Peedie Hostel

The wind rattles the windows at night, but inside you're warm, tucked into a bunkhouse built for Orkney's weather — solid stone, low to the land, shaped by centuries of gales off the North Sea.

This is a proper base for solo walkers, couples chasing midwinter Northern Lights, or small groups exploring the archipelago without fuss. The camping pods offer a step up from canvas when the forecast turns, and the hostel bunks suit anyone comfortable with shared space and early-morning chat over porridge. Orkney rewards the curious — Neolithic sites older than the Pyramids, cliffs thick with seabirds, distilleries tucked into coastal bays — and Peedie gives you a no-frills launching point for all of it.

Open year-round, which matters up here when daylight shrinks to a sliver and most places shutter. Facilities aren't listed in detail, so ask ahead about what's onsite. Dogs allowed by arrangement. Campfires to check on arrival — sensible, given the wind. It's functional, friendly, and built for people who've come for Orkney itself, not the campsite.