Hostels in Mainland, Scotland

Mainland, Scotland refers to the main island of the island group Orkney. The Orkney Islands are located north of Scotland and have an area of just under a thousand square kilometers. The largest town on the islands is Kirkwall; nine thousand people call Kirkland their home. Kirkland has got a ferry connection with Aberdeen, there are around three to four sailings per week. NorthLink Ferries use the town of Scrabster to connect the mainland of Scotland with the Orkney Islands. No matter if you travel by coach or by car, in the end you have to take a ferry from Scrabster. Another possibility are flight connections. Travelers can also get to Orkney with Flybe operating from the bigger Scottish cities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen.

Tourists come to the Orkney Islands for the scenic landscape, small picturesque villages, and the feeling to be away from the hustle and bustle of a big city. Apart from the nature, there are several points of interest for history lovers. The western section of the island offers various Neolithic and Pictish monuments. The climate is wet and comparatively mild. In addition, there is a lot of sunlight during midsummer thanks to the northern location. From June to August, the maximum daily temperature ranges from fifteen to seventeen degrees Celsius. Rainy days can be expected throughout the year. Suitable waterproof clothes are highly recommendable.

There are numerous budget accommodations on the Orkney Islands. Visitors can book several Mainland, Scotland hostels, holiday apartments, and guesthouses. Apart from a Mainland, Scotland hostel in the biggest settlement of Kirkwall, guests can also find Mainland, Scotland hostels in quite remote areas that are on separate islands as the perfect getaway. Keep in mind that not all Mainland, Scotland hostels offer online booking in the major hostel booking systems.

In Kirkwall, travelers can visit two museums. The Orkney Museum tells the story of Orkney, starting from the Stone Age to the Vikings and the present day. The internationally important collections in the museum include items from the prehistoric, Pictish and Viking times. The small Orkney Wireless Museum displays wireless equipment, such as radios and hearing aids. Among the various worth-seeing historic sites, there is Skara Brae, a Neolithic settlement made of stone. It is Europe's most complete village from the Neolithic Era and has the status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Another important point of interest is Broch of Gurness. The complex from the Iron Age is one of the most important prehistoric settlements in Scotland. In the visitor centre, tourists can look at various artifacts from the Iron Age.