Eating, Drinking & Local Attractions

Eating & Drinking

• Ayre Hotel Ayre Road, Kirkwall, Orkney.

• The Bothy Bar (Albert Hotel) Mounthoolie Lane, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HW. STB 3 Star Hotel.

• Ferry Inn John Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3AA. STB 2 Star Inn.

• The Noust Pub Orphir, Orkney, KW17 2RB.

• The Smithy Restaurant Seafood a speciality. Full lunch and evening menus. Meals with a difference, boat charters arranged. Balfour Village, Shapinsay, Orkney.

• Stromabank Hotel & Restaurant Longhope, Hoy, Orkney, KW16 3PA. STB 3 Star Small Hotel.

• Stromness Hotel The Pier Head, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3AA. STB 3 Star Hotel.

• West End Hotel Main Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1BU. STB 3 Star Small Hotel.

Local Attractions

• Balfour Castle Baronial castle on Shapinsay with walled gardens. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Birsay Moors RSPB Reserve Birsay Moors nature reserve is the RSPB's largest reserve on Mainland Orkney. This large area is ideal for birds of prey in search of food. Nearest town: Kirkwall.

• Bishop's & Earl's Palaces Two palaces in Kirkwall. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Blackhammer Cairn Cairn on Rousay. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Brodgar RSPB Reserve This spectacular location, surrounding the Ring of Brodgar, lies at the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site. Nearest town: Stromness.

• Brough of Birsay Viking settlement on tidal island. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Brough of Deerness Remnants of a clifftop settlement. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Burroughston Broch Ruined broch on Shapinsay. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Churchill Barriers Causeways linking together some of the eastern islands. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Click Mill, Dounby The last surviving horizontal water mill in Orkney. 2.5m from Dounby on the B905 to Evie village.

• Cottascarth & Rendall Moss RSPB Reserve This nature reserve provides a mosaic of heather, woodrush and wet heath/fen which is ideal for an variety of breeding moorland birds including birds of prey in search of food. Nearest town: Kirkwall.

• Cross Kirk, Westray Ruined church on Westray. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Cubbie Row’s Castle & St Mary’s Chapel The castle is probably one of the earliest stone castles to survive in Scotland, built in about 1145. The ruined chapel is of late 12th-century date, in Romanesque style. On the island of Wyre 0.5m from pier.

• Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn A low mound covering a Neolithic chambered tomb with four cells. 0.5m S of Finstown on B9056 from Kirkwall.

• Dwarfie Stane A huge block of sandstone in which a Neolithic burial chamber has been cut. Towards the N end of Hoy, 3.5m from Rackwick.

• Eynhallow Church Ruined 12th-century monastic church and post-medieval domestic buildings. On the island of Eynhallow.

• Five Senses of Orkney Explore Orkney using all five senses. We take you to Orkney's hidden gems, off the beaten track. 1 Manse Lane, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3BX.

• Grain Earth House A well-built Iron Age earth house of underground chamber supported on stone pillars. About 1m NW of Kirkwall in Hatston Industrial Estate off the A965.

• Hackness Martello Tower Restored Martello Tower plus nearby barracks and gun emplacements. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Hall of Clestrain Ruined mansion house. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Highland Park Distillery Distillery and visitor centre near Kirkwall. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Hobbister RSPB Reserve The Hobbister reserve is a mosaic of upland habitats including heather moor, bog and wet heath, in addition to cliffs, tidal sandflats and saltmarsh overlooking Scapa Flow. Nearest town: Kirkwall.

• Holm of Papa Westray Chambered Cairn A massive tomb with a long, narrow chamber divided into three, with 14 beehive cells opening into the walls. On the island of Holm of Papa Westray.

• Hoy RSPB Reserve The reserve is a mixture of moorland and cliffs and includes the famous Old Man of Hoy rock stack. On Hoy.

• Inverness to Orkney Day Tour John O'Groats Ferries, Ferry Office, John O'Groats, KW1 4YR.

• Italian Chapel Superb chapel constructed by Italian prisoners in WWII. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Knap of Howar Probably the oldest standing stone houses in north-west Europe, dating from the early Neolithic period. On the island of Papa Westray about 0.25m W of Holland Farm.

• Knowe of Yarso Chambered Cairn An oval cairn with concentric walls enclosing a Neolithic chambered tomb divided into three compartments. On the island of Rousay on the B9064, 3m from pier.

• Lady Kirk, Sanday Spooky ruined church on Sanday. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Lady Kirk, Westray Ruined church on Westray. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Links of Noltland Sand dunes seal and protect these significant prehistoric remains in a fragile environment requiring careful management. Little can be seen of the remains. On the Island of Westray.

• Loons & Lochs of Banks RSPB Reserve This marshland reserve is one of the best remaining marshes in the Orkney islands. Nearest town: Stromness.

• Maes Howe Magnificent stone age tomb with Viking graffiti. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Melsetter House Mansion house on Hoy which attached chapel. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Midhowe Broch Extensive remains of a large broch on Rousay. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Midhowe Cairn Vast burial cairn with protective roof on Rousay. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Mill Dam RSPB Reserve Back in the 1880s, this wetland was formed when a marsh was dammed to provide water power to a mill. Now, the water levels are controlled to provide maximum benefit for breeding birds. On Shapinsay.

• Mine Howe As featured on TV's "Time Team". (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Moncur Memorial Church Large church in the centre of Stronsay. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Noltland Castle Well preserved castle on Westray. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• North Hill RSPB Reserve The North Hill reserve is situated at the north end of the small island of Papa Westray, one of the northern isles of Orkney.

• North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory Well-known as one of the best birdwatching sites in the country.

• Noup Cliffs RSPB Reserve The dramatic Noup Cliffs support Orkney's largest 'seabird city' and the stunning scenery and the noise and smell of the thousands of summer breeding seabirds make a visit to this reserve an unforgettable experience. On Westray.

• Onziebust RSPB Reserve Onziebust is a farmland and wetland reserve on the island of Egilsay, managed primarily for corncrakes.

• Orkney Archaeology Tours Catering for both groups and individuals. Bayview, Birsay, Orkney, KW172LR.

• Orkney Aspects Offering a full range of guided tours in Orkney. Waterfield, Deerness, Orkney, KW17 2QL.

• Orkney Ferries Operating seven ferries between Orkney mainland and thirteen of the smaller islands. Shore Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1LG.

• Orkney Marine Life Aquarium Aquarium and Rock Pool displays of local marine life and exhibits of Orkney Marine Heritage past and present. Optional guided tour of aquarium and rock pool area. Open Easter to October 10am to 6pm and by arrangement in the evenings and outwith those dates. Pool Farmhouse, Grimness, South Ronaldsay, Orkney, KW17 2TH.

• Orkney Museums and Heritage

• Orkney Museum Museum in the centre of Kirkwall. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Orkney Wireless Museum The development of wireless in Orkney from the start of the last century to the present day. Kiln Corner, Junction Road, Kirkwall KW15 1LB.

• Orphir Church Ruin of circular church and Norse feasting hall. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• The Pickaquoy Centre For sport, arts and leisure. Muddisdale Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1LR.

• Pier Arts Centre Modern art gallery is housed in two 18th century buildings, a house and warehouse backing on to the pier. 28-30 Victoria Street, Stromness, Orkney KW16 3AA.

• Quoyness Cairn Ancient burial cairn on Sanday. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Rennibister Earth-House A good example of an Orkney earth house. About 4.5m WNW of Kirkwall on the A965.

• Ring of Brogar Standing stone ring in West Mainland. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Roving Eye Enterprises Underwater boat tour of Scapa Flow. Westrow Lodge, Orphir, Orkney, KW17 2RD.

• Scapa Flow Surrounded by the Orkney islands. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Sheila Fleet Jewellery Jewellery make and visitor centre. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Skaill House Mansion near Skara Brae. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Stenness Stones Group of spectacular standing stones, West Mainland. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Skara Brae Stone age settlement on West Mainland. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• St Columba's Church Church on Hoy. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• St John's Church Church on Hoy. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• St Magnus, Birsay Church in the north west of Mainland Orkney. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• St Magnus Church The complete but roofless ruin of a 12th-century church with a round tower, dramatically sited. On the island of Egilsay 0.5m from pier.

• St Magnus Cathedral Magnificent Norse cathedral in Kirkwall. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• St Mary's, Rousay Ruined church on Rousay. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• St Peter's, Sandwick Nice church near Skara Brae. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Stromness Museum The maritime and natural history of Orkney. 52 Alfred Street, Stromness KW16 3DF.

• Taversoe Tuick Cairn Burial chamber on Rousay. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Tomb of the Eagles Isbister Chambered Cairn and Visitor Centre. Liddle, St. Margarets Hope, Orkney KW17 2RW. STB 4 Star Attraction.

• Trumland RSPB Reserve Trumland nature reserve is a typical piece of Orkney moorland and is an important part of the network of upland heath and mire habitats across the islands. On Rousay.

• Unstan Cairn Burial chamber on West Mainland. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Westraak Offering guided tours of the beautiful island of Westray. Quarry Road, Pierowall, Westray, Orkney, KW17 2DH.

• Whitehall Fish Mart Museum about Stronsay and its people. (Undiscovered Scotland Feature Page)

• Wideford Hill Chambered Cairn A fine Neolithic chambered cairn with three concentric walls and a burial chamber with three large cells. About 2m W of Kirkwall on the B9056.

For Activities in the area, see the relevant links pages. For Local Businesses, see the relevant links pages. For Events in the area, see the What's On? page.