Hotels in Orkney Islands

Orkney: Scotland’s wild northeastern coast

An archipelago off the northeastern coast of Scotland, Orkney is the stuff that novels are made of.  From Neolithic sites to tall sandstone cliffs and seal colonies, its landscape is breathtaking and an idyllic destination for those seeking both quiet contemplation and a sense of adventure.

For history lovers, this extraordinary party of the world includes 5,000-year-old sites on Mainland, the largest island, which Skara Brae, a preserved village with a reconstructed house, and Maeshowe, a chambered burial tomb incorporating 12th-century Viking carvings.  Together with the dramatic Ring of Brodgar and Stones of Stenness, they form a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Heart of Neolithic Orkney. 

The landscape is very much a part of your visit here – the white sands and turquoise waters of Orkney’s beaches are reminiscent of far hotter climes, while puffins, fulmars and rare birds, porpoises, dolphins, whales and other sealife can be spotted on and around Orkney’s shores.  Perhaps the most awe-inspiring of all of course are the Northern Lights; Orkney is considered to be one of the best places in the UK to see the magical Aurora Borealis.

Unsurprisingly, walking in this magnificent part of the world is a key attraction, but for those looking for a greater sense of adventure or a literal taste of the culture, you can also opt ti visit grand castles, go on a train ride through majestic landscapes, discover Orkney’s hotels for whisky lovers, go on an island hopping adventure, follow a literary trail, go white-water rafting at hotels perfect for outdoor pursuits or simply enjoy a shopping expedition. 

In such breathtaking landscape, hospitality brings that extra touch of magic, and no greeting could be warmer than that you will receive at The Foveran.  From its art and craft displays to the seasonal food at gastro pubs with rooms, dependent on local suppliers for the vegetables, cheese, meat and seafood, including bere bunno (a traditional flatbread) baked daily, it is a testament to the scrumptious strengths of the islands, but as if that wasn’t enough it’s also notoriously difficult to get a reservation because it’s so popular.