Get your confirmation. Once your booking is accepted, you’ll receive an email with your journey details and booking reference.
Step 5 – Travel. Head to your agreed pickup point at the booked time.
Customers trust us for four simple reasons. You get a clear price, a written confirmation and one point of contact for your journey. And if we can’t cover a booking, we say so upfront rather than leaving you waiting.
You can book a taxi in Kirkwall online, by calling +44 20 3504 1438 or by emailing hoponcars@gmail.com. Share your pickup point, destination, date, time, number of passengers and luggage. If you’re travelling to or from a ferry or flight, include the sailing or flight number. We’ll check availability with local operators and send you a fixed-fare quote. Once your booking is accepted, you’ll receive an email confirmation with your journey details and booking reference. For same-day travel, phoning is usually the quickest way to confirm a car.
Taxi fares in Kirkwall depend on distance, vehicle size and time of travel. Short journeys around town are the lowest fares. Trips to Stromness, Birsay, Houton or St Margaret’s Hope cost more because of the extra mileage. Larger vehicles, such as a 7 seater or minibus, are priced higher than a standard car. With Hopon Cars, you get a fixed-fare quote before you book, so the price is agreed in advance. Any extra luggage requirements should be mentioned when booking so the quote stays accurate. Request a free quote online or call us for a price on your exact route.
Pre-booked taxi journeys are available for early-morning and late-night travel, subject to driver availability. Far fewer cars operate overnight in Orkney than in a city, so turning up and expecting a taxi late at night can be unreliable. Booking ahead is the best way to secure a car for an early ferry, a late arrival or the journey home after an evening out. Give us as much notice as you can for journeys between midnight and 6am. We’ll confirm availability in writing once a local operator has accepted the booking.
For everyday journeys around town, a day’s notice is usually enough, although same-day bookings are often possible. For ferry connections, early-morning trips and late-night travel, book at least 24 to 48 hours ahead. During the April to October cruise season and major events such as the St Magnus International Festival, demand rises sharply. At those times, book several days or even weeks in advance, especially if you need a 7 seater or minibus. Booking early gives you the widest choice of vehicles and the most certainty on your pickup time.
It depends on your route. NorthLink Ferries to and from Aberdeen and Lerwick use Hatston Pier, on the northern edge of Kirkwall. Orkney Ferries’ inter-island services, including Shapinsay, leave from Kirkwall Pier in the town centre. The NorthLink ferry to Scrabster sails from Stromness, while Pentland Ferries to Gills Bay sails from St Margaret’s Hope. Ferries to Hoy and Flotta leave from Houton, and Tingwall serves Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre. Always check your ticket, then tell us the exact terminal when booking so your taxi goes to the right place.
Yes. Kirkwall Airport is around three miles from the town centre, and the drive usually takes about ten minutes. Pre-booking means a car is arranged for your arrival rather than relying on whatever is waiting outside. Share your flight number when you book, so your pickup can be timed around your landing. Our Kirkwall Airport transfers page has full details on airport pickups, drop-offs and travel times to destinations across Orkney.
Yes. Many cruise passengers book a private taxi to explore Orkney at their own pace. Larger cruise ships usually berth at Hatston Pier, while some passengers come ashore by tender into Kirkwall harbour, so check your ship’s arrangements before booking. Popular trips include St Magnus Cathedral, Highland Park Distillery, the Italian Chapel, the Ring of Brodgar and Skara Brae. Tell us your all-aboard time when booking, and we’ll plan a route that gets you back with time to spare. Cruise days are busy, so book before you sail.
Yes. Groups can request a 7 seater MPV or a minibus for up to 8 passengers, subject to availability on the day. These suit families, golf groups, wedding guests and business teams. When booking, tell us how many people are travelling and how much luggage you’re carrying, so we can confirm a suitable vehicle. Larger vehicles are limited in Orkney and in high demand during summer, so early booking makes a real difference. If one large vehicle isn’t available, we can look at arranging two standard cars instead.
Accessible vehicles can be requested when booking, subject to availability. Tell us about any mobility needs, such as a wheelchair that needs to stay occupied during travel, a folding wheelchair, or a need for extra help getting in and out of the car. We’ll check with local operators and confirm in writing what can be arranged before your journey. Accessible vehicles are limited across Orkney, so give us as much notice as possible, especially for hospital appointments, ferry connections or travel during the summer season.
Yes. We arrange longer journeys across Mainland Orkney, including Stromness, Birsay, Deerness, Orphir, Houton and St Margaret’s Hope, as well as across the Churchill Barriers to Burray and South Ronaldsay. For travel beyond Orkney, we can time your taxi to connect with ferries to Scrabster or Gills Bay, and arrange onward travel on the Scottish mainland. Every long-distance journey comes with a fixed-fare quote agreed in advance. Contact us with your full route and travel date for a tailored price.
Need a taxi in Kirkwall? Get a fixed-fare quote and a confirmed booking before you travel.
Call +44 20 3504 1438, email hoponcars@gmail.com or book online in a couple of minutes. Planning your trip? Our Orkney travel guide has practical tips on ferries, sights and getting around the islands.