Orkney Stays
Stromness harbour town with stone buildings and fishing boats in Orkney

Orkney Islands

Stromness Accommodation

A picturesque harbour town with winding streets and artistic heritage

15 properties available

About Stromness

A guide to staying in Stromness

Stromness is Orkney's second town and, for many visitors, the more atmospheric of the two. It is built on a single curving flagstone street that runs for about a mile along the harbour, with stone houses dropping straight into the water on one side and rising up the slope of Brinkie's Brae on the other. There are no chain shops, no high-rise anything, and the street is so narrow in places that two cars cannot pass — so most people walk. The town has roughly 2,200 residents and a strong artistic identity, anchored by the Pier Arts Centre and a long line of writers, painters and musicians who have made it their base.

For travellers from mainland Scotland, Stromness is the obvious arrival point: the NorthLink ferry from Scrabster, just outside Thurso on the north Caithness coast, docks right in the middle of town. The crossing takes about 90 minutes across the Pentland Firth, often with sightings of porpoises, gannets, and the cliffs of Hoy on your right as you come in. From the ferry terminal you can step off the boat and be at your accommodation in under five minutes if you have booked in town.

Stromness is also the gateway to the West Mainland and to Hoy. A small passenger ferry leaves the pier daily for Moaness on Hoy, putting you within walking range of the Old Man of Hoy, Rackwick Bay and the Dwarfie Stane. By car, you are 15 minutes from Skara Brae, the Standing Stones of Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar and Maeshowe — the four sites that make up the Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Accommodation here leans towards smaller, character properties — guest houses, harbourfront apartments, traditional fishermen's cottages and a couple of long-established inns — rather than the larger central hotels you find in Kirkwall. The town fills up quickly in July and August. Late spring and early autumn are the easiest months to find a sea-view room and to walk the main street without sharing it with a tour group.

A quiet local tip: head up to the Brinkie's Brae viewpoint at the top of the town for one of the best free views in Orkney, especially at sunset over Hoy.

Find the right stay

Where to stay in Stromness, by traveller type

Best for ferry arrivals

Stay within five minutes of the Scrabster ferry terminal and you can walk off the boat to your accommodation. The harbourfront guest houses and apartments are perfect for an arrival day.

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Best for couples

The character cottages and small B&Bs along the flagstone main street are some of the most romantic stays in Orkney, often with original stone walls, working fireplaces and harbour views.

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Best for walkers and West Mainland explorers

A self-catering apartment puts you within a 15-minute drive of Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar and the Yesnaby cliffs, and within walking range of the Hoy passenger ferry.

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Best for families

Larger holiday homes and townhouses near the top of town give you space, parking and a kitchen, with the harbour, museum and Pier Arts Centre still inside a ten-minute walk.

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Common questions

Stromness accommodation FAQ

Where is Stromness?
Stromness is on the south-west coast of the Orkney Mainland, about 15 miles from Kirkwall and around 90 minutes by ferry from Scrabster on the Scottish mainland. It is Orkney's second town and the natural base for visiting the West Mainland and Hoy.
How do I get to Stromness from mainland Scotland?
The most direct route is the NorthLink ferry from Scrabster (just outside Thurso) to Stromness, which takes 90 minutes and runs daily year-round. Alternatively you can fly to Kirkwall Airport with Loganair from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen or Inverness and drive the 25 minutes across to Stromness. The overnight Aberdeen ferry arrives at Kirkwall, not Stromness.
Is Stromness or Kirkwall a better place to stay?
They suit different trips. Kirkwall is bigger, has more restaurants, hotels and shops, and is the better base for the South Isles, the Italian Chapel and the inter-island ferries. Stromness is smaller, quieter and more atmospheric, with easier access to Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, Yesnaby and Hoy. Many visitors split their stay between the two.
What is there to do in Stromness?
Inside the town: the Pier Arts Centre, the Stromness Museum, the harbour walk and the climb up Brinkie's Brae for the view. Just outside town: Skara Brae, Yesnaby cliffs, the Ring of Brodgar, the Standing Stones of Stenness and the passenger ferry to Hoy and the Old Man of Hoy.
Are there family-friendly stays in Stromness?
Yes — several self-catering holiday homes and townhouses near the top of the town offer parking, gardens or extra bedrooms, while still being within a short walk of the harbour and main street. These tend to suit families better than the smaller harbourfront guest houses, which lean towards couples.