Orkney - The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands - page 343

Berstane House 1.5 miles southeast of town down
Berstane Rd T 01856 876277, W berstane.co.uk. The
B&B rooms and self-catering flats are a steal at this hand-
some Victorian pile, set in its own wood ed gr ounds with
sea views - best with your own transport. £50
Lynnfield Hotel Holm Rd T 01856 872505, 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 place seem really quite grand in style and the
food is excellent. £115
West End Hotel 14 Main St T 01856 872368, W west
endkirkwall.co.uk. Orkney's first hospital is now a good,
old-fashioned hotel located in a quie t 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. Centrally located over-
looking the old harbour and out to sea, this is a clean and
comfortable hostel with just eight beds. Washing machine
and tu mbl e dryer available, plus free wi-fi. April-Oct.
Dorms £15
Pickaquoy Campsite Ayre Rd T 01856 879900,
W pickaquoy.net. Central and well-equipped, since it is
behind (and run by) the l local le isure centre, but not exactly
picturesque. April-Oct. £7.15 /pitch
SYHA Hostel Old Scapa Rd T 01856 872243, W syha
.org.uk. A good 10min walk out of the centre on the road
to Orphir - frie ndly enough, but no beauty outside or in.
April-Oct. £17 /person

7

EATING AND DRINKING
Dil Se 7 Bridge St T 01856 875242, W dilserestaurant
.co.uk. Kirkwall's Indian restaurant has won numerous
awards since it opened - tandooris and baltis predominate,
with lots of veggie options (sides £3-4, mains £6-10).
Daily 4-11pm.
Helgi's 14 Harbour St T 01856 879293, W helgis.co.uk.
A popular modern pub on the harbour front which serves
nicely presented bar food, from burger/fish and chips to
fajitas (all for under £10). Free wi-fi. Mon-Wed 11am-
midnight, Thurs-Sat 11am-1am, Sun 12.30pm-
midnight; food served Mon-Sat noon-2pm & 5-9pm,
Sun 12.30-2.30pm & 5-9pm.
Lucano 31 Victoria St T 01856 875687, W lucanokirkwall
.com. Busy, bright, modern, authentic Italian - a real find in
Kirkwall - offering pizza, pasta and risotto with an Orcadian
angle. It's popular so book ahead. Daily 9am-9pm.
Real Food Café 25 Broad St T 01856 874225,

W www.judithglue.com. Cheery cream and sky-blue wood-
panelling decor at this small snacky café at the back of Judith
Glue's gift shop opposite the cathedral. Try the Westray crab
claws and bere bannocks (all dishes under £10). June-Sept
daily 9am-10pm; shorter hours in the low season.
Ì The Reel 6 Broad St T 01856 871000, W wrigley
andthereel.com. The old customs house near the cathe-
dral is now a fabulous, laidback self-service café, run by the
musical Wrigley Sisters, serving great coffee, sandwiches,
pizzas and cakes, and offering free wi-fi and regular live
music (Wed, Thurs & Sat). Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm, Sat
9am-1am; in summer also Sun 10am-5pm.
Trenabies Bistro Albert St T 01856 874336,
W trenabiesfairtrade.co.uk. This cosy, old-fashioned café
with booths is a classic Kirkwall institution - order Cajun
fries and a panini for around £5. Mon-Sat 8.30am-
5.30pm, Sun noon-4pm.

NIGHTLIFE AND ENTERTAINMENT
Phoenix Cinema Pickaquoy Centre T 01856 879900,
W pickaquoy.net. Known locally as the “Picky”, this is a
short walk west of the town centre, up Pickaquoy Rd

past the supermarket. As well as serving as one of the
town's main large-scale venues it also contains the New
Phoenix cinema.

East Mainland and South Ronaldsay
Southeast from Kirkwall, the East Mainland juts out into the North Sea, its northern
coastline consisting of three exposed peninsulas that jut out like giant claws. The East
Mainland is joined, thanks to the remarkable Churchill Barriers, to several smaller
islands, the largest of which are Burray and South Ronaldsay . The heavily farmed land
contains few of Orkney's more famous sights but there are some good coastal walks and
several unusual prehistoric sites, in particular the Tomb of the Eagles near Burwick.

Deerness
The easternmost peninsula of Deerness is joined to the Mainland only by a narrow,
sandy isthmus. From the car park at its northeastern corner, a short walk eastwards will