On your arrival at Roeberry you will find booklets, leaflets and brochures of places to visit on Orkney for you to use. As we love to explore and discover new places with our family we have written our own recommendations down for you that might add some new destinations to your itinerary.
From sandy beaches where seals rest only metres off the shore to rocky cliff walks we happily give away all our secret spots you won't find in any official tourist guides.
Places like the Eastside with its cemetery and sandy bay, Honeysgeo beach, walks from Hoxa to St Margaret's Hope overlooking Scapa Flow and the rolling hills of South Ronaldsay are within minutes away from our house.
With The Tomb of the Eagles only 7 miles away one of the most exciting sites to visit on Orkney is within easy reach. Even Orkney's most frequently visited attraction, the Italian Chapel, is less than a 15 minutes drive away - but you might get distracted on the way and try a dive at Scapa flow....
Tips for families
- Orkney's safe, clean environment makes it an ideal destination for families and kids of all ages. Who needs theme parks when you have real life adventures like these on your doorstep!
- Explore rock pools for minnows, crabs and anemones.
- Fly a kite along the beach - there are so many to choose from. Venture across the causeway at low tide to explore the Brough of Birsay.
- Fly the world's shortest scheduled flight, from Westray to Papa Westray.
- Follow the footsteps of the Norseman along the Viking trail.
- Paddle in the Atlantic in the morning, and the North Sea in the afternoon - or swim if you dare.
- Climb to the top of Britain's tallest land-based lighthouse on North Ronaldsay - and spot the seaweed-eating sheep down the shore.
- Become a pavement artist for the day during Stromness Shopping week. Fish for sillocks from a pier, or mackerel from a Churchill Barrier.
- Join a charter boat to explore caves and cliffs from sea level, and spot dolphin and puffins too.
And if the weather turns, there are plenty of indoor adventures too!
- See glow in the dark minerals and 350 million year old fossils at the Fossil & Heritage Museum in Burray.
- Enjoy the cinema, sports centre and soft play area at the Pickaquoy Centre.
- Get up close and personal with Orkney's sea life at the Orkney Marine Life Aquarium near St Margaret's Hope.
- Search the sweetie shops to collect every flavour of Orkney fudge or Orkney Ice cream.
- Get lost in the music at the Folk Festival, the Jazz Festival, the St Magnus Festival...all with special events aimed at children ("peedie bairns" on Orkney)