Lilburn's Pier - An Introduction

Dear Guest
Thank you for taking the time to look into a holiday in Orkney. I will try to give you a taste of what’s on offer but as so often said by visitors “we came for a week but could have stayed a year and still not have seen it all”.
Sue Manson

Lilburn’s Pier is an attractive traditional stone built “end to sea” house, situated on the waters edge, within the local conservation area. It has its own private pier and slipway, offering spectacular views over the harbour to the Hoy Hills and Scapa Flow.

From your own Pier you can watch the fishing and diving boats leave each morning and return each evening. You can watch the sea birds and seals playing in the harbour, or fish for your supper.

The house was built at around the turn of the century as two separate dwelling houses, owned by local lobster fishermen who sailed of each morning from this very slipway. From the 1960’s until the 1990’s the house was the headquarters for the Orkney Fishermen’s Society, arranging the export of local shell fish to all over the world.

Local shops, restaurants and Hotels are only a short walk away, along the picturesque cobbled streets.

There is a museum and a library (with internet access) within two minutes walk.

Lilburn's Pier - What's to be found nearby!

Orkney’s claim to be Scotland's 'secret jewel’ is well founded, of all the Scottish Islands; it has the widest range of attractions to offer the visitor.

There are marvellous walks along the dramatic cliff tops, and also quiet and excellent sandy beaches for lazy days in the sun. Loch fishing in Orkney is free and boat hire is available.

It is an island steeped in history since prehistoric times. The charming Lilburn’s Pier, in the historic town of Stromness, though not dating from quite that far back, has certainly been standing for almost a hundred years. A traditional, stone built dwelling, it has now been carefully restored by the owners to create cosy and comfortable holiday accommodation.

Stromness was a stopping off point for the Hudson Bay Company vessels before setting off across the Atlantic to Canada. From the company's early days, their ships regularly called into Stromness for supplies and to hire labour - an important source of employment for the islanders was the "Nor-Wast" and from around 1702 the company recruited in Stromness.

The capital, Kirkwall (all facilities, airport) is 15 miles away. Stromness (all facilities, swimming pool), immortalised by its native poet George Mackay Brown, and is where you will land if you come by sea from Scrabster.

Orkney was of tremendous strategic importance in both World Wars. In 1919 the German fleet scuttled itself in the legendary Scapa Flow. Keen divers can hire boats at Stromness to visit the wrecks. You can drive across the spectacular Churchill barriers to South Ronaldsay and the lovely Italian Chapel, built by Italian prisoners of war in two Nissen huts from whatever came to hand. Nearby St Margaret's Hope has one of the best restaurants in Scotland. On Hoy, the largest of the Orkney's satellite islands, in addition to walking round from Rackwick (beach) to the rock pillar of the Old Man; you can visit the Scapa Flow Visitor Centre and Museum, for an insight into wartime Orkney. Leave plenty time - it really is fascinating!

Standing stones, brochs, burial mounds and prehistoric villages are to be found all over the island. Skara Brae is perhaps the best known, in its glorious seaside setting. Then there is the famous Maes Howe, some 5,000 years old, with some remarkable Viking graffiti from later times. (How many ways can there be to access a burial mound? You'll find them all on Orkney - the Tomb of the Eagles; for example, involves lying on a glorified skateboard and propelling yourself through the tunnel! Kids, old and young, will love it.)