Cottage holiday rentals in Orkney

We spent four nights here at the end of May and enjoyed that hot tub every night. If I wasn’t in the hot tub, I was probably in the sun room sipping some tea and just enjoying the views. This place has a rustic feel but with all the modern amenities one could want. If ever back in the area, I would stay here again and highly recommend it.

This is a really unique stay and I spent a good part of my time there looking out at sea wondering when I would next be able to come back. So that should tell you how much I liked it! It’s at a lighthouse, so as you would expect, it’s at the end of a long road (which is very bumpy in places!). Then you get to the cosy house, with a wood fire, and well stocked kitchen with welcome treats. Alan is very friendly as are the dogs and the chickens! My child loved feeding them every morning. The fresh farm eggs were such a treat. Cantick Head itself is stunning and we loved being in the hot tub and sauna. Note to other guests- all these are wood powered so stock up on firewood before you arrive (you can buy bags at the shop next to the Lyness ferry). My mum took one of the bikes out and we all enjoyed walking the coastline. This is a special stay, don’t hesitate to book!

We really enjoyed our stay at Taylor's Rest and we're so glad that we stayed for two nights. Located in a beautiful and peaceful setting not far from sight seeing in Kirkwall and nature all around. The house is so comfortable and attractively decorated, and the best shower that we had on our trip. As you step out onto the patio, there's nature and bird watching, as well as gorgeous sunsets.

Perfect stay and host for our 2 night trip to Orkney. If you want peaceful and private for a family stay, this is your place.

Linda’s Place is a lovely former family home in a stunning position on the sea front at Longhope on the island of Hoy. It’s a family home with a very comfy, if somewhat old-fashioned vibe. Don’t expect 5 star accommodation but do expect a warm home well supplied with kitchen equipment and welcoming shortbread (very yummy) and fresh milk in the fridge. There are two boxes of toy,s /games for children of all ages plus a large DVD film collection for showing on the TV , Linda supplies bedding and towels. The bathroom has a shower over the bath. For a rural property the water supply water supply is fab but a tip is to stagger bath/shower times as the hot water sometime can run cool if excessive demand is placed on it. There is a garden with a washing line over the road from the cottage. The next door neighbour is a brilliant neighbour and all locals we met were friendly and very helpful. We two stayed in the first week of August 24 finding the village shop to have comprehensive supply.

Nice house in peaceful location, perfect for a quiet retreat. There’s a beach called Waulkmill bay within walking distance. Kirkwall is only a 20 min drive away and Skara Brae is 30 min away. A great base to explore the mainland. We had a great stay and enjoyed relaxing in the cosy lounge after a day exploring

We alway like a place very central but quiet and the Pilot Berth was right nest door to cafe an exquisite food store and supermarket. However, the big Tesco was only 15 mins walk. There was parking right outside the door in the CO-OP car park

Old hall is in a fabulous location with beautiful walks and a lovely, swimmable beach accessible from the door. the house is comfortable, fully equipped, scrupulously clean and Sandra is a very responsive host ☺️ we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. top tip: we did need to use our eye masks as the room is quite light with the early sun.

The Cottage was a home away from from home. Rosemary was an amazing host and provided us with valuable local knowledge prior to our trip. The cottage was beautifully presented; so warm and the amenities throughout were amazing and abundant. The highlight was the gorgeous little window overlooking the seafront and the history of the cottage. Highly recommend!

Anne was such a welcoming host and had provided everything needed to make us comfortable. Huge amount of information about local attractions etc. Wonderful for children as many toys and books provided for them. It's a quirky and rather old fashioned house but every modern facility is also in place. It's very homely. Quite a walk into town but just a few minutes by car.

Perfect location and great view from the lounge and top bedroom. Orkney and Stromness is full of very friendly people, happy to have a chat in the street and local pub. It was quite difficult finding places to eat, it was March and a lot of places are closed for the winter. The fishmonger had closed down last December with was quite disappointing, really because we could have cooked amazing food in the kitchen of the house. We will definitely visit Orkney again!

Irene was a very helpful host with a lovely, comfortable home. It was so quiet with beautiful surroundings, and well placed for exploring archaeological sites on Orkney. I would definitely stay again!

Can’t recommend this lovely home highly enough. Comfortable, spacious, spotlessly clean, great amenities, peaceful and quiet. No more than a 15 minute (fairly flat) walk into Kirkwall Main Street, and also to the bus station, large Tesco and Lidl for shopping. Would definitely stay here again. ☺️

36 Alfred St Anderson’s Seaside Cottage made for an interesting & enjoyable stay. The stone Bothy was a nice spot to have a cuppa & watch the harbour. We really appreciated all the kitchen/laundry supplies that you’d have at home, such as coffees, teas, cooking necessities, herbs, sauces, cooking oils, dish washing tablets & washing machine pods (plus more!) Rosemary has a good supply of information about the island & even a space with stationery bits & bobs. If you love reading Rosemary has loads of options throughout the cottage. If mobility is an issue for you, the stairs would be problematic. It was a great experience of living in a small town near the sea with narrow streets covered with slate & cobbled stones.

We spent our vacation in the Orkney Islands at Seal Cottage and had a very enjoyable stay. The apartment is clean, well equipped and lovingly and cozily furnished. We felt very comfortable right away. The quiet location right by the sea and the view of the water from the property were also great. The Airbnb is rather remote and you absolutely need a car to drive to the main destinations of the islands, but this was no problem for us. Rather, we enjoyed being able to unwind and switch off in the Seal Cottage in the evening after our day trips. Carole is a very friendly and helpful host. She allowed us a flexible and late check-in due to the late arrival of our ferry and helped us find the place quickly upon our arrival when we got lost. Clear recommendation, we'll be happy to come back too!

Beautiful cottage, very comfortable, all well presented. Location very good, walked into town and back easily. Would love to return for another visit here next time!

Our family, including three year old daughter, had an absolutely amazing time over four nights at the cottage. The history on the island was amazing to explore, the scenery is beautiful, the beach at Bay of Skaill nearby was lovely, and Karen was a wonderful host with many tips and recommendations, and personalised touches in the cottage. We would happily stay here again.

The cottage was exactly what we needed: peaceful with a great view of dramatic skies above the loch. Ronnie was always very responsive and helpful. We loved how cozy the cottage was which is within an easy driving distance of tourist attractions. Thank you Ronnie!

The cottage was warm and welcoming when we arrived, rather damp and cold from exploring some of the historical sites on Orkney. The kitchen was very well equipped, and everything in the cottage was clean and comfortable. The shower is good and powerful. We loved the flowers in the garden. There was a very helpful folder with information about the cottage, and great local suggestions. It was in a great position for exploring all the Orkney mainland and beyond. I’m sure we’ll be back.

This is such a lovely place to stay! Beautiful surroundings and lovely views of directly from the sun room. We loved our holiday here, and would recommend to anyone visiting Orkney - easily driving distance from both Kirkwall and Stromness while being able to relax in peaceful surroundings.