Making the most of Stromness Orkney Scotland
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
The dock is directly in the town centre.
A printable map to take with you.
Stromness, the Orkney Islands’ second largest town, lies in the south-west of Orkney’s mainland in Scotland.
Stromness is a compact town, where a main-street walk is always pleasant.
Nearby places
Skara Brae, Skail: buses run from Stromness and Kirkwall in Summer. Orkney’s premier tourist sight, Skara Brae is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This prehistoric village, dating from about 2500BC, lay covered by sand dunes until a wild storm in 1850 exposed connecting passages and round dwellings, complete with stone dressers and implements. There is a good visitors center and cafe, plus adjoining Skail House, a 17th century country house. Entrance £6.50.
Money
Throughout the UK, the currency is the pound (£), also informally called a quid. Scottish bank notes are frowned upon elsewhere in the UK, so exchange them before leaving Scotland.
Cash machines (ATM), less formally known as 'holes in the wall', are very widely available and normally dispense £10 and £20 notes.
Most shops and restaurants accept Visa, Mastercard and Maestro.
Staying connected
English is spoken throughout the country, though sometimes with heavy accents!
Free wifi can be found at the Royal Hotel, Stromness Hotel, The Ferry Inn, Julia's Cafe and the Library and Archive.
The local emergency telephone number is 999; the EU-wide 112 also works.
Opening Hours and
In general, shopping hours are:
Small stores open 6 or 7 days a week (10am - 6pm); larger stores generally stay open til' 9PM, while Hyper marts often operate 24/7.