Waterfront Apartment, St Margarets Hope

True to its name, this apartment looks straight out over the water in St Margaret's Hope. Wake up to the bay through the bedroom window, watch the light shift across the sound from the sofa — the sea is the constant here, and it's what makes the place special.

Inside

The living room is comfortable and unfussy: a soft grey sofa, a round dining table and big windows framed with curtains that pull the view right in. It's a calm, restful room, ideal for an evening glass of something while the tide comes and goes. The styling leans coastal without trying too hard — a lobster cushion here, a few fresh flowers there.

Where you'll sleep

The bedrooms are dressed for a good night's sleep, with proper headboards, layered pillows and quilted throws in soft blues and greys. One has a wooden bedstead and a window looking out to the water; another is set up with a clothes rail and bedside lamp. There's a TV to hand and radiators to keep things warm. The bathroom has a full bath with a shower over it and a glass screen — candles and bubbles optional, but the setting invites it.

Step outside

The real outdoors here is the view: the open bay and the rolling Orkney farmland beyond, best caught at sunset.

The setting

You're right in the heart of St Margaret's Hope, the largest village on South Ronaldsay, with its sheltered harbour, village shops and eateries all close by. The Italian Chapel — one of Orkney's most-loved landmarks — is a short drive up the road, and the Gills Bay ferry link is on the doorstep.

Perfect for

Couples and small parties after a waterside bolt-hole with a genuine sea view and the village within walking distance — a relaxed, romantic base for the South Isles.