Toft

On the outskirts of the historic town of Stromness in the West Mainland of Orkney, this single-story barn conversion has one bedroom, an open-plan living/dining/kitchen space, and a bathroom with bath and walk-in shower. All on one level, the property is wheelchair accessible throughout. It has stunning views across Hoy Sound and out to the open Atlantic. Parking is available right outside, but if you visit without a car, regular buses from Stromness go to all areas of Orkney. The building was converted six years ago from an old barn. It has a traditional, Orkney stone exterior, and an up-to-date and comfortable interior. Large windows on the seaward side flood the building with light, and give an unrestricted view across Hoy Sound. The kitchen and bathroom are stylish and modern. Slate floors throughout have underfloor heating, and there is a multi-fuel stove in the sitting room. There is a good stock of Orkney books and maps, as well as general reading material, board games, jigsaws and playing cards. This is a self-contained unit: it's all yours! We live next door - although you won't be overlooked. If guests would like information or company, we're happy to share our local knowledge, and hear your travel tales, over a cup of tea, glass of wine, or a meal. Innertown is in the parish of Stromness, within easy walking distance of the town centre, but we are surrounded by farmland, and close to the beach. Houses are widely spaced - we have a couple of fields between us and our nearest neighbours in each direction. There are footpaths along the shore, taking you to the golf course and the town of Stromness in one direction, or to the cliffs at Yesnaby and the neolithic village of Skara Brae in the other. Dominating the horizon are the heather-covered hills of Hoy: the highest hills in all of Orkney. There is off-road parking at the house. If you're travelling without a car, a twenty-minute walk takes you to Stromness, from where regular buses go to Kirkwall and St Margaret's Hope. Taxis and tours are available too. From Stromness, you can take the local ferry to Hoy; we are also the port for the Northlink ferry, MV 'Hamnavoe' which connects us to the north of Scotland at Scrabster. We provide some basics for you on arrival - bread, milk (and non-dairy alternative), butter, jam, cereals, yogurt, tea, coffee, sugar. These are to get you started, and in recognition that some of our guests arrive off a late ferry, long after all the shops are shut. However, the cottage is a self-catering cottage, and we don't provide breakfast throughout your stay - there'll be enough there to keep you going for a couple of days, but after that, you're responsible for feeding yourselves in the mornings.