Kirkwall - Facilities & Information

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The Essentials

  • 3mls

  • 0.5mls

  • 15mls

  • £1 per 20min

  • £2 per wash

  • 0.5mls

  • 75 beds



Information

 

Dates:  1st April - 26th October 2010

Tel:  01856 872 243

 

Hostel is closed from 11am - 5pm
Reception open from 5pm - 11.45pm
Please contact the hostel if you expect to arrive late

 

Please note that we do not accept stag or hen parties at any of our hostels.

 

Local Attractions

 

Skara Brae
An ancient stone age settlement on the mainland. Now in the care of Historic Scotland.

Tomb of the Eagles


Isbister Chambered Cairn and Visitor Centre, STB 4 Star Attraction
Liddle, St. Margarets Hope, Orkney KW17 2RW
Visit Website

 

Maes Howe
Magnificent stone age tomb with Viking graffiti
Visit Website

 

Ring of Brogar
Standing stone ring in West Mainland
Visit Website

 

Scapa Flow
Visit the area where the German Fleet was sunk during WWII. You can also go diving
Visit Website

 

Italian Chapel
Superb chapel constructed by Italian prisoners in WWII
Visit Website

 

Cubbie Row’s Castle & St Mary’s Chapel
One of the earliest stone castles to survive in Scotland, built in about 1145. On the island of Wyre 0.5m from pier
Visit Website

 

Highland Park Distillery
Distillery and visitor centre near Kirkwall
Visit Website

 

Orkney Museum
Museum in the centre of Kirkwall
Visit Website

 

Balfour Castle
Baronial castle on Shapinsay with walled gardens
Visit Website

 

Bishop's & Earl's Palaces
Two palaces in Kirkwall
Visit Website

 

St Magnus Cathedral
Magnificent Norse cathedral in Kirkwall
Visit Website

 

Brough of Birsay
Viking settlement on tidal island
Visit Website

 

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
Visit Website

 

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
Visit Website

 

Sheila Fleet Jewellery
Jewellery make and visitor centre
Visit Website

 


Eating Out

 

Ayre Hotel
Lunch and bar menu served throughout the day, A La Carte in the evenings
Ayre Road, Kirkwall, Orkney
A three star hotel overlooking Kirkwall harbour 
Visit Website

 

The Bothy Bar 
Contemporary and relaxing atmosphere, variety of dining options, great local produce, local ales and whiskies, STB 3 Star Hotel
Albert Hotel, Mounthoolie Lane, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HW
Visit Website

 

Ferry Inn
Comfortable friendly Inn situated centrally by the harbour area of the picturesque town of Stromness. High standard of food with local seafood dishes as a speciality, STB 2 Star Inn
John Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3AA
Visit Website

 

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

 

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

 

Stromness Hotel
The a la carte Scapa Flow Restaurant prides itself on using the finest local Orcadian produce; the very best grass-reared beef, fresh fish and succulent shellfish,  STB 3 Star Hotel
The Pier Head, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3AA
Visit Website

Wildlife

Hen harrier, merlin, short-eared owl, curlew, red grouse, great skuta, dunlin, guillemot, razorbill, kittiwake, red-throated diver, seals.

 

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

 

Brodgar RSPB Reserve
Spectacular location, surrounding the Ring of Brodgar, at the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site
Nearest town: Stromness
Visit Website

 

Cottascarth & Rendall Moss RSPB Reserve
Experience Orkney’s ancient open moorland. A great place to see hen harriers, merlins and short-eared owls
Nearest town: Kirkwall
Visit Website

 

Hobbister RSPB Reserve
Many upland habitats including heather moor, bog and wet heath, in addition to cliffs, tidal sandflats and saltmarsh overlooking Scapa Flow
Nearest town: Kirkwall
Visit Website

 

Trumland RSPB Reserve
This 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
Visit Website

 

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
Visit Website

 

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
Visit Website

 

Onziebust RSPB Reserve O
A farmland and wetland reserve on the island of Egilsay, managed primarily for corncrakes
Visit Website

 

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
Visit Website

 

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

 

Roving Eye Enterprises
A unique boat tour to see the underwater wrecks of the German Fleet
Underwater boat tour of Scapa Flow
Westrow Lodge, Orphir, Orkney, KW17 2RD
Visit Website

 

Explorer Fast Sea Charters
Orkney's leading Eco-tour operator, offers you the chance to view the previously inaccessible wildlife and coastal scenery of Orkney on a wildlife and coastal tour
Office 5 Harbour Terminal, Kirkwall Pier, Kirkwall Orkney, KW15 1HU
Visit Website

Active & Adventure

Power Boating

 

Surfing

 

Kayaking
Kirkwall kayaking Club
Tel: 01856 872 922

 

Fishing
Orkney Trout Fishing association
Caolilla, Finstown, Orkney
Visit Website

 

Sailing
Orkney Sailing Club, The Gimel, Harbour Street, Kirkwall, Orkney
Visit Website

 

Rock climbing
Visit Website

 

Scuba diving
Explore the sunken German WW1 Fleet at Scapa Flow
Scapa Flow Diving Centre, Waterview Cottage, Burray, Orkney
Visit Website

Walkers

Moderate Walking

 

Hoxa Head Footpath
A waymarked costal walk exploring world war two sites
Distance 2.5kms, 50mins
View Route

 

Point of Ness, Orkney
A plesant walk through the historical town of Stromness leading on to the shore line to Warebeth beach. Waders and seabirds are common
Distance 3kms, 1hr
View Route

 

Longer Walks

 

Mull Head Circular
Cliff walk with views of heath nesting birds and spectacular sea features
Distance 6kms, 1hr 40mins
View Route

 

Disclaimer: All walking routes are hosted on external sites, therefore SYHA can hold no responsibility towards their accuracy. SYHA would also like to acknowledge the British Mountaineering Council Participation Statement: "The BMC recognises that climbing and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions".

 

 


Staff Recommendations

Frank Alexander, Manager

 

"Orkney has it all: spectacular cliffs, endless skies, an abundance of wildlife, and tons of living, breathing history. The friendly Kirkwall Youth Hostel is conveniently located in the center of it all, making it the perfect base for exploring Orkney Mainland and the Northern isles"

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