The Skaill House is located in Orkney, Scotland. A tour of this house is included with the tour of…read morethe Skara Brae. You could purchase a ticket to only the Skaill House, but I recommend purchasing a ticket for both instead. If you are into history, then you will like visiting Skaill House. Lots of interesting things to see and learn here. The house was built in the 17th century (1620 to be exact). It is a short walk from the ruins of Skara Brae so it is worthwhile to check out. The house has been restored, and it opened to the public in 1997. Enjoy!

Skaill House is an old 17th century mansion originally built by Bishop George Graham. The house…read moreoverlooks the Bay of Skaill and is part of the Skara Brae tour. It is a short walk from the ruins to the house. There have been 12 Lairds (Lords) that have lived at the house. It can be a bit tight when there are a lot of people touring the house. I didn't get to spend much time because there were so many people. The rooms are small and cozy and I loved the library. There is a small shop at the end of the tour (of course) to buy some gifts. They also offer falconry lessons and you can have your wedding there. There are many ghost stories as many skeletons have been found around the grounds some going back to Viking days.

We had a single afternoon in the area and really enjoyed a sight seeing/errand trip in Wicks and…read moreall around to various places. Great taxi service as well as a guided tour. Good experience, well worth it.

Burnside Cottage is a beautiful, modern, well-outfitted bed and breakfast. My friend and I were…read morebooked on a ferry to Orkney from Gills Bay, and arrived to find it cancelled. With no idea what to do, we saw a small sign on the road above the port, and followed it. The owner was gracious, welcoming and accommodating. We couldn't believe our luck to find this outstanding lodging. Our twin room was clean, spacious, comfortable and quiet. The furnishings were among the best we've encountered, providing the function we needed with tasteful design. Plenty of hooks in the modern bathroom were so welcome, and more were near the door of the room. It's remarkable how this made a difference for two women with lots of stuff to hang -- most places we stayed have one hook per room, if any at all. Eco-sensitive soap and shampoo were wonderful. Did I mention the delicious breakfast, with many choices? I highly recommend Burnside Cottage and hope to visit again before and after I finally am able to travel to Orkney.

Ommmm, so Seaview Hotel is about the only place we could find that was open before a 7:30 pm…read moresailing from Gills Bay on the Pentland Ferries (Pro tip learned quickly in Scotland: outside major cities, everything shuts up tighter than a drum in the evenings). Plus, it's just fun to say "John o' Groats." We scoped the bar area -- depressingly run down, but happily full of rowdy locals -- and the dining room -- clearly going for the "executive ballroom" feel, and probably where everyone in John o' Groats holds their wedding reception. We went with the dining room which, apparently, boasts the moniker "Groatie Room." Service was excellent, friendly and accommodating, as at most places in Scotland. Also, a variety of local craft brews was on offer, as at most places in Scotland. Food, however, perfectly matched the stuffy, outdated dining room. Exactly what you'd expect from a sit-down reception catered by Sodexho. A bland Caprese salad, run-of-the-mill paninis, season-less steamed veggies. But, considering Seaview was about the only thing going in John o' Groats and put much need sustenance in our bellies, it garners the A-OK rating.

My husband and I stayed at the very lovely Anchorage B&B during our September trip to John…read moreO'Groats. The owners of the Anchorage recommended the Seaview for our dinner and we even ran into them there that night. Admittedly, this pub is not much to look at. It's dated and a bit run down. However, don't let that deter you. If you love fish, this is the place to go. We started with scallops and they were the best scallops that we have ever eaten. We live in Los Angeles and frequently eat at high end restaurants...the Seaview had them beat! For my main, I had a grilled haddock that was amazing. My husband had a burger made from local beef. Fresh food makes all of the difference. Our meals were fantastic! Beyond that, this is clearly a place filled with locals and everyone was exceptionally welcoming. John O'Groats has the friendliest people that we encountered during our UK trip. Go here, trust me!

B&B run by a very nice lady and her daughter. Comfortable, well appointed rooms, beautiful views…read moreof the bay, the hills, the sheep, and the horses, terrific WiFi. Excellent breakfast - cereal, fruit, bread, meat and cheese plate served at your table with seconds if you wish. All for a reasonable price. About a mile walk uphill from the ferry terminal. (A half mile by shortcut for the surefooted. She'll show you the path). Yvonne will give you directions when you book. Just don't chicken out -- keep heading up the last road until you see the sign.

good taxi company, taxis usually there within minutes even on christmas night it didnt take that…read morelong to show up was reasonably priced and the driver was very friendly only problem was the taxi driver had velvet seat covers and velvet makes my teeth go funny so i was sorta squatting over the seat instead of sitting lol

The airport building was done up a few years ago, and is very nice inside. There's beautiful lino…read moreprints on the walls which are done by a local artist - and it's worth popping in just to see these even if you're not flying from the airport. There's a small shop which sells newspapers, magazines and some items of local jewellery and knitwear. There's also a cafe and bar, which do a variety of teas, coffees, cake, meals and snacks - great while you're waiting to depart or waiting for someone to arrive at the airport. There's disabled access and a bus service to the airport from Kirkwall. Parking can be a problem - but the car park was recently extended so it's likely to only be a problem at certain times of year now.

While recently doing the "North Coast 500" route around the Scottish coast, we stayed at the John…read moreO'Groats Guest House as a stopping point, and are so glad we did! Under new ownership, the lovely couple that now own it have put their heart and soul into the house, and it shows! The rooms are updated with new furniture and fixtures, as well as upgraded with all the technological plug-ins you could need while traveling, such as Wi-Fi, Netflix, etc. The night before your stay you will get a message from the owners, who live on-site, asking what your special request is for any meals you would like. Since there are limited dining options at John O'Groats, this was hospitality above and beyond most B&B's we have stayed at. The owners are fabulous chefs, and only use locally sourced meat, cheese, eggs, milk, jams, etc. which are delivered to them fresh from local farms. We requested the Local Meat & Cheese Tray as our starter, and it was wonderfully fresh and delicious! Our locally sourced pork burger was fantastic as well. Breakfast is also included with your stay, and the owners did not disappoint with a list of local options for breakfast that you select the night before, and tell them what time you would like breakfast. It was such a nice way to start our day on the next leg of our journey around the Scottish coast. The warmth and hospitality we received at the Guest House was unexpected and very welcome. We would stay again.

We recently stayed at the John o' Groats Guest House, and it was a highlight of our month's…read morevacation in England and Scotland. Located near the ferry landing for trips to the Orkney Islands, we knew it would be a great location for us, surrounded by the stark but beautiful northern Scotland scenery. What we did not anticipate, though, was that the owners, Mary and Mark, would be the most welcoming and accommodating people ever. Not only did they provide a very nice room and great food, they did everything possible to make our stay pleasant. Mark even took us down to the ferry for our Orkney tour and picked us up at the end of the day. We had such a good time dining with them and the other guests and hanging out after! It was what you would always like to experience in a small B&B or guest house, but rarely do. If you are going to be in the area, you could do no better than to stay at the John o' Groats Guest House.