Self-Catering with Hot Tubs in Orkney

A private hot tub is among the most practical upgrades a self-catering property can offer in Orkney. The islands are spectacularly beautiful, but the wind has opinions of its own, and even a mid-July evening on the clifftops can end sharply. Coming back to your own heated tub — ideally positioned to face the sea — turns a bracing day into something genuinely restorative. Orkney Stays lists over 100 self-catering properties with a hot tub across Mainland Orkney and the inner isles. This guide cuts to seven of the best, chosen for verified amenities, guest ratings and the kind of setting that makes the tub worth climbing into.

Why a Hot Tub Makes Sense in Orkney

Orkney sits at around 59° North, a latitude similar to southern Norway. That gives the islands extraordinary summer light — June sunsets that linger past 10pm and over 18 hours of daylight at the solstice — but it also means the temperature drops quickly once the wind picks up, which it does most evenings. A private hot tub bridges that gap. You can watch the sky turn gold over Scapa Flow from 40°C of water, which is a considerably better experience than watching it from a car park.

Unlike many Scottish holiday cottage markets, where "hot tub" sometimes means a small barrel wedged between a wall and a wheelie bin, Orkney’s better properties treat the tub as a centrepiece. The island’s open topography means genuinely unobstructed views are achievable from a garden or terrace, and many of the properties listed below have positioned their tubs specifically to make use of them. For a week-long stay, that is the difference between using the tub twice and using it every night.

Seven Self-Catering Properties with Hot Tubs in Orkney

The seven properties below represent a range of sizes, settings and price brackets. For the complete search across accommodation in Orkney with a hot tub, the Orkney Stays listings let you filter by amenity and group size. Each property below links to its full listing, including gallery, pricing and availability.

Switha is the standout luxury self-catering option on Mainland Orkney. A high-specification holiday home on the edge of Stromness, it sleeps six in three bedrooms with sea views toward the island of Hoy. The private hot tub sits in an enclosed west-facing garden that catches the evening sun and looks across the water. Stromness town, with its flagstone streets, ferry to Hoy, and several good restaurants, is a short walk away. The property also accepts dogs, making it an excellent base for a group travelling with pets. If one property on this list represents what Orkney self-catering with a hot tub can be at its best, Switha is it.

Buxa Farm Chalets sit at Clestrain near Orphir on the south Mainland, directly overlooking Scapa Flow. Sleeping four in two bedrooms, each chalet has a sea view, private hot tub, garden and a full kitchen. The Orphir shoreline is among the quietest on Mainland, and the views across the bay to Hoy are unchanged in the hour before sunset. Scapa Bay beach is a short drive, and the Churchill Barriers are within easy reach. Rated 9.9 and genuinely positioned for the view rather than as an afterthought, these are among the most photogenic hot-tub cottages in Orkney.

Cottiscarth Cottages near Finstown on the west side of Kirkwall Bay have over 60 guest reviews and a rating of 9.9 — among the most consistently praised self-catering properties in Orkney. Sleeping up to six, the cottages have sea views over the Firth of Kirkwall, a private hot tub and a substantial garden. The position is rural, yet Kirkwall is within 15 minutes by car and Stromness within 25. For a group that wants genuine coastal countryside rather than a town-centre apartment, Cottiscarth Cottages are a first-rate base and the review record is the most reassuring on this list.

Loanside Lodge at St Mary’s in Holm is the best-rated smaller property on this list, with 54 guest reviews and a score of 9.9. It sleeps two in one bedroom, has a private hot tub in a garden setting, and sits in a quiet rural position on the East Mainland with the Scapa Flow coastline nearby. Holm is 15 minutes south-east of Kirkwall and within easy reach of the Churchill Barriers and Lamb Holm, home to the Italian Chapel. For couples wanting a genuinely peaceful cottage with a hot tub to themselves — no shared grounds, no other guests nearby — Loanside Lodge is the best option on Orkney Stays at this size.

Eva’s Howe Lodge at Easthouse near Dounby sits in the quiet West Mainland countryside, away from the main tourist circuits. It sleeps two in one bedroom, with a private hot tub in an enclosed garden. The position near Dounby is central for exploring the Loch of Harray and the Loch of Stenness, the Brodgar standing stones complex, and the Ring of Brodgar — all within a short drive. With 31 guest reviews and a rating of 9.9, it is consistently praised for its peace and the quality of the cottage. For a couple wanting the most private, countryside-focused hot-tub retreat on Mainland Orkney, Eva’s Howe Lodge is the recommendation.

Riff Farmhouse at Rendall is the largest property on this list, sleeping ten in four bedrooms. It has a sea view, a private hot tub and a large garden, with a full kitchen and washing machine for a multi-family group staying a full week. Rendall sits on the north side of Mainland Orkney, making it a good base for day trips to the northern parishes and the ferry to Rousay. For a group of families or friends who need both the bedrooms and the shared facilities — and want a hot tub big enough to be worth it for ten people — Riff Farmhouse is the standout option in Orkney.

Orkney Lux Lodges — Hamnavoe Lodge near Stromness is the most distinctive property on this list: a purpose-built luxury lodge sleeping three in one bedroom, with a sea view, private hot tub and garden. The lodge format — compact, well-insulated, positioned for the view — is particularly well-suited to Orkney’s weather, and the Hamnavoe Lodge faces west across Hoy Sound for the best sunsets on Mainland. With 28 guest reviews and a score of 9.6, it is consistently well-rated, and the Stromness location is the best on the island for ferry connections, walking and character. For a couple or small group wanting something a little more architectural than a converted farmhouse, this is the pick.

Comparing the Seven: A Quick Reference Table

What to Know Before You Book

A few practical points help narrow the choice. First, clarify whether the hot tub is genuinely private or shared with other guests: Orkney Lux Lodges, for example, operates multiple units on one site, so it is worth confirming the arrangement when you book. Most of the holiday homes on this list have sole-occupancy tubs, but it is always worth checking.

Second, think about what you are using the tub for. A couple on a romantic break wants peace and a view; a group of ten wants capacity and easy access from the kitchen. The Orkney Stays accommodation search lists all properties by amenity and lets you filter by group size, so you can match both requirements without guesswork. If you are travelling with a dog, Orkney’s dog-friendly self-catering guide covers the pet-welcoming subset, including Switha and several other properties on this list.

Finally, book early if you are coming in June, July or August. The combination of the summer solstice light and increasingly popular self-catering properties means the best-reviewed hot-tub cottages fill several months in advance. Late spring and early September offer the same properties at lower demand, and the evenings are still long enough to make full use of the tub.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many self-catering properties with hot tubs are there in Orkney?

Orkney Stays lists over 100 self-catering properties with a private hot tub across Mainland Orkney and the inner isles. The range covers studios and lodges for two up to farmhouses sleeping ten, in locations from central Kirkwall to the quiet farming parishes of the West Mainland.

Do Orkney hot-tub cottages have sea views?

Many do. Because Orkney Mainland is relatively flat and open, properties do not need to be on a clifftop to have a genuine water view. Several of the best-rated hot-tub cottages — including Buxa Farm Chalets overlooking Scapa Flow, Switha facing Hoy Sound, and Cottiscarth Cottages above the Firth of Kirkwall — have positioned their tubs deliberately to take in the view.

Is it worth getting a self-catering with a hot tub in Orkney?

For most visitors, yes. The summer evenings are long but can cool quickly, and the islands have very little light pollution, making the later hours after dark particularly striking. A private hot tub extends the outdoor evening by an hour or two in conditions that would otherwise send you inside, and the best-placed properties turn the tub into one of the main attractions of the stay.

Can I find a pet-friendly self-catering with a hot tub in Orkney?

Yes. Several Orkney self-catering properties with hot tubs also accept pets. Switha in Stromness is the standout example on this list: six guests, three bedrooms, sea view, hot tub, enclosed garden and dogs welcome. The full Orkney Stays search lets you filter by both hot-tub and pet-friendly amenities simultaneously.

What is the best time of year to book a hot-tub cottage in Orkney?

June and early July offer the longest daylight hours — over 18 hours at the solstice — which means you can use the tub in full daylight at 10pm. Late August and September are increasingly popular: the midges that trouble mainland Scotland are rarely a problem in Orkney, the summer crowds thin, and the evenings become properly dark, making the stars worthwhile. Book at least three to four months ahead for peak summer dates.

Are hot tubs included in the nightly rate for Orkney self-catering?

Usually yes: the hot tub is part of the property and included in the booking price. Some owners charge a small end-of-stay cleaning supplement (typically £15–£30) or require you to empty the tub on departure; check the individual listing notes or ask the host before confirming. There is rarely an additional nightly fee for the tub itself.