📌 Town on Orkney Mainland
★★★
Stromness is the second largest settlement in the Orkney Islands and an important port, including for ferries from Scrabster on the Scottish mainland. With a population of only a couple of thousand or so, it doesn’t measure up to Kirkwall in terms of facilities, but the winding streets and alleyways repay exploration and there’s a handful of places to eat. Wandering (or driving, slowly!) up the improbably narrow, stone-paved main street feels like a trip back 50 years in time. You’ll probably enter Stromness from the north end of town, but aside from the harbour, the most interesting parts are further south along the main street, including the worthwhile town museum. Meanwhile, there are excellent views over to Hoy from the low hillock known as the Citadel at the south end of town.
🌍 Location
📌 Orkney Mainland
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: HY 255092
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 58.963388,-3.297834
🚢🚌 Stromness has a big harbour with car ferries from Scrabster on the Scottish mainland, and passenger ferries from Hoy and Graemsay. Buses run from Kirkwall and other villages.
🚗 Parking in the very centre is somewhat limited. There’s a big car park as you approach the town from the north.
Explore nearby
<1 mi away
>> Stromness Museum ★★★
<3 mi away
>> Unstan Cairn ★★ (2 mi →)
