Peak ferry fares to be scrapped from 24 March

ISLANDERS will pay low season fares for travelling on NorthLink Ferries from 24 March 2026, the Scottish Government has announced.

The SNP government has pledged to invest £1.8 million to remove seasonal fares for islanders using the Northern Isles ferry services for the next year.

That means eligible residents from Orkney and Shetland will pay the current low passenger, cabin and car rates all year-round.

It means that a family of four travelling to Aberdeen and back with a four-berth cabin in July would save a total of £141.

NorthLink will also contact islanders who have already booked mid and peak season travel to refund the difference in their fare.

First minister John Swinney announced the date of the project roll-out ahead of visiting both Orkney and Shetland over the coming days.

Swinney said the move would “make ferry travel more affordable, save people money and support household budgets”.

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“The removal of mid and peak season ferry fares for eligible residents of Orkney and Shetland will help even more islanders sustainably access work, connect with family and friends, and benefit from education and training opportunities,” he said.

“We have heard clearly that islanders do not want to be restricted by seasonal pricing and we have listened, delivering lower fares for those who rely on ferry travel the most.”

The scrapping of peak fares was announced in the Scottish budget last month, and was widely greeted in the isles.

However politicians and political candidates have argued over who had influenced the government to remove peak fares.

SNP candidate for Shetland, Hannah Mary Goodlad, said she had “lobbied hard for this change” in the aftermath of the news.

However MSP Beatrice Wishart said the Liberal Democrats had led a “long campaign” to scrap peak fares, adding that she was “delighted that we have persuaded the government to finally do it”.

Swinney will visit Orkney today (Sunday), before travelling north to Shetland.

He will take part in a sit down conversation with Goodlad and journalist Jane Moncrieff at Mareel on Monday night, with tickets still available to be booked through Shetland Arts box office.