Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ACCOMMODATION
Hyval Farm
T
01856 841522,
W
hyval.co.uk
. A working
beef cattle farm in Quoyloo within walking distance of
Skara Brae, the seaside and Orkney Brewery. There's a
guests' lounge, and breakfast is taken in the little
cons
erva
tory with great views over the Bay of Skaill.
April-
Oct.
£50
EATING AND DRINKING
Ì
Orkney Brewery, Quoyloo
T
01856 841777,
W
sinclairbreweries.co.uk.
The old schoolhouse in
Quoyloo has been tastefully converted into a state-of-
the-art microbrewery, with tasting tours (£5) and
also a great café where local produce is very much to the
fore - try the beef and beer sausages - and all dishes are
under
£10.
Mon-Sat
10am-4.30pm,
Sun
noon-4.30pm.
Birsay and around
Occupying the northwest corner of the Mainland, the parish of
BIRSAY
was the centre
of Norse power in Orkney for several centuries before Kirkwall got its cathedral.
15
Earl's Palace
Birsay is dominated by the imposing sixteenth-century sandstone ruins of the
Earl's
Palace
, built by Robert Stewart, Earl of Orkney, using the forced labour of the
islanders, who weren't even given food and drink for their work. By all accounts, it
was a “sumptuous and stately dwelling”, built in four wings around a central
courtyard, its upper rooms decorated with painted ceilings and rich furnishings;
surrounding the palace were flower and herb gardens, a bowling green and archery
butts. he palace lasted barely a century before falling into rack and ruin; the
crumbling walls and turrets retain much of their grandeur, although inside there is
little remaining domestic detail.
Brough of Birsay
Accessible 2hr either side of low tide • Tide times available at Stromness and Kirkwall tourist offices and on Radio Orkney (93.7FM;
Mon-Fri 7.30-8am) •
St Peter's Church
Mid-June to Sept daily 9.30am-5.30pm • £4.50; HS
Over half a mile northwest of Birsay village is the
Brough of Birsay
, a substantial Pictish
settlement on a small tidal island. On the island, there's a small ticket o
ce, where you
can see a few artefacts gathered from the site, including an antler pin and a game made
from whalebone. he focus of the village was - and still is - the sandstone-built
twelfth-century
St Peter's Church
, which is thought to have stood at the centre of a
monastic complex - the foundations of a courtyard and outer buildings can be made
out to the west. Close by is a large complex of Viking-era buildings, including several
houses, a sauna and some sophisticated stone drains.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
BIRSAY AND AROUND
By bus
Bus services from Kirkwall (Mon, Thurs & Sat only)
will get you to Evie, supplemented by the Octobus service
from Finstown, (pre-book 24hr before; 01856 871536,
W
octocic.co.uk).
ACCOMMODATION
Birsay Outdoor Centre
0.5 miles south of the Barony
Mills
T
01856 873535 ext 2415,
W
www.orkney.gov.uk. A
large refurbished hostel with a fully equipped kitchen and
a drying room; there's also a c
amps
ite along
side. C
heck-in
from 6pm.
April-Sept.
Dorms
£16
; camping
£6.25
/pitch
EATING AND DRINKING
Barony Hotel
T
01856 721327,
W
baronyhotel.com. The
only watering hole in Birsay is the bar of the
Barony
overlooking the Loch of Boardhouse, to the southeast of
Birsay village.
Daily noon-11pm; food served 12.30-
2pm & 6.30-8.30pm.
Birsay Tea Room
T
01856 721399,
W
birsaybaytearoom
.co.uk.
For light snacks and home-made cake, head for the
modern tearoom, at the southern edge of the village, which
boasts superb views of the Brough (binoculars provided).
Wed-Sun 11am-5pm.
