Ports – Lerwick

Holmsgarth Ferry Terminal, Holmsgarth Road, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0PR, United Kingdom

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Lerwick Ferry Terminal is located 2 miles from the town centre, on Holmsgarth Road in Lerwick, the capital of Shetland and home to 7,000 people. Explore and enjoy the shops, boutiques, museum, advanced leisure centre, accommodation, places to eat, pubs with live music and many other attractions.

At the Lerwick Ferry Terminal, there is a real time information screen, a tourist information display and a bus stop outside.

Before travelling please remember to check the Service Update webpage.

Lerwick Bus, Ferry, and Airport Connections

  • Bus
    There is a bus stop outside the Lerwick Ferry Terminal at Holmsgarth. The bus goes into the town centre and to Lerwick Bus Station, for onward travel around Shetland. Lerwick Bus Station is located less than one mile from the ferry terminal.
    There are also a number of other bus routes that can be accessed from right outside the terminal. Up-to-date bus timetables can be found on the Shetland Travel Information website and displayed in the bus shelter itself. Bus timetables are also available from the NorthLink Ferries check-in desk in the Lerwick Ferry Terminal.
    Walking into Lerwick town centre will take around 20 minutes and a taxi into the town will cost around £5 depending on where exactly you want to go.
  • Inter-Island Ferries
    Inter-island ferries are operated by Shetland Islands Council. Timetables for inter-island ferries are available from the NorthLink Ferries check-in desk in Lerwick.
  • Airport
    Sumburgh Airport is located 25 miles south of Lerwick. A taxi to Sumburgh from the Terminal would be about £50.
Lifts are available in the Lerwick ferry terminal and on board
Lifts are available in the Lerwick ferry terminal and on board photo © Copyright Billy Fox

Lerwick Terminal Facilities

  • Ticket Sales and Enquiries.
  • Tourist Information Stand.
  • Payphone.
  • Lift.
  • Toilet.
  • Accessible Toilet.
  • Accessible Entry.
Lerwick Ferry Terminal Accessibility information

Parking at Lerwick Ferry Terminal

A limited number of free parking spaces are provided by Lerwick Port Authority for both short stay and long stay parking, this being sign posted accordingly. It should be noted that the availability of long stay parking spaces is not guaranteed and overnight parking in the short stay car park is strictly prohibited.

There is a left luggage facility; bags are left entirely at owner’s risk.

Disability Shetland have all-terrain wheelchairs available for people to use in Shetland. Visit the Disability Shetland website for more information on how to borrow the chairs. The charity can drop off the wheelchairs at the Lerwick Terminal for collection on arrival in Shetland.

For departing passengers: checking in at Lerwick

Check-in at Holmsgarth Ferry Terminal in Lerwick commences two hours prior to departure. Car drivers are recommended to check in at least one hour prior to departure.

Check-in closes 30 minutes prior to departure.

Passengers are encouraged not to make bookings during check-in times as lengthy queues can occur. 

For arriving passengers: in the morning

Drivers must come down to the car deck (when called) to remove the vehicle from the ship. Foot passengers are welcome to stay onboard until 08:30 and leave by the passenger walkway.

Drivers wishing to return to the ship after moving their vehicles should go back into the passenger terminal, through the walkway and show their boarding card to security.

Lerwick Ferry Terminal Opening Hours

DayOpening timesSailing times
Monday07:30 – 17:3017:30
Tuesday07:30 – 19:0019:00
Wednesday07:30 – 17:3017:30
Thursday07:30 – 19:0019:00
Friday07:30 – 17:3017:30
Saturday07:30 – 19:0019:00
Sunday07:30 – 19:0019:00

Streetview tour of the Lerwick Terminal

Greener travel – Electric charging infrastructure

Visit the Zap-map website or download the app to view electric charge points in the locality.

Greener travel – Active Travel

Transport Scotland is committed to increasing levels of cycling and walking for transport and leisure. It goes without saying that walking and cycling benefits an individual’s physical health, but it also provides wider mental health and wellbeing benefits, reduces environmental impacts and helps to keep people’s transport costs down. 

Transport Scotland is committed to making it easier for everyone to incorporate active travel choices into their daily routines and Serco NorthLink Ferries shares this vision.

Why not take advantage of walking and cycling options more often?

A storage stand for 11 cycles is available outside the terminal building as well as a bike repair stand with tools.

Cycling maps are available:

https://www.shetland.org/things/outdoor/cycling

Greener travel – Car-sharing

Why not consider sharing your car journeys with people on similar routes / times? This helps to save money and improve our local air quality and wellbeing.

Header image: Lerwick Harbour from the air photo © Copyright John Coutts