Money Saving Tips for a Trip to Orkney

ScrimpingandSaving

My father lives in the Orkneys, has done for 2 years now and I've not had the chance to visit due to distance and cost. Now it appears that his health is failing so we need to plan a trip for this year. My husband has booked the Easter holiday period as we figured it would be cheaper to travel during Easter when roads are quieter and lodgings cheaper.

We are travelling from North Wiltshire. We'll stop overnight at his parents in Lancashire.

The plan is to set off from his parents early in the morning, stop for breakfast at Asda just off the motorway at Carlisle and then continue to get to Inverness for lunch. We'll have a stop and a bite to eat there (any cheap recommendations?) before heading off again to get the late afternoon/early evening ferry. By doing it in one day we'll save on the cost of an overnight stay.

The petrol costs I've calculated will be around £150 there.
The ferry will be £50.
My dad will put us up and feed us but we'll probably have to take them out once to thank them for looking after us and we'll need some spending money.

On the way back it's another £50 for the ferry and £150 petrol. We'll do one overnight stay this time, possibly south of Inverness.

So what I need is: a list of the cheapest petrol stations from here to Inverness.
Cheap recommendations of somewhere to stop for lunch near Inverness.
Cheap or free things to do in Orkney
A cheap recommendation of somewhere to stay on the way back.
Any other tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!

comeandgo

Hi There is a Tesco just off the A9 as you get into Inverness, you should be able to get something to eat and fill up quite cheaply there. There is also a Tesco and an Asda just off the A9 in Perth, again the cheapest for fuel and food and toilets.
Fuel after Inverness is expensive and the further north you go the worse it gets - add about 20p a litre more.

Premier Inn sometimes have rooms for £19 so check on internet, the furthest north Premier Inn is in Inverness.

I dont think you will find things cheaper with it being Easter - up here (Highlands of Scotland) things are increased in price as lots of Engish coming up on holiday for the week.
Easter is early this year - can I suggest you have the car ready for snow and possibly bad roads? Its not unknown for us to have snow cover on the roads in March - April though it is usually cleared early morning.
Hope you enjoy your time in Orkney.

Mara_uk7

Ok, as we discussed earlier, Pentland ferries is the way to go, Leaves Gills Bay, north of WICK, 3 times a day (last one leaves at 6.30pm for Orkney)Booking is essential . They have a website with fares & sailing times. Depending on what part of Orkney your dad is on, there is a million & one things to do. Especially if you like open spaces and deserted beaches.
Get in touch with the tourist board via VISIT SCOTLAND website for a brochure pack, or if you want to pm me your address, Ill arrange to get some stuff sent to you.
Cheapest fuel is usually at a Mr T, either just East of Inverness (Take Airport turn at the roundabout on the A9) or at Mr T just outside Wick, (road signposted John O Groats)

If you need anything more, drop me a message, Im a native and know where all the cheapies are ! lol :cool:

littlereddevil

Can you really do Carlisle to Inverness between breakfast and lunch time?

mummybearx

littlereddevil wrote: »

Can you really do Carlisle to Inverness between breakfast and lunch time?

Yup, it's what, just about 4 hours? Easily do-able x

Mara_uk7

Inverness to Edinburgh is about 3 hours, Not all dual carriageway remember, And there will be easter traffic including caravans on the road ! And getting past Glasgow at that time of the morning wont be easy. Allow plenty time, there are roadworks on the Kessock bridge at Inverness with up to 20 minute delays at the moment, but how many weeks long this will be, I dunno. Oooh Im as excited as if I were taking the trip myself ! lol :j

agrinnall

littlereddevil wrote: »

Can you really do Carlisle to Inverness between breakfast and lunch time?

zepsgal wrote: »

Yup, it's what, just about 4 hours? Easily do-able x

Well, Google Maps reckons 253 miles and 4 hours 21 minutes. However, I regularly drive most of that route and I reckon you'd be lucky to do it in that time on most occasions. The A9 is often subject to roadworks, although (touch wood) the section I drive is clear at the moment, which can cause quite lengthy delays. And if you're unlucky enough to hit one of the not infrequent road closures due to an accident you can find the alternative route adding several hours to the journey.

So, yes, if all goes well it'll be fine, but check the Traffic Scotland website before you start, and maybe on the way if you can.

littlereddevil

zepsgal wrote: »

Yup, it's what, just about 4 hours? Easily do-able x

You must always land luckier than I do lol

ScrimpingandSaving

Well he used to live in Tain so we are familiar with the route. Last time we went it was New Year 2011 I think and we almost got snowed in!

This is our first visit to Orkney and I am quivering not exactly with excitement but trepidation about the cost of it all! This will be our family holiday as it's damned expensive.

So, which is cheaper for fuel - Tesco or Mr T?

We'll have two kids with us which is why we want to stop for lunch and stretch our legs. We also want to make a bit more of a holiday of it and stop somewhere on the way back.

Premier Inn sounds good. We will be taking the early crossing back so aim to get past Inverness before we stop.

I will book the ferry once our plans are confirmed, thanks Mara_uk7. He lives near Kirkwall. I know we will have the car but after that epic drive it'd be nice if we could chill out and not have to drive to places that are too far. His idea of a day out would be for us to take him to the pub and buy him beers for the rest of the day....

I know we should probably do this in the summer but hubby has booked the time off work now and there's no guaranteeing the weather anyhow is there?

I'll get onto the tourist board and print out a list of sites to visit. We only plan to stay a few days (all I can bear - he's a bit full on) so a quick look around the island will suffice. It's more about giving the kids a nice time really and ensuring they don't get too bored.

It's going to be a heck of a drive!

agrinnall

I think Mr T and Tesco are one and the same, based on Mara's explanation of how to get to the one at Inverness.

At Perth ASDA is usually marginally (0.2p per litre) cheaper than Tesco, but Tesco is much easier to find as it's just a few yards off the ring road (take the Crieff exit and turn right at the roundabout). Morrison's is often cheaper still but is in the centre of Perth so I wouldn't recommend it.

ScrimpingandSaving

Right we will plan to fill up at the Tesco at Inverness and that should last us until the return journey.

Our unconfirmed schedule is this: set off on 23rd March. Stay with his parents for 2 nights. Leave early Mon morning for Orkney, stopping at Carlisle and Inverness. Get to Orkney for Mon evening.

3 nights in Orkney. Come back Thurs 28th, stay overnight in Premier Inn somewhere south of Inverness. Get back to his parents for Good Friday. Stay with them for Easter.

I'm hoping that by doing this we will miss the bulk of the traffic.