St Margaret's Hope Backpackers Hostel

This is a simple, friendly studio room set right beside the sociable stone courtyard of The Murray Arms in St Margaret's Hope — a sunny, flagstoned beer garden with picnic tables, tubs of flowers and the easy buzz of people enjoying a drink in the sunshine. Your door opens straight onto the village scene, with the old stone buildings and a glimpse of the street beyond.

Inside

The room is a neat all-in-one space, comfortable and uncomplicated. There's a double bed dressed in soft check bedding with fresh towels set out, a bedside table and lamp, and a tidy little kitchenette along one wall — sink, microwave, white units and a window looking onto the greenery outside. It has everything one person needs for a comfortable, independent stay.

Step outside

The courtyard is the heart of it — a proper suntrap on a good day, with bench seating, pots of lavender and roses, and the friendly hum of the adjoining pub. It's a lovely spot to sit out with a drink and watch the village go by.

The setting

St Margaret's Hope is a characterful harbour village in the south of Orkney, a cluster of stone houses around a sheltered bay. With the pub on the doorstep, shops and eating places a short walk away, and parking, wifi and a garden to hand, it's an easy and well-connected base. Dogs are welcome too.

Perfect for

A solo traveller — a walker, cyclist or anyone touring the islands on their own — who wants a tidy, affordable room with their own kitchen, a sociable courtyard right outside and a welcoming village around them.