Guidebook for Orkney
Food Scene
Archive Coffee
8 Laing StBecause its so close and so good.
Lucano
31 Victoria StBecause they make kids so welcome
Sells Orkney produce.
Fish, meat, dairy. Also has a well stocked wine and spirits area.
Shop local and experience the quality of our islands award winning food and drink.
The Brig Larder
1 Albert StSells Orkney produce.
Fish, meat, dairy. Also has a well stocked wine and spirits area.
Shop local and experience the quality of our islands award winning food and drink.
A short walk away. Opened summer 2019 and going down a storm with locals. open from mid morning to evening. Brunch, lunch, cake and coffee, dinner or cocktails. They have it covered!
9 locals recommend
Twenty One
8 Laing StA short walk away. Opened summer 2019 and going down a storm with locals. open from mid morning to evening. Brunch, lunch, cake and coffee, dinner or cocktails. They have it covered!
Arts & Culture
A cafe near the Cathedral, with outdoor seating for watching the world walk by on a fine day.
Also for live music in the evenings.
6 locals recommend
The Reel
6 Broad StA cafe near the Cathedral, with outdoor seating for watching the world walk by on a fine day.
Also for live music in the evenings.
Vikings, neolithic, Victorian. Its got the lot. A small museum that packs a punch.
10 locals recommend
The Orkney Museum
Broad StreetVikings, neolithic, Victorian. Its got the lot. A small museum that packs a punch.
Explorers. John Rae. North America, Australia.
See how far Orcadian's travelled the world in the early days of maritime exploration.
11 locals recommend
Stromness Museum
52 Alfred StExplorers. John Rae. North America, Australia.
See how far Orcadian's travelled the world in the early days of maritime exploration.
Everything Else
Indoor soft play, with good coffee and cake for the adults.
A garden centre, florist, gift shop and cafe.
8 locals recommend
Well Park Garden Centre
Mill StreetIndoor soft play, with good coffee and cake for the adults.
A garden centre, florist, gift shop and cafe.
Sightseeing
Saint Magnus Cathedral
Broad StreetIts beautiful.
Bishop's and Earl's Palaces
WatergateA must see.
Now known to pre date Stonehenge.
The adjacent "Neolithic Cathedral" is currently being excavated, and you can watch the archaeologists at work during the summer (check your dates). It is thought to be the hub from which the Neolithic expanded out over the British Isles and Northern Europe.
31 locals recommend
Ring of Brodgar
B9055A must see.
Now known to pre date Stonehenge.
The adjacent "Neolithic Cathedral" is currently being excavated, and you can watch the archaeologists at work during the summer (check your dates). It is thought to be the hub from which the Neolithic expanded out over the British Isles and Northern Europe.
Orkneys secret cousin to Scara Brae.
Take a trip out west see this structure overlooking Rousay. Watch the "race" where the atlantic ocean meets the north sea and the waters are at different levels.
The nearby beach is lovely at low tide.
20 locals recommend
Broch of Gurness
AikernessOrkneys secret cousin to Scara Brae.
Take a trip out west see this structure overlooking Rousay. Watch the "race" where the atlantic ocean meets the north sea and the waters are at different levels.
The nearby beach is lovely at low tide.
A Viking palace, St Magnus' initial resting place, tidal causeway (watch your tide times), lighthouse, crashing ocean waves, Marwick Head, Kitchener memorial.
There's plenty going on up the top end.
Refreshments at Birsay Bay tearooms. Call into Birsay shop for crafty gifts, soup and a scone to take up to the Brough carpark and watch the ocean. Theres often an excellent burger van up at the Brough carpark too.
23 locals recommend
Brough of Birsay
A Viking palace, St Magnus' initial resting place, tidal causeway (watch your tide times), lighthouse, crashing ocean waves, Marwick Head, Kitchener memorial.
There's plenty going on up the top end.
Refreshments at Birsay Bay tearooms. Call into Birsay shop for crafty gifts, soup and a scone to take up to the Brough carpark and watch the ocean. Theres often an excellent burger van up at the Brough carpark too.
Don't forget East Mainland.
Drive out to The Gloup, a collapsed sea cave.
Frankly, it gives me vertigo, but no-one else in the family is bothered and I still like to go.
Wander up to the Brough of Deerness, cliff top walks, birds, scenery.
Refresh with a hot drink and a tour of Orkneys first gin distillery, Deerness distillery. Watch Stu making hand crafted gin, from the still to the bottle, all on site.
Gift shop here is rather nice too.
The Gloup
Don't forget East Mainland.
Drive out to The Gloup, a collapsed sea cave.
Frankly, it gives me vertigo, but no-one else in the family is bothered and I still like to go.
Wander up to the Brough of Deerness, cliff top walks, birds, scenery.
Refresh with a hot drink and a tour of Orkneys first gin distillery, Deerness distillery. Watch Stu making hand crafted gin, from the still to the bottle, all on site.
Gift shop here is rather nice too.
You can't come to Orkney and not have a look inside the most Northerly Whisky distillery.
They do a good tour.
19 locals recommend
Highland Park Distillery
Holm RoadYou can't come to Orkney and not have a look inside the most Northerly Whisky distillery.
They do a good tour.
I haven't been, but its owned by Chivas brothers so they're bound to put on a good tour.
Scapa Distillery Visitor Centre
I haven't been, but its owned by Chivas brothers so they're bound to put on a good tour.
Tomb of the Eagles Visitor Centre
Neolithic and so interesting.
Parks & Nature
There a grassy area with trees and a small burn. Its just around the corner from Clancy's and a good place to the the kids for a run about to burn off a bit of energy.
Call into Willows chip shop for a freshly made fish supper on the way home. (Look for the small white lit sign on the side of the footpath).
Mill Street
Mill StreetThere a grassy area with trees and a small burn. Its just around the corner from Clancy's and a good place to the the kids for a run about to burn off a bit of energy.
Call into Willows chip shop for a freshly made fish supper on the way home. (Look for the small white lit sign on the side of the footpath).
Essentials
Co-op Food - Kirkwall
Pickaquoy RoadLidl
Pickaquoy RoadSutherlands Pharmacy
43 Victoria StLocal pharmacy
Shopping
A glory hole of health foods, local produce, kitchen ware, garden plants, pet food and toys, hardware, fishing (anglers) supplies.
If you can't find it here, its probably not on Orkney!
Near to Christmas the display upstairs is something else.
8 locals recommend
William Shearer
71 Victoria StA glory hole of health foods, local produce, kitchen ware, garden plants, pet food and toys, hardware, fishing (anglers) supplies.
If you can't find it here, its probably not on Orkney!
Near to Christmas the display upstairs is something else.
Judith Glue
25 Broad StTourist gift shop opposite the Cathedral.
Ola Gorie Jewellery
Broad StreetThe first jeweller to design and produce in Orkney (I think)
Aurora Jewellery - Kirkwall
69 Albert StAnother orkney jeweller and homeware gift shop.
Orkney Jewellery.
Also Sheila's beautiful Kirk Gallery and Cafe out in Tankerness. Shop, cafe and by arrangement, workshop tours. Worth a visit.
Sheila Fleet Kirkwall
30 Bridge StOrkney Jewellery.
Also Sheila's beautiful Kirk Gallery and Cafe out in Tankerness. Shop, cafe and by arrangement, workshop tours. Worth a visit.
Sheila's beautiful Kirk Gallery and Cafe out in Tankerness. Shop, cafe (and by arrangement, workshop tours). Worth a visit.
Shop the full range of Sheila Fleet jewellery, and quality home accessories from local crafts people.
Enjoy brunch, lunch or afternoon tea when exploring East Mainland.
12 locals recommend
Sheila Fleet Workshop, Kirk Gallery & Café
Sheila's beautiful Kirk Gallery and Cafe out in Tankerness. Shop, cafe (and by arrangement, workshop tours). Worth a visit.
Shop the full range of Sheila Fleet jewellery, and quality home accessories from local crafts people.
Enjoy brunch, lunch or afternoon tea when exploring East Mainland.