Skerravoe Cottage STB 3 stars

Skerravoe Cottage (Sandwick) Situated less than 20 yards from Skaill Beach,Skerravoe combines the warmth and comfort of home with wonderful unspoilt views of the Bay of Skaill, where seals swim, and terns, oystercatchers gulliemots search for food in the clear northern waters.

Skerravoe was originally built by a local carpenter for the first caretaker and his family of Skara Brae, the neolithic stone village less than half a mile along the beach which is maintained and run by Historic Scotland. It is snuggled down into the dunes to shelter from the wilder winter weather. This was in 1928. The house remained with the same family until sold and purchased by Voe Cottages in 1999.

The house required modernisation and so was rewired and replumbed with a second bathroom installed for modern family living. The cottage was fitted with doubleglazing throughout in 2004. The ground floor of the house is completely pine lined, with as much of the interior wooden panelling was retained and replaced with similar where necessary when it was refurbished.
The sitting room has an open fire for taking the chill off a summer evening, and cosying around on a dark winters night. There are a large selection of books and games for your entertainment as there is no TV in the cottage.

The large farmhouse style kitchen is well appointed with good quality crockery and cutlery and lots of pots and pans and cooking utensils. There is a fridge/freezer, toaster, kettle, food mixer, automatic washing machine/tumble dryer and a Stanley stove - always the meeting point in the house. This is the oil fired boiler (similar to an Aga) which runs the central heating and gives hot water and on which all the cooking is carried out. An Arrival Pack of groceries can be easily arranged prior to your arrival if you wish, so please contact us about this if it would be of interest.

The bedrooms downstairs are all pine panelled and the large bedroom upstairs has lovely views over the farmland and the Bay of Skaill. There are 2 bathrooms, both downstairs, one with bath and shower over, and the other with a shower only.

Bath and hand towels for each guest, duvet covers, sheets and pillow cases are all provided at no extra cost. Duvets and some pillows are polyester filled for those who suffer from feather allergies.

The cottage is heated throughout with central heating radiators with a timer function. Therefor the open fire is not needed to keep warm but to add that unique comforting glow that only a real fire can give.
There is a small charge for fuel oil used during your stay.
A pay phone has been installed for your convenience as coverage for mobile phones in the area is not complete. (No Orange or One to One coverage only BT and Vodaphone)

Plan of downstairs	Plan of upstairs

GROUNDS

The area around the cottage is unfenced and is less than 5o yards from the white sandy beachwhich is rather like an extension of the grounds around Skerravoe. Children can safely spend hours building sand castles, paddling in the sea or flying a kite. Adults can have fun using the local stone to make their own standing stone circle, or practice the tradional art of dry stane dyking (building a traditional wall) for a barbeque and toasting the sunset with a glass of wine.

PETS
We welcome well behaved dogs, cats and the occasional exotic beast. By 'well behaved' we mean that we ask you to keep them off the soft furnishings in the cottage (sofas, chairs, beds etc.) and if possible, downstairs rather than allow them in the bedrooms, and that they have their own bedding. We ask also that you clear up any dog mess deposited around the cottage. Although it is easy to find areas where dogs can be walked off their leads we would, of course, expect them to be kept under control at all times and on leads around farm animals.

An additional charge may be made for any excessive cleaning or damage repair necessary following your stay

SURROUNDING AREA
Around the Bay of Skaill there is plenty of coastal walking, south to Stromness town if you are feeling energetic (3-4 hrs) or north to Marwick Head (1hr). There are great opportunities for bird watching either on the shore or up at Marwick Head which is an RSPB reserve or round at Skaill Loch and you may be even lucky enough to spot an otter. There are several lochs close by available for trout fishing which you can do by joining the local Trout Fishing Association in Stromness for a very small sum. Boats can be hired too. And there is sea trout fishing all of course when in season.
There are many ancient sites on the West of the Orkney Mainland. The closest being Skara Brae. There are also the two sets of standing stones one at Stenness and further along the road at Brogar. Both are excellent for a late evening walk as the sun sets to the west.

SHOPPING

Shopping in Stromness is still carried out in a timeless fashion with individual shops where you can browse and choose and still have time for a chat about the weather with the local shopkeeper behind the counter.
In John Street, close by the surgery is a butcher shop, selling local beef, lamb and pork and a good selection of fresh fruit and vegetables. An equally good butcher can be found at the far end of the town and though smaller it too sells local beef, pork and lamb.
There is still a local bakery producing a wide choice of bread and cakes and it also has a lottery point, so you can still try to be a millionaire.
The Post Office is opposite and there is both a Bank of Scotland and a Royal Bank of Scotland. With several good grocers and a fish and chip shop along the street you wont go hungry.
There is also a large chemist shop, several clothes shops, a ship chandlers, and a large hardware store. A great selection of goodies for both locals and visitors can be found in the several gift shops here: two stock a good selection of local jewellry and one has small gallery at the back.
Stromness has several hotels all sited along the main street all with restaurants serving a variety of local produce and they all have separate bar areas.
There is a restaurant in the town which offers more upmarket dinning but has seasonal opening hours.

AMENITIES

The small town of Stromness is well served with a variety of different attractions.
Starting at the south end there is the golf course . A not too hard par 65, a number of challenging short holes and wonderful views of the Hoy Hills and Scapa Flow and out through Hoy Sound to the Atlantic. Even if you don’t play golf it is well worth the walk.

Closer to the town centre is the Stromness Museum and Orkney Natural History Society. Here is all the history of the Hudson Bay Company and the explorer John Rae. From a different era is lots of memorabilia from the 1st World War especially regarding the scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet which happened here in Scapa Flow in 1918. A number of the wrecks still lie on the sea bed giving Orkney one of the best dive sites in the world. In the main part of the town there is the Pier Arts Centre which owns an excellent modern collection and holds very good temporary exhibitions often featuring one of the many talented local artists. At the North end of the town is the local swimming pool with a fitness suite, sauna and jacuzzi. Opening during the school term is restricted during the day for the pool is used by the local children but has longer public hours during the school holidays.

If you are interested in booking or would like further information contact:
Lindsey Cradock on 01856 851 077
Or E mail lindsey.cradock@btinternet.com
VOE COTTAGES, NORTON, STENNESS, ORKNEY, SCOTLAND KW16 3HA