Stromness

United_Kingdom

Stromness is a port on Mainland, the largest of the Orkney Islands. To the Vikings, Straumsnes meant the headland just south, where a fierce tide rips between Scapa Flow and the Atlantic; get past that and you came safely into Hamnavoe or "peaceful harbour", where the town now stands. It's long been a fishing port but it was more important in the 17th-18th C, when Britain was often at war with France, the Channel was unsafe, and shipping had to detour around the north of Scotland. Hudson's Bay explorers and traders, and the expeditions of Captain Cook and of Franklin, all stopped here for rest and re-supply. Today Stromness is the second largest town in the Orkneys but it's a quiet place, with a pleasant narrow flagged main street, and it's escaped the industrial sprawl seen around Kirkwall.

Stromness from seaside

Stromness Museum John Rae-Diorama inside Stromness Museum

  • Stromness Museum, 52 Alfred Street KW16 3DH, +44 1856 850025. April-Oct daily 10:00-17:00, closed winter. Covers natural history, sea-going and maritime exploration, and wartime Orkney. Adult £5, concs £4.00, family (2+2) £10, school pupil £1.
  • Pier Arts Centre, 28 Victoria Street KW16 3AA, +44 1856 850209. Tu-Sa 10:30-17:00. Gallery with permanent collection of work by 20th C artists, some of whom are local to the area. The centre also hosts temporary exhibits and runs a programme of educational and community outreach activities. Free.
  • For the must-see neolithic sites, see Stenness for Maeshowe, Stones of Stenness, Ring of Brodgar and Skara Brae. See Birsay for the Earl's Palace and Brough there.

Stromness Museum, 52 Alfred Street KW16 3DH, +44 1856 850025. April-Oct daily 10:00-17:00, closed winter. Covers natural history, sea-going and maritime exploration, and wartime Orkney. Adult £5, concs £4.00, family (2+2) £10, school pupil £1.

Pier Arts Centre, 28 Victoria Street KW16 3AA, +44 1856 850209. Tu-Sa 10:30-17:00. Gallery with permanent collection of work by 20th C artists, some of whom are local to the area. The centre also hosts temporary exhibits and runs a programme of educational and community outreach activities. Free.

For the must-see neolithic sites, see [[Stenness]] for Maeshowe, Stones of Stenness, Ring of Brodgar and Skara Brae. See [[Birsay]] for the Earl's Palace and Brough there.

A short easy walk up behind the town brings you atop Brinkies Brae (94m), for views of Hoy. A longer but level walk leads south from town to Point of Ness, with its campsite. Continue west along the coast, by the golf-course, to the gaunt structure of Ness Battery. You can tour inside this gun battery. It was built in 1915, in regular service until 1955 and used for training until 2001. You may also drive here along the golf course private road. £6 for a guided tour. Continue further west to the tranquil graveyard, where lies the poet George Mackay Brown (1921-1996), with an unobtrusive sandstone headstone. A public road leads back over the ridge to town.

A short easy walk up behind the town brings you atop Brinkies Brae (94m), for views of Hoy. A longer but level walk leads south from town to Point of Ness, with its campsite. Continue west along the coast, by the golf-course, to the gaunt structure of Ness Battery. You can tour inside this gun battery. It was built in 1915, in regular service until 1955 and used for training until 2001. You may also drive here along the golf course private road. £6 for a guided tour. Continue further west to the tranquil graveyard, where lies the poet George Mackay Brown (1921-1996), with an unobtrusive sandstone headstone. A public road leads back over the ridge to town.

  • Stromness Books and Prints, Graham Place, Stromness, KW16 3BY. Tiny but much-loved bookshop tucked into the corner with Dundas Street.

The main place to stock up on food and other essentials is the Co-op, north end of town.

Stromness Books and Prints, Graham Place, Stromness, KW16 3BY. Tiny but much-loved bookshop tucked into the corner with Dundas Street.

All the hotels have bars and restaurants, including Ferry Inn, Royal Hotel and Stromness Hotel, see "sleep".

Julia's Cafe & Bistro, +44 1856 850904. Popular restaurant.

Hamnavoe Restaurant, 35 Graham Place Stromness Orkney KW16 3BY, +441856 850606.

Remains of Ness Battery

  • The Flattie Bar is a cosy traditional pub within the Stromness Hotel, see "sleep".

The Flattie Bar is a cosy traditional pub within the Stromness Hotel, see "sleep".

Hoy is an easy day trip from Stromness. Kirkwall has several sites and accommodation, and is the transport hub for all of Orkney.