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Orkney Islands, Scotland - chat, history, photos

Indian Garden in Kirkwall was a good takeaway, geminisnake

I can't forget them because they still text me every Fathers Day to see if I want a delivery. I'm always tempted to ask if they deliver to Lands End. :D


was lovely seafood.

My friends Steve and Sue tell me that The Storehouse is good.

 
Baikies is meant to be good aye, I've only bought their frozen patties to cook at home but those are nice. Leigh's Real Taste of Orkney does a fairly standard burger van menu but really good quality ingredients (no indoor seating). Both are in Finstown but the X1 bus from Kirkwall takes about 15 minutes and stops pretty much right outside. Check times if you're heading over that way as they're only open certain days.

Robertson's in St Margaret's Hope is also good and again the X1 bus stops right outside, about 30 mins from Kirkwall. The Murray Arms in the Hope maybe isn't one for you but highly recommended for anyone who does like seafood.

In Kirkwall -

Sunbean does the best coffee.

Shearer's is good for wholefoodsy type stuff and pretty much anything else you could ever possibly want to buy. They get locally made sourdough bread in on Wednesdays and Saturdays (sells out fast!) which is expensive but really nice, especially the garlic baguettes.

Brig Larder is expensive and a bit touristy but they do some nice stuff if you fancy treating yourself. Not sure what cooking facilities you have where you're staying but they do heat-up-able things like quiches and locally made ready meals.

Kirkness and Gorie (down the vennel opposite the cathedral) if you like nice cheese and booze. Grimbister and Russell's are the best locally produced cheeses imo.

Indian Garden is good.

Don't bother with the Happy Haddock or Harbour Fry.

Argo's Bakery are shit for bread and cakes but their shop in town is good for stuff like filled breakfast rolls, pies and soup of the day. Rendall's isn't much better imo but Westray Bakehouse stuff (sold in various local shops) is good.

Lucano's was decent the one time I ate there but they're currently closed for refurb - reopening Sunday 13th according to their Facebook.

The Willows Cafe inside Wellpark Garden Centre has a good reputation. Archive Coffee also does food and seems to be popular, always packed when I've been in. I think most of the coffee & cake type places in town are decent.

Helgi's is also meant to be good I think.

If you want butteries don't buy the local ones, they're shit. Tesco's sometimes has the JG Ross ones (they'll be with the in-store bakery stuff) but not always.
 
Also the Orkney museum opposite the cathedral is interesting but small enough not to take up too much time. Free entry too, so I'll sometimes just wander in if I have ten minutes to kill before catching a bus or whatever.
 
Indian Garden in Kirkwall was a good takeaway, geminisnake

I can't forget them because they still text me every Fathers Day to see if I want a delivery. I'm always tempted to ask if they deliver to Lands End. :D


was lovely seafood.

My friends Steve and Sue tell me that The Storehouse is good.

Storehouse seconded. Best meal we had but pricey.

Helgi’s was the place I enjoyed most. Decent ale and good pub grub.

Off season, not everything is open. Book in advance.
 
I went to the ice cream place on the corner near St Magnus for lunch, bacon and brie toasty, was happy with that 😊

Think I'll try Stromness tomorrow. Should have been able to see aurora last night but it was too cloudy 😞
Eateries in Stromness are pretty limited. There's the Pier Bistro and Takeaway, which used to do nice cakes and has changed hands several times over the years. The Ferry Inn does food but I can't vouch for the quality. The Bayleaf Deli does nice coffee but it isn't a sit down place. The Hamnavoe Restaurant appears to be "temporarily closed". I've heard a few horror stories about that place. There's also the Royal Hotel, which is owned by the same people who own The Ferry Inn. According to their website, their restaurant is closed. I'd also heard that the Royal was up for sale. Finally, there's Adam's Place, which wasn't open last time I was in Da Strom. It used to be called Julia's and the food was pretty shite. Julia's is now in the shed next door and sells only ice cream and coffees.
 
Eateries in Stromness are pretty limited. There's the Pier Bistro and Takeaway, which used to do nice cakes and has changed hands several times over the years. The Ferry Inn does food but I can't vouch for the quality. The Bayleaf Deli does nice coffee but it isn't a sit down place. The Hamnavoe Restaurant appears to be "temporarily closed". I've heard a few horror stories about that place. There's also the Royal Hotel, which is owned by the same people who own The Ferry Inn. According to their website, their restaurant is closed. I'd also heard that the Royal was up for sale. Finally, there's Adam's Place, which wasn't open last time I was in Da Strom. It used to be called Julia's and the food was pretty shite. Julia's is now in the shed next door and sells only ice cream and coffees.
I've not been yet but there's a new place called Flori just opened up near the bookshop that has a couple of tables to sit in.

You forgot to mention there's also a Chinese takeaway that's meant to be really shit and a chip van Saturday nights that's also pretty shit :thumbs: (year on and I'm still devastated by the loss of the South Ron chip van)
 
I have been to the Indian Garden, they do a Wednesday special, I am very full. It was indeed brilliant 😊 I accidentally left my hat on the bus so he's been to Stromness twice today. Got him back though so all good.
 
:thumbs: (year on and I'm still devastated by the loss of the South Ron chip van)
I had a brilliantly lard-dripping burger from a van on South Ronaldsay. I think my heart has just about recovered. Delicious. Had Minions outside it. Is that the one that's shut now?
 
I had a brilliantly lard-dripping burger from a van on South Ronaldsay. I think my heart has just about recovered. Delicious. Had Minions outside it. Is that the one that's shut now?
No that's the snack van up on the main road. There used to be a fish and chip van that went to burray Friday evenings and south Ron (by the big propeller thing at the peedie beach right in the hup if you know where I mean?) on Saturdays. He retired and I still complain every time I see him about :oops: If I could drive and had a vehicle I would've seriously thought about buying the van myself on the condition he stayed on for the first month or so as a mentor. Easily the best chippy I've ever been to. Sometimes I used to get a supper to eat down there and then go back for a single haggis or patty or something to eat on the walk back :oops::oops:
 
I've not been yet but there's a new place called Flori just opened up near the bookshop that has a couple of tables to sit in.

You forgot to mention there's also a Chinese takeaway that's meant to be really shit and a chip van Saturday nights that's also pretty shit :thumbs: (year on and I'm still devastated by the loss of the South Ron chip van)
The Chinese takeaway is indeed crap. The Peedie Chippie? Aye, that's crap, too. 😂
 
Local radio have started up their weekday evening programmes again for the winter. Most of it is music or more local interest stuff but they do a version of Call My Bluff called Whassigo on the first Thursday night of the month which is nice listening for a bit of Orkney dialect and culture.

Here's tonight's episode
 
Local radio have started up their weekday evening programmes again for the winter. Most of it is music or more local interest stuff but they do a version of Call My Bluff called Whassigo on the first Thursday night of the month which is nice listening for a bit of Orkney dialect and culture.

Here's tonight's episode

Ooh that was fab listening to the weather in a broad accent.
 
what is the sounds app? Will it be on my phone or the store thing?
I just use the website, only takes a minute to create a login. You might need to give them a real email address (can't remember if I had to verify mine by clicking a link they emailed me) but all the other info they asked for, I just made up.

I imagine it will probably want you to create an account for the app too, but can't say for sure as I try to avoid downloading loads of apps for stuff when I can do it through a webpage instead.
 
The Outrun has some magnificent shots of Orkney amidst all its gloom and booze haze. Well worth a watch.
Just watched that this evening. Beautiful shots of Papay and a really good film, I thought. Her tale of defeating the bevvy aided by the beauty of nature chimed with me a lot. Well worth a watch, I agree. The scene where she's right up at the far end of the island by the trig point gave me tingles as that's the furthest North I've ever been. Ahh, made me want to go back and soon.

Good to see Poor Man's Corner, the Papay band get in there too (notable songs 'Hoy!' - only lyric- 'Hoy!').

Also, very good use of The The on the soundtrack. Made me well up a bit, I must admit.
 
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