Must-see hotels in Orkney & Shetland

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…

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…

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

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

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…

One of Shetland's best hotels, this energetically run waterfront place has very stylish rooms featuring sheepskins, local tweeds and other fabrics, and…

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,…

Sheltering under Fort Charlotte's walls, this friendly place offers summery en suite rooms, including great singles. Views down the pedestrian street are…

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…

The Shetland Amenity Trust manages three lighthouse cottages, all commanding dramatic views of rugged coastline: one near the airport at Sumburgh …

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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

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

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

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…

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…

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…