Home from home - 19 Pickaquoy Drive, Kirkwall

Home from Home at 19 Pickaquoy Drive is a comfortable two-storey self-catering house in a quiet residential part of Kirkwall, well placed for the leisure centre and an easy run into the town centre. It's a relaxed, family-friendly place sleeping four across two bedrooms — the sort of house you can settle into straight away.

Inside

The living room is the centrepiece, a bright double-height space with an attractive open wooden staircase rising along one wall. There's a fabric sofa and a pair of wicker armchairs gathered around an electric stove for cosy evenings, a coffee table and a large window that floods the room with light. It's an easy, comfortable spot to unwind after a day out. The kitchen and dining areas are set up for self-catering, so you can cook and eat in as you please.

Where you'll sleep

Upstairs there are two bedrooms sleeping four in total. The double we can see is calm and neutral, with a patterned throw across the bed, a mirrored sliding-door wardrobe and framed Orkney prints on the walls. The bathroom has a bath with a shower over it, a heated towel rail, wicker storage and a couple of restful zen-style prints — a tidy, practical room.

Step outside

There's a garden to enjoy, and the wider surroundings are the real draw. Kirkwall's beaches are close by — wide sweeps of sand for a bracing walk — and the marina, with its boats reflected in still evening water, makes a lovely spot for a stroll at dusk.

The setting

You're within easy reach of all of Kirkwall's draws: St Magnus Cathedral, the shops, cafes and harbour, and the Pickaquoy Centre on the doorstep with its pool and facilities. The ferry terminals for the North Isles are a short drive away, making this a handy base for exploring the whole archipelago.

Perfect for

Families and small groups of up to four wanting a comfortable, well-located town house — with parking, Wi-Fi, a kitchen, a washer and a garden, and Kirkwall's beaches and amenities close at hand.