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…
Must-see hotels in Orkney & Shetland
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…
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…
Kirkwall
Stylishly refurbished in plum and grey, this central but peaceful hotel is Kirkwall’s finest address. Comfortable contemporary rooms in a variety of…
Shetland
This genteel, characterful hotel near Brae has a long, sad history and inevitable rumours of a (friendly) ghost. Built in the late 18th century (though…
Shetland
One of Shetland's best hotels, this energetically run waterfront place has very stylish rooms featuring sheepskins, local tweeds and other fabrics, and…
Shetland
Follow the puffin signpost a mile short of Hillswick to find Shetland's finest welcome. With sweeping views over the bay, this house has a great lounge,…
Lerwick
Sheltering under Fort Charlotte's walls, this friendly place offers summery en suite rooms, including great singles. Views down the pedestrian street are…
Shetland
This spotless hostel has very spacious dorms with lockers, family rooms, a garden, an elegant lounge and a wee conservatory dining area with great bay…
Shetland
The Shetland Amenity Trust manages three lighthouse cottages, all commanding dramatic views of rugged coastline: one near the airport at Sumburgh …
Shetland
This fine old haa – the 18th-century seat of the local laird – sits in a lovely location on the shore of Vaila Sound, a couple of miles southwest of Walls…
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…
Lerwick
Some of Shetland's B&Bs are aimed more at oil workers than visitors, but this is quite the reverse: a relaxing, welcoming spot in a fine house behind a…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Lerwick
With a handy location just off the pedestrian street, this upbeat spot has four cute rooms decked out in IKEA furniture with Shetland fabrics and…
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…
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,…
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,…
Shetland
Runs Shetland's network of böds – simple rustic cottages or huts with peat fires, which might mean bringing a sleeping bag, coins for the meter, or even a…
Shetland
This old RAF base (though the radar station it served reopened in 2018) is not the most atmospheric lodging, though the tired barracks-style rooms offer…
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…
Lerwick
On a hill a little removed from Lerwick's centre, this is a fine option with some water views. Rooms – some in the house next door – are spacious, light…
Kirkwall
South of Kirkwall's centre, this sizeable yet intimate hotel is run with a professional touch. Rooms are individually decorated, and feature handsome…
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…
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…
Shetland
Brightly decorated rooms – some bigger than others – are complemented by wooden chalets arrayed around the lawn here. Rooms feel a little overpriced so it…
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…
Shetland
On offer here are decent tent pitches and caravan sites, with or without stunning views over St Magnus Bay's weird and wonderful rock formations. It also…
Shetland
A reliable country-style hotel, with renovated rooms that feature soft duvets, attractive colour schemes and big towels. Larger sea-view rooms looking out…
Shetland
This wonderful wooden mansion was built in 1896. The owners are involved in an ongoing renovation – a major project – to return it to former glories, and…
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,…
Lerwick
Lerwick's best hotel overlooks the harbour and has a quiet but central setting. It’s a dignified small set-up that will appeal to older visitors or…
Lerwick
A budget gem in the heart of Lerwick B&B-land, this place has a wise and welcoming host, and comfortable, clean, good-value rooms with fridge and…
Shetland
An enthusiastic family has taken over this old Shetland stalwart near Scousburgh and guarantee a warm welcome. The Spiggie has compact, pretty rooms as…
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…
