Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the future Edward II of England, thereby unifying the two countries. Today,
St Margaret's Hope - or “he Hope”, as it's known locally - is a pleasing little
gathering of stone-built houses overlooking a sheltered bay.
Smiddy Museum
Cromarty Square • May-Aug daily 2-4.30pm • Free •
T
01856 831440
he village smithy on Cromarty Square has been turned into a
Smiddy Museum
, which
is particularly fun for kids, who enjoy getting hands-on with the old tools, drills and
giant bellows. here's also a small exhibition on the annual
Boys' Ploughing Match
, in
which local boys compete with miniature hand-held ploughs.
Tomb of the Eagles
Daily: March 10am-noon; April-Sept 9.30am-5.30pm; Oct 9.30am-12.30pm; Nov-Feb by appointment • £7 •
T
01856 831339,
W
tomboftheeagles.co.uk
he chambered cairn at the southeastern corner of South Ronaldsay, known as the
Tomb of the Eagles
, was discovered in 1958 and excavated by local farmer, Ronald
Simpson of Liddle. his is a proper hands-on museum, so first off, you get to handle
some of the artefacts in the family's museum of prehistoric finds. Next there's a guided
tour of a nearby Bronze Age
burnt mound
, a Neolithic rubbish dump. Finally, you walk
a mile or so out to the
chambered cairn
by the cliff's edge, where human remains were
found alongside talons and carcasses of sea eagles. To enter the cairn, you must lie on a
trolley and pull yourself in using an overhead rope - something guaranteed to put a
smile on every visitor's face.
15
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
SOUTH RONALDSAY
By ferry
Pentland ferries (
T
01856 831226,
W
pentlandferries.co.uk) operates car catamarans from
Gill's Bay (3 daily; 1hr), near John O'Groats (linked by bus
to Wick and Thurso). John O'Groats Ferries (
T
01955
611353,
W
jogferry.co.uk) runs a passenger ferry from
John O'Groats to Burwick on South Ronaldsay (May &
Sept 2 daily; June-Aug 4 daily; 40min). Its departure is
timed to connect with the arrival of the Orkney Bus from
Inverness; there's also a free shuttle service from Thurso
train station for certain sailings.
By bus
There is a regular bus service from Kirkwall to St
Margaret's Hope (Mon-Sat hourly; 30min), and a summer-
only one to Burwick, which connects with the John
O'Groat's ferry (May-Sept 2-3 daily; 40min).
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
ST MARGARET'S HOPE
The Creel
Front Rd
T
01856 831311,
W
thecreel.co.uk.
The short and seasonal menu regularly features local beef
and seafood, with three-course dinners for around £30. The
rooms are beautifully furnished and the breakfasts are
among th
e bes
t on Orkney.
Food served April-Oct Tues-
Sat 7pm.
£110
Ì
Roeberry House
T
01856 831228,
W
roeberryhouse
.com.
Spacious rooms in a beautiful Victorian mansion in
Hoxa. There are dogs, cats, chickens and peacocks, spectacular
views and a warm welcome plu
s a sm
all kitchen for guests'
use, a billiard room and free wi-fi.
£110
St Margaret's Cottage
T
01856 831637,
W
stmargaretscottage.com.
Handsome sandstone house
on the edge of The Hope, run by a genuine Orc
adian
couple; free wi-fi and very handy for the Pentland ferry.
£60
St Margaret's Hope Backpackers Hostel
Back Rd
T
01856 831225,
W
orkneybackpackers.com.
Simple
hotel, with a number of small rooms with double bunks -
singles, doubles and family rooms available. There's a
kitchen/loun
ge a
nd a nice adjacent café with sofas and free
wi-fi. Dorms
£15
Wheems
T
01856 831556,
W
wheemsorganic.co.uk.
April-Oct. Rambling old crofthouse and organic farm, 1.5
miles east of the main road, with a couple of wooden huts
for hire, a sloping field
fo
r camping, all the usual facilities,
plus a communal yurt.
£7
/pitch
BURWICK
Eastward Guest House
T
01856 831551,
W
www
.eastwardhouse.com.
In a converted former church on
the main road to Burwick, this B&B has bags of character
- reclaimed Maplewood flooring, Gothic windows. They
also offer guests themed culinary evening
s, spe
cializing in
Japanese food (
W
www.missingbell.com).
£90
Skerries Bistro, Banks
T
01856 831605,
W
skerriesbistro.co.uk.
Fabulous view over the Pentland
Firth and Skerries, with local fish and king scallops as big as
steaks (mains around £15), plus delicious home-made
puddings and cakes.
April-Oct daily 11am-10pm.
