Annie's Place is the self contained, ground floor apartment of the Old St Magnus Kirk Manse (built in 1761). It has WorldHost certification with its owners available to welcome and assist guests. The flat has good access, and sleeps up to four people in double and twin bedrooms.
Price ranges from £455 per week.
For more information and to book online please visit our website. Currently we have availability from January 2021 through to the end of March 2021.
Additional folding bed and child's cot and high chair can be provided by arrangement. A recent guest commented that " the accommodation was just perfect for 2-4 adults/children, with everything we needed easily available".
Read more of our reviews here and if you have enjoyed your stay you may wish to leave a google review as this will be of assistance to future guests. Thank you! Our website currently contains 79 genuine 5 star reviews as independently sought by our Freetobook booking site.
Dog owners are also delighted that Annie's Place has immediate access to wonderful "doggie walks" and the adjacent beach. Bring your dog with you for a small charge.
In Annie's Place there is a well equipped kitchen/ diner which now includes a dishwasher. There is a modern bathroom with shower over the bath and the sitting room with comfortable leather armchairs and sofa. Wifi, TV, DVD, board games, jigsaws and books are also provided. The furniture, fittings and bed linen are of excellent quality, as the flat is regularly refurbished and updated. The overall facilities are praised by all guests, with positive comments that the flat is "exceptionally clean, uncluttered, comfortable and cosy". Orkney landscapes and seascapes by one of Scotland's leading artists, Rosanne Barr, are featured within the flat, reflecting the sea and country scenes which surround Annie's Place.
A welcome breakfast hamper is provided on arrival, for which all guests have expressed appreciation. Birsay Bay Tearoom is just 3 minutes walk across the bridge and is highly recommended by many of our guests in their reviews. The village shop next door has re-opened, providing basic groceries and home made hot pies, waffles, hot drinks and a range of home baking. We are now on the recently opened St Magnus Way, and the soon to be open St Magnus Cycle Track. These are just one or two of the many walks and cycle routes along the coastline and country roads that visitors can explore from the doorstep without the need to take the car!
Guests can relax in our Old Manse walled garden, including stretching out on our comfortable seating in the summer house, or they can sit on our stone bench directly above the sea shore which is alive with birds and "singing seals". Wonderful sunsets, calm evenings and exciting sea scenes are features of the view from this vantage point. Many guests enjoy a lunchtime snack, coffee break or glass of wine whilst relaxing in this "midge free" haven!
Annie's Place and The Old Manse are situated in the historic village of Palace, Birsay. This is the ancient capital of Orkney, on the rugged coast of the West Mainland, just to the north of the World Heritage sites of Skara Brae, Maeshowe, Ring of Brodgar, and Broch of Gurness. The RSPB bird sanctuaries at Marwick Head and The Loons are close by. Only ten minutes stroll from Annie's Place is the tidal Island of Brough of Birsay, with its early Norse settlement and sea cliff viewpoints; in spring and summer its heath land is covered in wild flowers and its cliff faces become seabird "nurseries". Earls Palace Birsay (Robert Stewart - related to Mary Queen of Scots) is the view from our window across the ancient St Magnus Kirkyard, founded in 1064....before the Norman Conquest.
Birsay is an ideal centre for walking, cycling (bikes available) and touring and there is free trout fishing on Boardhouse Loch with boat hire available in season. Music, dance and drama festivals run throughout the year with folklore and science events to stretch the mind and delight the senses.
Anne Barr
View of Old Manse/Annie’s Place from Earl’s Palace
