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
TOH - Singapore
Happy Moose - England
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
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
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.
Andy - England
1 stars
Visitors - Scotland
Ian - Scotland
An adequate Hostel with freindly helpful staff and good clean facilities, maybe the showers could do with upgrading
drew - Scotland
christiaan de haes - England
3 stars
Sam Robertson - Scotland
Jason - England
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
Peter - Scotland
August 2009
Great public library in Kirkwall with friendly staff.
Linda G - England
Fabio Sassi - Italy
2.5 stars
Sheepies - England
madabouthostels - England
A good base for exploring Orkney- easy to get to inter-island ferries.
orkney cyclist - Scotland
pgc - Scotland
Florenci - Spain
worldtraveller - Norway
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.
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
Orkney holidayers - England
pc - England
weezie711 - United States of America
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.
tandem rider - United States of America
Byday - England
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.
x - England
A - Hong Kong
Michal - Czech Republic
ferradura - Scotland
davide - Scotland
queeny - Scotland
July 2009
gege - Scotland
bananas - Scotland
Crash - England
mina - Peoples Republic of China
j - Scotland
Good value for money
lorna - Scotland
jb - England
Trevor - England
June 2009
sadhu - Malaysia
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.
Northhorse - Scotland
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!
no comments - Scotland
EBG - Scotland
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.
Rick - England
Its a good base, the facilities are excellent. I've stayed there three times and its central.
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
Tomek - Scotland
1.5 stars
Mickey - Scotland
April 2009
gem - Scotland
November 2008