Must-see hotels in Orkney

  • Brinkies Guest House

    Orkney

    Just a short walk from the centre of Stromness, but with a lonely, king-of-the-castle position overlooking the town and bay, this exceptional place offers…

  • West Manse

    Orkney

    No timetables reign at this imposing house with arcing coastal vistas; make your own breakfast when you feel like it. Your welcoming hosts have introduced…

  • Bankburn House

    Orkney

    This large rustic house does everything right, with smashing good-sized rooms and engaging owners who put on quality breakfasts and take pride in…

  • Albert Hotel

    Kirkwall

    Stylishly refurbished in plum and grey, this central but peaceful hotel is Kirkwall’s finest address. Comfortable contemporary rooms in a variety of…

  • Beltane House

    Orkney

    Owned by the local community, this is Papa Westray's hub. It has the only shop, and functions as a makeshift pub on Saturday nights. One wing is a hostel…

  • Foinhaven

    Orkney

    For a farmstay with solitude, old-fashioned hospitality and one of the best breakfasts (with fresh eggs) around, try this place, 1.5 miles from Orphir,…

  • Chalmersquoy & the Barn

    Orkney

    This excellent, intimate, modern hostel is an Orcadian gem. It’s heated throughout and has pristine kitchen facilities and an inviting lounge; rooms sleep…

  • Sands Hotel

    Orkney

    This commodious, refurbished 19th-century herring station is right on the pier in Burray village. Rooms have stylish furnishings, and all have great water…

  • Backaskaill

    Orkney

    Set on a working cattle farm by the sea, this place offers comfortable accommodation in a noble stone farmhouse. The polished interior features an…

  • Burnside Farm

    Orkney

    On a working dairy farm on the edge of Stromness, this place has lovely views over green fields, town and harbour. Rooms are elegant and maintain the…

  • Braehead Manse

    Orkney

    A top-notch conversion of a former village hall behind the church in the middle of Westray, this place has two luminous, high-ceilinged rooms with modern…

  • Ayre’s Rock Hostel & Campsite

    Orkney

    This super-friendly spot by a beach 6 miles north of the Sanday ferry offers a cosy three-room hostel sleeping two or four in beds, and a sweet, grassy…

  • Orcades Hostel

    Kirkwall

    Book ahead to get a bed in this cracking hostel on the western edge of Kirkwall. It’s a guesthouse conversion, so there’s a very smart kitchen and lounge,…

  • Bis Geos

    Orkney

    There are stunning views at this spectacular, quirky and cosy self-catering option between Pierowall and Noup Head. There are three separate units here,…

  • Taversoe

    Orkney

    Two miles west from the ferry pier, Rousay's only hotel is an attractively low-key place, with renovated rooms offering excellent bathrooms – one suitable…

  • Lynnfield Hotel

    Kirkwall

    South of Kirkwall's centre, this sizeable yet intimate hotel is run with a professional touch. Rooms are individually decorated, and feature handsome…

  • Stronsay Fish Mart

    Orkney

    Now renovated, this year-round hostel occupies the building that was once the island's herring market, among cottages that used to house the men that…

  • Peedie Hostel

    Kirkwall

    Nestling into a corner at the end of the Kirkwall waterfront, this marvellously located hostel set in former fisherfolk's cottages has a cute, tiny…

  • Stromabank Hotel

    Orkney

    Perched on the hill above Longhope, the small atmospheric Stromabank Hotel has very acceptable, refurbished en suite rooms, as well as tasty home-cooked…

  • Ferry Inn

    Orkney

    With a wide variety of rooms divided between the pub itself and former guesthouses opposite, the Ferry is a useful accommodation option in Stromness,…

  • Birsay Hostel

    Orkney

    A former activity centre and school now has dorms that vary substantially in spaciousness – go for the two- or four-bedded ones. There’s a big kitchen and…

  • Hamnavoe Hostel

    Orkney

    This well-equipped hostel is efficiently run and has excellent facilities, including a fine kitchen and a lounge room with great perspectives over the…

  • Tangles & Kelpie

    Orkney

    These spacious, well-presented flats behind a shop offer decent comfort and a proper kitchen, including an oven plus a washing machine. Kelpie has one…

  • Hoy Centre

    Orkney

    This clean, bright, modern hostel has an enviable location, around 15 minutes’ walk from Moaness Pier, at the base of the rugged Cuilags. Rooms are all en…

  • Observatory Guest House

    Orkney

    Powered by wind and solar energy, this place offers first-rate accommodation and ornithological activities next to the ferry pier. There’s a cafe-bar with…

  • Trumland Farm

    Orkney

    An easy stroll from the ferry (turn left at the main road), this organic farm has a wee hostel with two dorms and a pretty little kitchen and common area…

  • Anderson's Harbour Cottages

    Orkney

    Within a few paces of the Stromness Museum are these five traditional stone cottages for rent, ranging from one to four bedrooms each. All are right on…

  • Brown’s Hostel

    Orkney

    On Stromness' main street, this handy, sociable place has cosy private rooms – no dorms, no bunks – at a good price. There's an inviting common area,…

  • Ayre Hotel

    Kirkwall

    Right on the waterfront, this welcoming 200-year-old hotel with spruce, inviting, large-bedded rooms makes a great Kirkwall base. It's definitely worth…

  • Royal Oak Guest House

    Kirkwall

    This likeable spot south of Kirkwall's centre has eight bright rooms, all with modern en suite bathrooms. Photos of Orkney decorate the guesthouse, which…

  • Shore

    Kirkwall

    Right on the harbour, the Shore has a can-do attitude and a friendly vibe. The rooms vary widely, from compact upstairs chambers to excellent, spacious…

  • Karrawa Guest House

    Kirkwall

    In a peaceful location on the southeastern edge of Kirkwall, this enthusiastically run guesthouse offers significant value for well-kept modern double…

  • Eday Hostel

    Orkney

    Four miles north of the ferry pier, this renovated, community-run hostel is a simple but comfortable place to stay. Dorms are spacious and rates include…

  • Pickaquoy Caravan & Camping Park

    Kirkwall

    There's no view, but plenty of grass and excellent modern facilities at this campsite, which is handily close to the centre of Kirkwall. There are also…

  • Stromness Hotel

    Orkney

    Proudly surveying the main street and harbour of Stromness, this lofty Victorian hotel is a reminder of the way things used to be, with posh revolving…

  • Orkneylodge

    Orkney

    Though it has its quirks, this old seaplane base still makes for a comfortable spot if you've got a car. The rooms are renovated, spacious and commodious,…

  • Lerona

    Kirkwall

    Guests come first here, but the wee folk – a battalion of garden gnomes and clans of dolls with lifelike stares – are close behind. Some of the good-sized…

  • No 1 Broughton

    Orkney

    This solid 19th-century house sitting right on Pierowall Bay is a very comfortable B&B with unusual extras, such as original artworks on the walls and a…

  • Stronsay Hotel

    Orkney

    The island’s watering hole is near the ferry and has refurbished rooms with good bathrooms. It's run by a friendly couple who also do decent if…

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