Extra sailings on the Pentland Firth

A series of additional sailings to Orkney will operate over summer 2014, including to tie in with the Orkney Folk Festival.

In making the announcement  today, Monday, Transport Minister Keith Brown  said the move would encourage more people to take part in events on the islands held during the 2014 Year of Homecoming.

The extra lunchtime sailings on the Serco NorthLink Pentland Firth route will be timetabled around events in May and September, and come following partnership working between Transport Scotland, Orkney Islands Council and Serco NorthLink Ferries.

Eligible Orkney residents will also benefit from an extension to the National Concessionary Travel arrangements.

This will allow passengers travelling on the first sailing of the day from Stromness, using their entitlement card and vouchers, to book a cabin free of charge the evening before their sailing.

Vouchers for travel between April 2014 and March 2015 will arrive in early February to allow passengers to make advance bookings.

• The extra sailings  include four additional lunchtime sailings on May 22, 27, 29 and 30 to support the Orkney Folk Festival and two additional lunchtime sailings on September 18 and 22 to support the Orkney Blues Festival.