SYHA - ratings, reviews and travel tips!

Kirkwall

4.5 stars

Iain - Scotland

October 2009

I've stayed a fair number of times now, it's not the Ritz! But I like it

4.5 stars

TOH - Singapore

October 2009

4.5 stars

Happy Moose - England

October 2009

Nice central location in Kirkwall and a friendly atmosphere. Check out the archaeology whilst you are there, and buy the group pass for all sites (there are lots). I think you need some sort of transport whilst you are there unless you are a hardened user of buses or a very fit walker.

4 stars

allen - Scotland

September 2009

2 stars

hambo - Australia

September 2009

I think the days of out by 10am back at 5pm have long gone please keep up with other Hostels

3.5 stars

laidecrofter - Scotland

September 2009

The building is a linked series of older huts so not easy to maintain and clean and it shows. Very friendly and helpful staff able to cope efficiently with a large influx of people late at night from the Lerwick ferry. Biggest problem is not being open during the day.

2 stars

Andy - England

September 2009

1 stars

Visitors - Scotland

September 2009

4 stars

Ian - Scotland

September 2009

An adequate Hostel with freindly helpful staff and good clean facilities, maybe the showers could do with upgrading

4 stars

drew - Scotland

September 2009

3.5 stars

christiaan de haes - England

September 2009

3 stars

Sam Robertson - Scotland

September 2009

3.5 stars

Jason - England

September 2009

The rooms are small (only just enough room for the two bunks). The decor really needs a revamp. But it is perfectly OK as a youth hostel.

5 stars

Leni - Germany

September 2009

4 stars

Peter - Scotland

August 2009

Great public library in Kirkwall with friendly staff.

4 stars

Linda G - England

August 2009

4.5 stars

Fabio Sassi - Italy

August 2009

2.5 stars

Sheepies - England

August 2009

3 stars

madabouthostels - England

August 2009

A good base for exploring Orkney- easy to get to inter-island ferries.

2.5 stars

orkney cyclist - Scotland

August 2009

4 stars

pgc - Scotland

August 2009

3 stars

Florenci - Spain

August 2009

4 stars

worldtraveller - Norway

August 2009

Nice hostel if you are not a night owl. Clean, with a big kitchen and dining area and not too far from the city centre.

4 stars

Iain - Scotland

August 2009

I have never stayed at a hostel before and had just intended to stay the 1 night, but found the facilities and the way the Hostel works suits me (you can make your own food, dry your clothes and so on) I ended becoming a member and stayed for rest of week, and intend returning soon

2 stars

Orkney holidayers - England

August 2009

4 stars

Fabio Sassi - Italy

August 2009

3.5 stars

pc - England

August 2009

4.5 stars

weezie711 - United States of America

August 2009

Don't let the exterior fool you--this is a nice hostel. Beds were very comfortable. Only negative was there was inadequate space in the shower area to put dry clothes.

2.5 stars

tandem rider - United States of America

August 2009

2 stars

Byday - England

August 2009

This hostel has had bad reviews but despite a few problems with tin openers not working, no soap in the soap dispenser in the female toilets etc and the general tatty and run down nature of the place we had a great time! I really can't understand all the whingeing about the hostel being closed in the day and there being nothing to do because the hostel is the least attractive part of mainland orkney, and despite having no transport of our own and little money I still felt after 3 days we hadn'r had enough of the place. Free things to do include the orkney museum (fantastic) St Magnus cathedral, the st magnus centre, the shops- long sessions of browsing seem to be fine with the owners, the library, walking to the beach, round the harbour, going on local buses (not free but inexpensive) etc. For those with more money there are sightseeing bus trips and ferries to other islands. The hostel in the evenings was friendly with a big sitting room and dining area.

3.5 stars

x - England

August 2009

3.5 stars

A - Hong Kong

August 2009

3 stars

Michal - Czech Republic

August 2009

5 stars

ferradura - Scotland

August 2009

3 stars

davide - Scotland

August 2009

3 stars

queeny - Scotland

July 2009

3 stars

queeny - Scotland

July 2009

3 stars

queeny - Scotland

July 2009

3 stars

gege - Scotland

July 2009

4 stars

bananas - Scotland

July 2009

3 stars

Crash - England

July 2009

4 stars

mina - Peoples Republic of China

July 2009

3.5 stars

j - Scotland

July 2009

Good value for money

3 stars

lorna - Scotland

July 2009

4.5 stars

jb - England

July 2009

4.5 stars

Trevor - England

June 2009

3 stars

sadhu - Malaysia

June 2009

this is the worst hostel i ever stayed, i never stayed in a hostel which will completely closed in the day time, 10am-5pm, mean you have to go out, you cant even stay in the room or their reading room, anyway, any space IN the hostel except a small waiting room at the entrance. they never highlight this closure on the website. this hostel is far from city centre, and there arent all guests who hire a car, and wanted to "explore" the WHOLE kirkwall as they wish, some people just want to rest in the hostel for doing nothing. no internet no wireless no breakfast, room is small, you see, this hostel does provide NOTHING, if just lack of one or two, it is acceptable, but in fact it has NOTHING!! end up i checked-out earlier, i cant stand, i wasnt plan to stay one or two days but five days, it rained quite frequently when i was there, i got no place to stay for free except library.

4 stars

Northhorse - Scotland

June 2009

Note this hostel closes all day. So if you forget your jacket, wallet or swimming trunks - be prepared to do without! And tHE kitchen is locked after 10.45 so take a flask!

5 stars

no comments - Scotland

June 2009

2 stars

EBG - Scotland

June 2009

The Kirkwall hostel was adequate and relatively cheap, but beware of the following: *The website and confirmation email said the reception desk is open until midnight, but upon arriving we found that they close at 23:45. This could be tight if coming from the 23:00 ferry from Shetland. When we called the phone number given for the hostel (1856 872243) to let the hostel reception know we had just arrived on the ferry and expected to get there before midnight, we found no answer, just a generic recorded message from IH. *No electrical outlets in the room. Come with your phone already charged, especially if you will use it as an alarm clock. *It is not possible to return to the hostel after midnight. You get no key or combination for the outer door.

5 stars

Rick - England

June 2009

Its a good base, the facilities are excellent. I've stayed there three times and its central.

4 stars

3monthsUK - Germany

May 2009

in kirkwall itself is not much to do and not much to see. theres a curfew, u have to leave the hostel from 10 till 5pm

4.5 stars

Tomek - Scotland

May 2009

1.5 stars

Mickey - Scotland

April 2009

4.5 stars

gem - Scotland

November 2008

SYHA - ratings, reviews and travel tips!