The cottage was converted in 1998 from traditional croft buildings to provide a unique environment for family holidays in one of the Orkney mainland’s most popular parishes.
It is equidistant from Kirkwall and Stromness and is a mile from the south isles ferry terminal of Houton. With excellent walking country nearby, and a short drive to Maeshowe, the Ring of Brodgar and the Standing Stones of Stenness, the cottage provides a perfect base for exploring the mainland of Orkney and the south isles.
The cottage is capable of sleeping up to six people in two spacious bedrooms (one double and one twin) and using the double pull-out sofa bed in the living room. All bed linen and towels are provided. A baby cot and baby feeding chair are also available.
The cottage is located about 250 m from the shore and is surrounded by 6 acres of open pasture where dogs can run freely. There is a small walled garden at the east end of the cottage which is suitable for small children to play in. A lovely coastal path to the Earl's Bu starts nearby.
Green Tourism
In the interests of green tourism, as promoted by Visit Scotland's Green Tourism Business Scheme, the cottage boasts a number of measures designed to minimise fossil fuel consumption and to improve environmental impact. The most prominent is a small (6 kW) pole mounted wind generator on land well to the back of the cottage which feeds electricity by underground cable to heat and light the cottage. This supplements the mains supply and allows surplus electricity to be fed back into the grid. The cottage is heated by radiators fed by a ground source heat pump. To further reduce the carbon footprint, the insulation in the loft spaces is considerably enhanced and there is a solid fuel stove for extra heating in the living room. All light fittings have low energy light bulbs. Facilities are provided for collection and recycling of waste.
These measures complement the superb natural surroundings of the cottage which provide a habitat for many species of birds, including oystercatcher, curlew, lapwing, short-eared owl and hen harrier, as well as an abundance of hares. Sea otters have been observed off the cliffs below the cottage and orca, seals and harbour porpoises are occasionally seen in Scapa Flow.
