Orkneylodge

Orkneylodge is a bright open-plan loft retreat above Houton Bay in Orphir, finished with a clean, modern hand. Light pours in through the roof windows, the layout is easy and uncluttered, and it makes a genuinely relaxing hideaway for two.

Inside

The living space runs open-plan, with a comfortable sofa, a solid wood dining table and a strikingly good kitchen — deep navy units, wood worktops, an integrated oven and hob, and a skylight over the sink. Everything is to hand for cooking and lingering, and the whole space has that calm, spacious feel a well-converted loft gives you. A wall clock, a few framed touches and warm timber floors keep it homely.

Where you'll sleep

The bedroom sits under the sloping eaves, with a solid oak bed, plump white linen, a chunky knitted throw and a Velux window that frames the sky. A wooden armchair in the corner makes a quiet reading nook, with a bedside table and fresh flowers adding the finishing touches. It's a restful, light-filled room.

Step outside

The lodge sits in green, settled surroundings with a patio area and garden to enjoy, and the wider Orphir countryside rolling away around it.

The setting

Houton Bay in Orphir is on Orkney's south-west Mainland, handy for the small ferry to the islands of Hoy, Flotta and Graemsay, and within a short drive of Stromness and the Neolithic heart of the West Mainland. It's a peaceful, rural corner with plenty to explore among Orkney's coast and countryside.

Perfect for

A couple wanting a stylish, light and private bolt-hole with a brilliant kitchen and a real sense of calm — a comfortable base for touring the Mainland and the South Isles ferries.