Stromness Mainland Orkney Ferries

Stromness Orkney Scotland Tourist Guide

Stromness is a hugely attractive old sea port that retains much of its seafaring character. The harbourside is lined with the old fishermen's houses from which private slipways lead from boat sheds down to the sea. It's clustered around a natural harbour, Hamnavoe, on an inlet of Scapa Flow. It was an important refuelling stop for ships on their way across the Atlantic and The Hudson Bay Trading Company made it their main base. There are some remnants of 18th century Stromness most noticeably in the Warehouse opposite the ferry terminal built in the 1760s. Gracie Fields sang from the balcony of the Stromness Hotel during World War II when it was the headquarters of the Orkney and Shetland Defence. The main street through the old town which progressively changes its name four times along its length is paved with large sandstone flags. Watch out though because although it looks like it's only a pedestrian street it is accessible to cars which can mean both you and the cars dodging each other. The buildings that line it are full of character and a mix of shops and houses.

Stromness is the second largest town on Orkney to Kirkwall. There are a good range of pubs, cafes, take aways and restaurants. A few shops provide all essential needs and there is a Co-op supermarket just above the old town off the roundabout as you come into Stromness from the east. There is plenty of B&B and hotel accommodation in the town itself or in the countryside around. Being on this side of Mainland puts you right in the centre of a wealth of Neolithic sites. The Stromness Tourist Information Centre is within the Ferry Terminal at Pier Head, Stromness, Orkney KW16 1BH. Tel: 01856 850716. Fax: 01856 850777. Email: stromness@visitorkney.com

During July the Stromness Shopping Week brings a range of stalls to the harbour's edge as well later opening in shops and cafes nearby. There are a range of events and competitions associated with it including the crowning of the Shopping Week Queen who judges all competitions throughout the week. Piping Bands regularly play in the streets of Stromness and the week is brought to a close with a fancy-dress parade and fireworks from Stromness pier. The idea started in 1949 when the local Chamber of Commerce thought it a good idea to hold a variety of events to attract people to Stromness to shop. The streets are closed to traffic during the day during Shopping Week and it's a good chance to relax in Stromness and get involved in festivities. Check the website for details of events or get a programme from local shops nearer the time.

For rainy days the town has a swimming pool just as you come into the town from the east. It has a swimming pool, poolside Jacuzzi and health suite - all accessible to everyone. Call 01856 873535 for opening times.

Stromness to Scrabster Ferry Orkney

Northlink Ferries run a regular car passenger ferry service from Scrabster near Thurso in Caithness to Stromness in West Orkney. Three sailings run from Scrabster daily on the MV Hamnavoe, a large 20 passenger cabin ship with restaurants, creche and lounges on board. They pride themselves on the quality of the food and a cream tea features in the day trip ticket.

The crossing takes just one and half hours and you can get some excellent views of the Caithness coastline including Dunnet Head and the Orkney island of Hoy as the ferry nears Stromness. Northink offer day trip tours from Scrabster which is a good introduction to Mainland Orkney but doesn't give you much time for exploring all that Orkney has to offer.

The ferry docks at Stromness harbour where the ferry terminal also houses the excellent VisitOrkney Tourist Information Office. Buses meet the ferry for onward travel across the island to Kirkwall. The centre of Stromness is a short walk from the ferry terminal.

A small passenger-only ferry, run by Orkney Ferries, also departs from Stromness to the island of Hoy. The trip takes you to the north end of Hoy to Moness and takes around 25 minutes. It also stops at Graemsay on the way, a small island between Mainland and Hoy. Check Orkney Ferries website for timetables and prices. All enquires for the Graemsay/Hoy ferry must be made through Stevie Mowat on tel: 01856 850 624. Orkney Ferries, Shore Street, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1LG. Tel: 01856 872044. Fax: 01856 872921. Email: info@orkneyferries.co.uk

Orkney Ferries Inter-Island Ferry from Stromness to Hoy

A small passenger-only ferry, run by Orkney Ferries, also departs from Stromness to the island of Hoy. The trip takes you to the north end of Hoy to Moness and takes around 25 minutes. It also stops at Graemsay on the way, a small island between Mainland and Hoy.

Check Orkney Ferries website for timetables and prices. All enquires for the Graemsay/Hoy ferry must be made through Stevie Mowat on tel: 01856 850 624.

Orkney Ferries, Shore Street, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1LG. Tel: 01856 872044. Fax: 01856 872921. Email: info@orkneyferries.co.uk

Things to do in Stromness

The recently refurbished Pier Arts Centre provides the town and the rest of Orkney with a state of the art exhibition centre. It houses some fantastic Barbara Hepworth sculptures alongside works of Ben Johnson and Naum Gabo. These were gifted to the centre by Margaret Gardiner the centre's founder who was a personal friend of many of the artists featured in the gallery. The gallery also exhibits a changing range of temporary national and international exhibitions. The recent renovations inside the listed harbourside buildings include a two storey exhibition space with smaller spaces for temporary exhibitions. All are accessible by stairs or lifts. Full height glass windows give excellent views out to sea. The centre also has a shop. 28-30 Victoria Street, Stromness, Orkney Islands KW16 3AA. Tel: 01856 850209. Fax: 01856 851462. Email: info@pierartscentre.com. Check their website for additional information.

At the corner of Alfred Street and South End the Stromness Museum traces the seafaring tradition of the town and the flight of some Orcadians who joined the Hudson Bay Company s ships for a new life in Canada. There is also a large display related to the scuttling of the German Fleet in Scapa Flow after their surrender at the end of World War I. The museum was originally built in 1858 to house the Orkney Natural History Society's collections, some of which are still there. Stromness Museum - 52 Alfred Street, Stromness, Orkney. Tel: 01856 850025

There is a good concentration of Blue Plagues in Stromness. The poet and dramatist George Mackay Brown lived here for the last twenty years of his life in a building diagonally opposite the museum. Brown is considered to be one of Scotland's great 20th century poets who drew much inspiration from the Orkney Islands. His novel Magnus was heavily influenced by the Orkeyinga Saga.

The Arctic Explorer Dr John Rae is also commemorated in the town as the explorer who discovered the Rae Strait, the last link in the Northwest Passage. He set out on an expedition in 1854 for the Hudson Bay Company he found out from the Inuit people what had happened to the earlier Franklin Expedition from which John Franklin had failed to return. The Inuits told Rae that they had become trapped by ice and had resorted to cannibalism when they had run out of food. The Inuits presented Rae with a collection of human bones some displaying cuts from knives and saws. Inevitably this was hushed up and Rae never actually received the credit he was due, in fact the credit for discovering the Northwest Passage was given to Franklin! Rae's gravestone is in St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall.

World War Wreck Diving Scapa Flow

Scapa Scuba are based in Stromness and is Orkney's only PADI dive centre. They offer a range of dive courses and guided dives to discover the many World War I and II relicts hidden beneath Scapa Flow's waters including Blockships that were sunk by the Churchill Barriers to protect the British Naval Fleet and three battleships. These are interesting relicts of the conflicts during the war but nature has started to make them a home and you'll find a wide range of marine wildlife that has colonised the wrecks since.

Scapa Scuba specialise in small groups and individuals and can take you out on shore dives or out into the deeper waters of Scapa Flow. They also offer training courses on a range of diving techniques from half day courses to a 4 day Open Water Diver course. The centre on Lifeboat Road also has a diving shop.

Check the website for more information or contact them direct at: Scapa Scuba, Lifeboat House, Stromness, Orkney KW16 3DA. Tel: 01856 851218. Or there is an online enquiry form.