Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
around 1600 using forced labour. With its grand entrance, fancy oriel windows, dank
dungeons, massive fireplaces and magnificent central hall, it has a confident solidity, and
is a fine example of Scottish Renaissance architecture. he roof may be missing, but
many domestic details remain, including a set of toilets and the stone shelves used by
the clerk for his filing. Earl Patrick enjoyed his palace for only a short time before he was
imprisoned and charged with treason. he earl might have been acquitted, but he
foolishly ordered his son, Robert, to organize an insurrection. Robert held out four days
in the palace against the Earl of Caithness, before being captured, sent to Edinburgh
and hanged there, and his father was beheaded at the same place five weeks later.
Orkney Museum
Broad St • Mon-Sat: May-Sept 10.30am-5pm; Oct-April 10.30am-12.30pm & 1.30-5pm • Free •
T
01856 873535
Opposite the cathedral stands the sixteenth-century
Tankerness House
, a former home
for the clergy, and now home to the
Orkney
Museum
. A couple of rooms have been
restored as they would have been in 1820, when it was the Baikie family's private
home. he rest houses some of the islands' most treasured finds, among the more
unusual of which are a witch's spell box and a lovely whalebone plaque from a Viking
boat grave discovered on Sanday.
15
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
KIRKWALL
By plane
T
01851 707400,
W
hial.co.uk. Kirkwall airport
is 3 miles southeast of town on the A960; take the hourly
bus (15min), or a taxi (£5).
Destinations within Orkney
Eday (Mon & Wed 1-2 daily;
10-30min); North Ronaldsay (Mon-Sat 3 daily, 2 on Sun;
20-30min); Papa Westray (Mon-Fri 3 daily, Sat & Sun 2
daily; 15-35min); Sanday (Mon-Fri 2 daily, 1 on Sat;
15min); Stronsay (Mon-Fri 2 daily, 1 on Sat; 10-25min);
Westray (Mon-Fri 2 daily, Sat & Sun 1 daily; 15-25min).
By ferry
T
0845 600 0449,
W
northlinkferries.co.uk.
Ferries from Shetland (3 weekly; 5hr 30min) and Aberdeen
(3 weekly; 6hr), and all cruise ships, dock at the Hatston
terminal, a mile northwest of town; a shuttle bus takes you
into Kirkwall (or Stromness if you prefer). Ferries for
Orkney's northern isles leave from the town pier in Kirkwall.
Destinations within Orkney
Eday (2-3 daily; 1hr 15min-
2hr 25min); North Ronaldsay (Tues & Fri; 2hr 40min); Papa
Westray (Tues & Fri; 2hr 15min); Sanday (2 daily; 1hr
25min); Shapinsay (4-5 daily; 45min); Stronsay (2 daily;
1hr 40min-2hr); Westray (2-3 daily; 1hr 25min).
By bus
T
01856 870555,
W
stagecoachbus.com. The bus
station is behind the Kirkwall Travel Centre, West Castle St.
Destinations
Birsay (Mon-Sat 2-3 daily; 45min); Burwick
(2-3 daily; 40min); Evie (Mon-Sat 4-5 daily; 30min);
Houton (Mon-Fri 7 daily, 3 on Sat; 35-40min); Kirkwall
Airport (Mon-Sat every 30min-hourly, 9 on Sun; 15min);
Skara Brae (June-Aug Mon, Thurs & Sat 1 daily; 50min); St
Margaret's Hope (Mon-Sat hourly; 30min); Stromness
(Mon-Sat hourly, Sun every 2hr; 30min); Tingwall (Mon-
Sat 4-5 daily; 25min).
INFORMATION
Tourist o
ce
Kirkwall Travel Centre houses the tourist
o
ce (April-Sept Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-2pm;
Oct-March Mon-Sat only;
T
01856 872856,
W
www
.visitorkney.com).
ACCOMMODATION
HOTELS AND B&BS
2 Dundas Crescent
T
01856 874805,
W
twodundas
.co.uk.
Run by an Orcadian couple and situated just behind
the cathedral, this former manse is a grand, and tastefully
decorated, Vict
orian
house, with four spacious rooms and
period fittings.
£75
Avalon House
Carness Rd
T
01856 876665,
W
avalon-
house.co.uk.
Don't judge a B&B by its drab, modern
exterior; this is a comfortable, purpose-built guesthouse
run e
ciently by a very welcoming couple, and sit
uate
d a
pleasant 20min coastal walk from the town centre.
£72
Lynnfield
W
lynnfield.co.uk.
Small ten-room hotel in a quiet spot a
mile or so out of town near the distillery - the dark wood
furnishings make the pla
ce see
m really quite grand in style
and the food is excellent.
£115
West End Hotel
14 Main St
T
01856 872368,
W
westendkirkwall.co.uk.
Orkney's first hospital is now a
good, old-fashioned hotel located in
a qui
et street, just a
few minutes' walk south of the centre.
£99
HOSTELS AND CAMPSITES
Peedie Hostel
1 Ayre Houses
T
01856 875477,
W
kirkwallpeediehostel.com.
Hotel
Holm
Rd
T
01856
872505,
Centrally
located
