Stromness is Orkney’s second largest town and its main ferry port. Its narrow main street winds its way between houses in parallel with the shoreline and changes its name as you move along it. 

Despite its small size, Stromness is a lively settlement hosting many of Orkney’s year-round festivals including the Blues Festival and the Folk Festival. You might even be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights from here!

Sail to Orkney

Sail your way past the Old Man of Hoy to Orkney on the MV Hamnavoe. Weather depending, this ship sails up to six times a day between Scrabster on the Scottish mainland to Stromness in Orkney. Belonging to Northlink Ferries, the ship is listed on Euan’s Guide and has lift access between all three decks. If you’re boarding with a car, it’s possible to request a space near the lift beforehand. Otherwise, the 100m walkway is listed as ‘wheelchair-friendly, with a lift leading from the ground floor to the first floor’. The ferry lists ‘two adapted toilets’ on board, and these do not require a key to open. The return journey runs up to three times a day from the Stromness Northlink Ferry Terminal.

Sleep in a Norwegian-style chalet

Image of: Buxa Farm Chalets and Croft House.

Buxa Farm Chalets and Croft House sit on the waterfront between Houton and Stromness in Orphir. The chalet is a fantastic place to see wildlife, particularly birds. The chalets are listed on Euan’s Guide as saying, ‘chalets are wheelchair accessible with wide doors and all on one level. A dedicated walk with gates at the top and bottom has been developed giving easy access to the shore’.

View fine art by the pier

The focal point for artists in Stromness, The Pier Arts Centre includes work by major 20th century artists as well as modern contemporary artists. The gallery is listed on Euan’s Guide saying ‘there are accessible toilets on all three floors of the gallery’ and that ‘the centre has a wide front door and staff are available to hold it open if it is not already open’.

Learn how to survive in the arctic

Image of: Exterior of Stromness Museum.

Stromness Museum is the place to go if you want to discover a bit about Orkney’s natural history and maritime stories. Displays about Dr John Rae, Sir John Franklin and the Arctic Whalers will show you how to survive in the Arctic; while the Victorian Natural History Gallery showcases an impressive bird collection, fossils, sea creatures and more. A ticket here will last you seven days, so you can come back as much as you like!

The museum lists its accessibility on Euan’s Guide saying, ‘the museum’s main floor is fully accessible and on ground level with a steep sloped area’ and that the ‘entrance doors are wide’. The upper gallery is not accessible to wheelchair users; however, a chairlift has been fitted for visitors. The museum also offers a DVD to link museum artefacts with stories of Stromness.

Enjoy a peatfire tale

If you’re in search of a story, The Orkney Folklore and Storytelling Centre is the place to be in Stromness. Sitting right in the middle of a UNESCO World Heritage site, the centre offers evenings of storytelling, guided town walks, drama circles and more. It’s listed on Euan’s Guide as having ‘a large disabled toilet with a step free entrance and grab rails’ and ‘level access throughout with only a very slight slope at the entrance to the courtyard reception’. The centre also told us, ‘there is a lot of mime and gesture in our work’ and they use sign language having worked with many hearing impaired people.

Neolithic Orkney

Image of: The entrance to Maeshowe.

Orkney is a fantastic destination for anyone interested in Neolithic history. A prime example of this is Maeshowe, a Neolithic chambered cairn. One of the fascinating features of this building is the graffiti thought to have been left by Norsemen in the 12th century, including an iconic dragon you are sure to spot on lots of souvenirs! Unfortunately, the historic site has very limited accessibility due to the nature of the tomb, with an exceptionally narrow and low entrance passage. However there is more access at the visitor centre dedicated to Maeshow in Stenness, only a short drive from Stronmess, and there is also a mobile app, “Explore Maeshowe”, which allows you to virtually explore Maeshowe wherever you are!

The Annual Orkney folk Festival

This takes place in May each year.  While most of the venues for the festival are accessible for wheelchair users, some are harder to access and the organisers advise that you contact them via email at the point of booking to ensure they can accommodate your needs. Click on the link for further information on the Orkney Folk Festival.

Can you help review Stromness?

We’ve got lots of great listings for places to go in Stromness, but we need reviewers to share their experiences! Tell us what accessibility is like in cafes, attractions and shops around the town by writing a review.

Header image: Exterior of Piers Arts Centre.

Last Updated – January 2021