Thorshaven Apartment, Orkney

Thorshaven sits on the Back Road in St Margaret's Hope, and the first thing you notice indoors is the scale of the rooms — these are generous, high-ceilinged spaces with deep sash windows and original period detail, the kind you only get in an older Orkney house. You arrive into a layout built for four, with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, so there's room to spread out from the moment you put the bags down.

Inside

The main bedroom doubles as a comfortable sitting space, with a grey sofa bed set in front of a tall window and a cast-iron stove tucked into the surround of an old fireplace. It's a warm, lived-in room — soft carpet underfoot, sequined cushions, and good light pouring in. The kitchen is a separate, practical galley: oak-fronted units, electric oven and hob, a slim fridge and a dining table with four stylish stools. Plenty for cooking in after a day out, and a washer for longer stays.

Where you'll sleep

Two bedrooms sleep four. One pairs a large double bed against a feature wood-panelled wall, with a tub chair and bedside lamps; the second is calm and grey-toned with a double bed, a chest of drawers and a mirror. Bathrooms are split across the apartment — one a neat shower-and-WC with wood-effect flooring — so a family or two couples aren't queuing in the mornings.

The setting

St Margaret's Hope is the main village on South Ronaldsay, a tidy waterside settlement with a green, a handful of good places to eat and the Pentland Ferries link across to the mainland. It's a quiet, friendly base for exploring the south isles. Read more about St Margaret's Hope to plan your days.

Perfect for

Sleeping four across two bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a garden, parking, wifi and a pet-friendly welcome, Thorshaven suits a family or two couples who want space, comfort and a proper village on the doorstep.