Kirkwall Youth Hostel

It’s friendly and welcoming, reasonably priced, with plenty of room in the communal areas and a fairly convenient location. The toilets, showers and kitchen are well maintained and hygienic. Book accommodation anywhere in Orkney well ahead, as it can fill quickly even in what seem like off-season dates. Festivals, shows, coach tours and other things are happening through most of the year. The stop at the end of the access road is served only by the 9 bus, which is basically a circular route around the outskirts of Kirkwall. Buses to the famous sites and other locations leave from the Visitors Centre in the town centre, or you can catch them outside the large Tesco's on the Peedie Sea. Either stop is around a 15-20 minute walk from the hostel.

Belle was made to feel just as welcome as we were, and the staff were lovely with her. They also kept my bicycle safely in a designated indoor room. We really enjoyed the big kitchen, canteen-style dining room and cosy lounge, with plenty of sofas for groups to sit together. It was great meeting other travellers and catching the folk festival in May. Thanks from Jenji!

The rooms were clean and excellent, and I couldn't fault the showers. We may be well past the age of being called “youth,” apart from my puerile sense of humour, but we still felt very welcome. And it's oddly reassuring that youth hostels still have that familiar smell after all these decades, even if Axe is a new addition.

The huge kitchen was a plus, and I especially liked the dining area and lounge. The location and rooms were good too. The toilets looked old, which I found a little odd, but they worked perfectly well.