Stromness

Stromness enchants visitors with its narrow flagstone street winding between stone houses that seem to grow from the harbor's edge. This picturesque fishing town developed as a vital provisioning port for ships heading to the New World, Hudson's Bay Company vessels, and Arctic whalers. The architecture preserves this maritime heritage, with houses featuring their own jetties and slipways.

The main street follows the shoreline, dipping and climbing past closes and lanes that lead to hidden gardens and courtyards. The Stromness Museum houses remarkable collections relating to the town's seafaring past and Orkney's natural history, while the Pier Arts Centre displays an outstanding collection of modern British art in a beautifully converted warehouse. Local artists and craftspeople maintain studios throughout the town.

As the arrival point for the ferry from Scrabster, Stromness provides many visitors' first impression of Orkney—and what an impression it makes. The town's unhurried atmosphere, excellent restaurants, and genuine character offer a gentler alternative to Kirkwall's bustle. Writers, artists, and musicians have long been drawn to Stromness, and the creative spirit remains palpable in this most atmospheric of Scottish ports.