Old Scapa Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1BB Tel (01856) 872 243 or 0871 330 8533 Websitewww.syha.org.uk
BUG Review
This is a clean functional hostel – don’t be put off by its unattractive exterior. In its favour, it’s close to the main ferry terminals and everything you could possibly need (and get) in Kirkwall. The staff are a credit to the place and it is popular with backpackers.
Price Dorm bed £13.50-14.50 (£12.50-13.50 HI/SYHA) Prices are in British pounds and are inclusive of all taxes.
Credit Cards American Express,MasterCard,Visa
Seasonal Opening 30 March-27 October
Reception Open 7.30am-10.30am & 3pm-midnight daily
Ignore the road in! once pased that you will find a clean basic hostel. Kirkwall is a good base to explore the island whith bus and ferry links.if you get there before reception opens just leave your bags in the lounge and come back later. Orkney has the lowest crime rate in the uk (look it up).Smallish room 4 beds so you will not be sharering with many others. clean basic showers tv room and dinning room. small kichen so you need to time it right if its busy. bike shed everything you expect in a hostel.staff were nice and let me store stuff and make my dinner while wating for the midnight ferry. ps if you want a talk about diving with pictures ask the staff.
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(Review ID: 6335)
What a letdown., July 9, 2005
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Anonymous
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The Kirkwall SYA hostel is located about 15-20 mins walk from the ferry terminals (the other reviewers must have extraordinarily long legs). It is located in a residential neighbourhood but the property it is on is completely dilapidated - the building between the road and the hostel has been abandoned for quite a while, and it shows - broken windows, trash, etc. The hostel itself in in decent shape though.The hostel has the most awful staff I've met in years. The guy who worked there the three nights I was staying could hardly be peeled away from the TV/computer. He was also extremely non-communicative; I felt like an intruder every time I asked something. If you arrive during the midday hours there are several notices that make absolutely crystal clear that they take no resposibility for your luggage, they do not offer a place for it, and you're free to lug it around with you or sit in the awful common room until they open. Not exactly traveller-friendly. The hostel itself is clean enough (the showers were a bit dodgy in the mornings but they were cleaned every day), but a) it smells like old socks and b) is has the charm of a socialist summer camp. The TV/common room has no character whatsoever. The dining room - ugly. I know that the idea is to be out and about all day but occasionally it rains even in Scotland or the feet hurt, and a comfy place to hang out would be welcome. The rooms themselves were clean (and that's all that can be said about them) but mine didn't even have an outlet/socket, which meant I had to carry my battery charger with me wherever I went.The floor of the main hallway had a few carpeted-over holes, all doors banged very loudly (as most people get up early to hike etc. the late risers must really be suffering), the heat in the drying room was turned off, and generally there was no atmosphere, no "feel" to this place whatsoever.This hostel is a decent place to stay if you are on a budget but compared to most other Scottish/English/Irish hostels I have stayed at over the years (both official and independent) I would absolutely not recommend it. I give it 3 stars for fulfilling its purpose but I'd give it 1 star for comfort, charm, and character.
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(Review ID: 6336)
Good place to stay, February 4, 2005
Reviewer:
lockie
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I arrived after midnight into Kirkwall, with no place to stay. I was very happy to find this hostel from my map, in the dark and pouring rain...and have a warm welcome at their 24hour reception. I had a nice room which was cleaned every day. The only bad side was that the showers in my area were rather dirty. That's the only reason I gave them 3 stars. But I would definately stay here again.
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(Review ID: 6337)
Good, clean, would stay again, May 8, 2004
Reviewer:
bigchief
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Stayed here for 3 nights. Hostel is located about a 10-15 minute walk from the centre of town. Fantastic rooms - I saw a few room and they were mostly 3 beds per room, and the rooms were a good size. Hostel is clean and well heated. Staff are friendly and helpful. Shower facilities are good. Kirkwall itself is not as nice as Stromness, but it has good transport connections (ferries and flights to the Northern isles), and better ammenities (eg. more pubs, a large supermarket also open on Sunday, etc). Would recommend this hostel and will stay here if I go to Orkney again.
