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Directory of Shops, Accommodation and Services in and around Birsay

We suggest you print out this directory and bring it with you when you come to Orkney.

 

ACCOMMODATION:
Bed and Breakfast:
       
Hotels:
The Barony Hotel 

The Barony Hotel offers a warm welcome to all visitors. Enjoy a meal in our restaurant with panoramic views of the Boardhouse Loch and the Palace. Our menu features local beef, pork, lamb, fish and shellfish. Fresh Birsay crab and lobster on request. Our rooms are all en-suite with prices on request.

    Dave and Anne Davidson  
Telephone: 01856 721 327 Fax: 01856 721 302
E-mail: info@baronyhotel.com

Email

Website: www.baronyhotel.com

Web Site

Self Catering:
ANNIE'S PLACE
Comfortable ground floor self catering apartment within former St Magnus Kirk Manse, opposite The Earls Palace in Birsay; sleeps four adults plus infant cot, if requested. Refurbished for 2015 with BT broadband, wi-fi and total control electric heating. Tariff includes bed linen, towels and Annie's Welcome Breakfast hamper on arrival.

No smoking premises; well-behaved dog accepted by arrangement.

Access to manse walled garden with chimera and bikes provided on request.

Visit Scotland 3-star with mobility award.           

Open all year - see calendar on website
 

Anne & Robin Barr, The Old Manse, Palace, Birsay KW17 2LX
Tel. 07503522089 or 01856 721491Website: www.anniesplaceorkney.co.uk Web Site
    Email: info@anniesplaceorkney.co.uk  Email
       
Feaval Cottage

Situated on a working farm, the cottage consists of large kitchen, shower room, bathroom, 3 bedrooms and living room, all linen provided. The surrounding area is ideal for walking fishing and bird watching with views out over the Brough of Birsay.
Closed November to March
 

Mrs. Rena Fraser, Feaval, Birsay, Orkney KW17 2LT  
Telephone: 01856 721 271
    Email: fraser.feaval@tiscali.co.uk Email
       
    LOONS COTTAGE  
   

Modern cottage on a working stock farm situated on the edge of the RSPB reserve "The Loons" and close to Marwick Head. This is an ideal location for walking, fishing, cycling or just relaxing. The cottage consists of kitchen/lounge, two bedrooms sleeping four persons, and toilet with shower. All linen is provided.
Open ALL YEAR.
 

 
    Mrs Phyllis Ballantyne, Netherdale, Birsay, Orkney  
    Tel: 01856 721 386.  
    E-mail: phyllis_ballantyne@talk21.com Email
Mid Comloquoy

Modern detached bungalow at Marwick Bay, Kitchener's Memorial & RSPB Reserve (puffins). 2BR sleeps 4 (cot available), 1 public room, shower, TV, fridge, microwave, free linen on request, heating throughout, charge for electric, parking, no pets, groceries on request, courtesy bottle of wine, free trout fishing
 

Mrs. Gertie Watt 
Telephone: 01856 721 218
       
PALACE COTTAGE

Traditional cottage with many original features situated right next to the Earl's Palace ruins.  Spacious and very comfortable with a recently refurbished kitchen and bathroom with a whirlpool bath, separate dining room, large main bedroom with a kingsize bed, twin room and sun porch.  Contains all modern conveniences, enclosed garden, parking.  Electricity, towels, bedding and "Orkney Welcome" pack included.  Sleeps 6. No smoking. No pets.

Visitscotland 4-Star rating

Mrs. Maureen Norquoy, Kenyon, Birsay, Orkney KW17 2LX
Telephone: 01856 721 418
    E-mail: norquoy@btinternet.com Email
       
   
ROBBIE'S HOOSE
 
   

Former summer cottage of Orkney's late Robert Rendall poet & naturalist, on shore with views of Brough of Birsay to Marwick Head. Perfect for fishing, walking, bird watching, cycling and touring. In historic village - near shop, post office and tearoom. Newly refurbished, one bedroom, sitting room, shower, TV, microwave, linens, no smoking, no pets. Open all year
 

 
    Mrs. Sheila Marwick, Schoolhouse, Palace, Birsay KW17 2LX  
    Telephone: 01856 721 317  
       

Wattle House, Birsay - 1 house

   

Panoramic views of Brough of Birsay, Earl's Palace, Kitchener's Memorial. Ideal for touring, walking, bird watching, fishing. Spacious comfortable and well equipped accommodation (ground floor): 2 public rooms with TV, 3 bedrooms - sleeps 6, included: linens & towels, oil central heating, shower room, bathroom, dishwasher, washer, tumble dryer, CD player, microwave, electric cooker, coffee makers, parking, lawns. Non-smoking, no dogs. Elaborate welcoming tray with Orkney products.
Open all year.
 

 
    Corinne Gunn-Harvey, Wattle Farm,  Birsay, KW17 2LS  
    Telephone/fax: 01856 721 206  
    e-mail: wattleorkney@btinternet.com Email
       
BOAT HIRE
Boat Hire on Boardhouse Loch - wild brown trout fishing 
Tony Taylor, Crook Farm, Birsay, Orkney KW17 2LR
Telephone: 01856 721 308
All boats have motors, petrol included, parking at jetty
Advance bookings recommended
W. M. Hay, Cursiter Cottage, Twatt, Orkney, KW17 2JH
 

On the main road A986 next to the Orkney Trout Association landing on the Boardhouse Loch. Follow the sign to the Scottish Water plant.
See Google Map Ref. KW17 2LZ
 

 
Telephone. Home: 01856 841 722; Mobile: 077 6982 8534
E-mail: wmhay51@hotmail.com

Email

Proprietor - Mrs. I. K. Hay  
Advanced bookings advisable
       
CHURCHES
Church of Scotland's
In Dounby, the new MILESTONE CHURCH.  This offers a fine venue for  Church services and for other civic events.
Check local shops for schedule
Rev. David McNeish  (telephone 01856 771 599)
St. Magnus Church Birsay at the Palace.

Open daily, no admission fee. If church is locked, key may be obtained from nearby local shop. Though there are no regular services, throughout the year there are numerous concerts, special services, art shows, lectures, displays of local photographs and items of interest plus many other activities.

United Free Church, Dounby
Minister: Dr. J. Creelman
Sunday Morning Service: 12:00 Noon
CRAFTS, GALLERIES
 

Email

  'Craiglands', Birsay, Orkney KW17 2ND 
  Marine & Wildlife Gallery/Workshop of Roger & Jo Philby 
 

Roger makes his jewellery based on dolphins, whales and other forms of wildlife in his workshop overlooking the beautiful Brough and Bay of Birsay. The view from his gallery is stunning.

 
 

Open: Mon-Fri 11am-5pm April-Oct (although if we are in we are open!) Follow the 'Craft Trail Jewellery sign'.

 
 

Telephone: 01856 721 343

E-mail: roger@flukejewellery.com

 
  Website: www.flukejewellery.com

Web site

     
Hundland Gallery Email
Hundland School, Swannay by Evie, KW17 2NR
Telephone: 01856 721 307
Orcadian artist, Wendy Hourston displays her original paintings in this converted schoolroom.   

OPEN: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 1 - 5 PM, June to August.

Other times by arrangement

 E-mail:  gallery@hundland.co.uk

Email

  Holland Cottage, Marwick, Birsay, Orkney KW17 2NB  

Kevin and Liz Allen design and make fine silver and jewellery in Birsay. Their workshop overlooks Marwick Bay, Isbister Loch, and two RSPB Bird Reserves.

  Well worth a visit to view a very wide range of different designs.  
  OPEN: Mon-Sat. 10am - 5pm. Easter to September  
Telephone: 01856 721 359 for directions and more opening times.
E-mail: orkneyinga@talk21.com

  Website: www.orkneyinga.co.uk/

Web site

Yellowbird Gallery

Email

  Chocolate Cottage, Birsay, Orkney Isles, Scotland.  
Displaying paintings and jewellery by Jon Thompson and Lesley Murdoch

Situated in the northwest corner of the mainland near to the Brough of Birsay. You are welcome to visit our gallery. We are open most days.

  Telephone: 01856 721 360
E-mail: info@yellowbirdgallery.org.
 

Web site: www.yellowbirdgallery.org

Web site

Note the CRAFT-TRAIL signs
 
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Balfour Hospital A&E (telephone: 885 400)
Dounby Surgery (telephone: 771 209)
Police, Stromness (telephone: 850 222)
Coast Guard, Kirkwall Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre (telephone: 873 268) No longer manned 24/day
 
FISHING see Boat Hire
Orkney Trout Association

Web Site

MUSEUMS:
Barony Mills
Open daily May to September 10am- 1pm, 2-5pm, no admission fee. 

A unique opportunity to tour Orkney's last working water-powered meal mill. Displays of various stages of bere being ground as well as numerous photographs of the area. Beremeal, postcards, posters of mill's operation are available.

NATURAL HERITAGE - see WILDLIFE
POST OFFICES
Palace Stores in the village (telephone: 721 351) 
Open Monday to Friday 10.00 to 12.30 pm
Dounby Post Office (telephone: 721 432)
Monday to Friday closed 1-2 pm, open Saturday morning
 
RESTAURANTS, TEA ROOMS:
  Birsay Bay Tearoom

Email

  Birsay Bay Tearoom, The Palace, Birsay, Orkney KW17 2NJ  
 

Situated on an elevated site overlooking Birsay Bay, offering a range of teas, coffees, light           lunches, home-bakes and cakes.  Our menu utilises local produce whenever possible, with             all food prepared fresh each day.  We have a small Tearoom Shop which has a selection of       local craft items.  We also sell Birsay Tomatoes in season. 

Open all year except January.

 
 

HOURS:
         April: Wednesday to Sunday, 11am until 4pm
         May to September: Wednesday to Monday, 11am to 6pm                           (sorry, we are closed every Tuesday)

          October to March: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 3:30pm
                          (except January - closed all month)

 
  Telephone:   01856 721 399

Email: georgina@birsaybaytearoom.co.uk
Website: www.birsaybaytearoom.co.uk

Web Site
       
     
SHOPS, GROCERS:
  Palace Stores (located in the heart of the village)  
 

We can supply you with: petrol, diesel, wines & spirits, calor gas, cigarettes, general groceries (including fresh fruit and vegetables, milk, meats, frozen goods, etc.), Orkney ice cream, coffee & snacks, and post cards and stamps. "(A Post Office is located in the shop.)  Also we plan to offer a local delivery service for groceries. 
Speciality available:  Joan Tate's Fused Glass items. 

Opening times:           

Mon-Sat: 9am to 7pm
Sun 10.30am - 7pm). Winter 1pm until 5pm

Post Office open 10am to 12:30pm Mon-Fri all year

 
     
  The Dounby Butcher - Aberdeen Angus - The Best of the Best  
 

High standards of animal welfare, grass fed cattle, complete traceability, award winning herds, natural clean environment, matured at least 21 days. Self-catering visitors can enjoy the Best right here. We ship next day delivery by the Royal Post.

Shop hours: Tue, Wed, Thur, Fri (9-5)
                   Sat (9-4)

 
  Contact: Barbara Sinclair

The Dounby Butcher
Dounby
Orkney KW17 2HT
Tel/fax: 01856 771 777
 
 
SURGERY see EMERGENCY SERVICES
WILDLIFE:
Scottish Natural Heritage Officer

Email

54-56 Junction Road,
Kirkwall
, Orkney
KW15 1AW
Tel: 01856 875302
Fax: 01856 876372

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