Puffin Cove - Kirkwall

A neat oak nameplate with a little painted puffin marks the door, and from the moment you step in you can tell this is a place that has been put together with care. Puffin Cove is a ground-floor apartment that sleeps four, with off-street parking right outside and that small, satisfying sense of arrival you get from a holiday let that knows exactly what it is.

Inside

The sitting room is the heart of it — deep navy walls that make the burnt-orange velvet sofa and tub chairs glow, a wide TV on the wall, and a live-edge wood-and-resin coffee table that's a real talking point. There's a puffin print above the shelving unit, a brass lamp or two for soft evenings, and a window that frames open fields and sky. It's a room built for unwinding after a day out, and the open layout keeps the kitchen close to hand for easy meals.

Where you'll sleep

There are two bedrooms. The first has a solid oak bed dressed in crisp white linen with tartan Harris-style cushions and a matching throw, plus reading lamps either side. The second is bright and practical, with fitted wardrobes, a wall-mounted TV, a desk and chair tucked in the corner, and patio doors letting in plenty of light. Two bathrooms mean four guests aren't waiting on each other in the mornings.

The setting

You're well placed for exploring Orkney from here — close enough to shops and services to keep things simple, with the islands' archaeology, coastline and harbours all within easy reach by car.

Perfect for

With room for four across two bedrooms, two bathrooms, fast wifi and a hot tub to come back to, this suits two couples or a small family who want comfort and a bit of style at the end of each day.