Accommodation

All our accommodation in Orkney and in other destinations world-wide are carefully selected and researched by us. We like to choose hotels that are conveniently placed to explore the area, have local character, highest standards of care and cleanliness, excellent food and pleasant & comfortable rooms.

Accommodation on Orkney Holidays

We use a variety of accommodation on our Orkney Holidays.

  • Merkister Hotel, Harray, Mainland.

    The Merkister Hotel is situated on the shores of the Loch of Harray in the West Mainland of Orkney. It is a beautiful country house, set in its own grounds and has lovely views. It is run by the MacDonald family who are very welcoming and friendly. They have the same approach to their guests as we have ourselves: they want everyone to enjoy their stay and take care to ensure this. These factors, plus the lovely house and the peaceful rural setting made us choose this Hotel as an ideal Mainland base for some of our Holidays.

    Full board using excellent local produce will be provided: breakfast and dinner in the Hotel's Skerries Restaurant overlooking the loch, and lunch out and about - either a packed lunch or soup and sandwiches in one of Orkney's excellent rural cafes.

    All rooms are ensuite, and the price of the Holiday is for a comfortable 'standard' grade room. If you wish to ensure a 'superior' room with a loch view you can elect to pay a small premium or if you would like a superior ground floor suite there is a higher additional charge. Please look at the Merkister Hotel website accommodation section for details of extra charges for upgraded rooms.

    Subject to availability you can arrange to stay on at the Hotel for a few days after your Holiday with us, to relax in the lovely surroundings, visit new places or pursue other interests in Orkney. Let us know and we'll be happy to help and advise.


  • The Lynnfield Hotel, Kirkwall.

    Run by experienced and dedicated hotelier Malcolm Stout and his partner Lorna, the head chef, the Lynnfield is a peaceful and luxurious haven on the edge of Kirkwall. It has a great panoramic view over the town to Kirkwall Bay, which looks as nice lit up at night as it does during the day. The well-appointed dining room has this view. The residents lounge is a large well furnished room with imaginative furnishings and décor, and a large open fireplace.

    Bedrooms are all ensuite to a high standard. Malcolm does not compromise on comfort and he has a particular aversion to the 'token bathrooms' found in some hotels. Consequently all the bathrooms make imaginative use of space. Some of the bedrooms have four-poster beds and all are lovely to be in.

    Another exceptional area from Malcolm and Lorna is the food, and guests can expect an amazing menu using top quality local ingredients. Because of this, the Lynnfield is popular with visitors and locals, who also enjoy the well-stocked bar.


  • Sanderlay Guest House, Kirkwall.

    Sanderlay is a purpose-built guesthouse, designed and run by Ronnie and Elma Tulloch, originally from the island of Sanday. They have been operating for several years and take a great pride in making visitors welcome. Ronnie and Elma have made it a very comfortable modern guesthouse, situated in a quiet part of Kirkwall’s outskirts, above the town and looking across Kirkwall Bay and the Mainland hills to Hoy. The accommodation is in well-equipped ensuite rooms, with traditional home-cooked breakfasts served in the dining room. There is wireless internet access available throughout the house. We will have packed lunches each day to give us flexibility in our programme, and these will consist of sandwiches, fruit, snack bars and crisps or similar savoury. You will be able to make a hot drink in your flask using the kettle etc. in your \room, or in the kitchen in the guests’ lounge. This is always available to you to make tea or coffee, and there is a small library of novels and local information. Three-course evening meals will be in good Orkney hotels specialising in local produce and excellent food. After an interesting day out you will return to Sanderlay for an hour or so to shower and change. Then Paul and Louise will pick you up and we will all go together to a hotel for our evening meal, and afterwards we will take you back to the guesthouse. This allows you to experience a variety of Orkney hospitality and hotel restaurants. They will be our favourite eating places, and we are sure you will not be disappointed!