Orkney

Paulby

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We are looking to visit Orkney for a week to ten days at the beginning of May. Can anyone recommend any wild camping spots or Camp sites? Also any taps or places to dispose of chemical waste. Any other advice about motorhoming on the island appreciated orkCheers Paul
 
Hi mate when the ferry arrives in Orkney the ferry terminal has showers ,toilets and washing machines to use.when you come off the ferry there's a site about a mile away called point o ness.thers a big site in Kirkwall but on the island there's loads of places to wild.very friendly folks up there.
If you want any great info pm merv ( Brandyman ) who is the most informative guy you could ever ask.
 
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Ive never seen anything official but its apparent from having stayed there (on many many nights) that the Pickaquoy site in Kirkwall doesnt mind you dropping off black and grey water or filling with fresh, as I say its not official and if you are neverous of being challenged go after 5pm bywhich time the warden will be at home eating his dinner!

Dont know what floats your boat wild camp wise but you will have no difficulty finding spots as you drive around.
On West mainland you can park up on the approach way to the Brough of Birsay (Viking site on the coast - you need to pay to enter the site) another good place on West mainland is at the Kitchener Memorial and at the cliffs of Yesnerby. East main land there are several carparks at the 'churchill barriers' at least one of which has a toilet and is right beside a nice beach and a colony of pigmy terns, the carpark for the ferry at St Margrets Hope is another possibility but can be a little loud if there are refrigerated units awaiting the ferry, Sands of Wright is another excellent spot with a toilet.

Water wise there are taps at both Kirkwall and Stromness harbours - the stromness one is easier to get to (its beside the Graemsay carpark) for black waste there are plenty of public toilets including one almost opposite the tap at Stromness - its possibly the worst toilet in Orkney but if you are only emptying a cassette!

If you need anything more precise let me know
 
Nice spot on edge of beach near to Skara Brae... toilets nearby with tap and bins and open all night..



 
malagaoth said:
Ive never seen anything official but its apparent from having stayed there (on many many nights) that the Pickaquoy site in Kirkwall doesnt mind you dropping off black and grey water or filling with fresh, as I say its not official and if you are neverous of being challenged go after 5pm bywhich time the warden will be at home eating his dinner!

Dont know what floats your boat wild camp wise but you will have no difficulty finding spots as you drive around.
On West mainland you can park up on the approach way to the Brough of Birsay (Viking site on the coast - you need to pay to enter the site) another good place on West mainland is at the Kitchener Memorial and at the cliffs of Yesnerby. East main land there are several carparks at the 'churchill barriers' at least one of which has a toilet and is right beside a nice beach and a colony of pigmy terns, the carpark for the ferry at St Margrets Hope is another possibility but can be a little loud if there are refrigerated units awaiting the ferry, Sands of Wright is another excellent spot with a toilet.

Water wise there are taps at both Kirkwall and Stromness harbours - the stromness one is easier to get to (its beside the Graemsay carpark) for black waste there are plenty of public toilets including one almost opposite the tap at Stromness - its possibly the worst toilet in Orkney but if you are only emptying a cassette!

If you need anything more precise let me know
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Agree with site in Kirkwall I've dropped water ,topped up and used conveniences with no charge very nice folks
 
There is a lovely beach at Hoxa. There are toilets there.

[video]https://www.facebook.com/WildCamping/videos/1209721769062636/[/video]
 
Admin said:
There is a lovely beach at Hoxa. There are toilets there.

[video]https://www.facebook.com/WildCamping/videos/1209721769062636/[/video]
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I didn`t even know we had a facebook page, nice one.
 
There is a lovely beach at Hoxa. There are toilets there
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that actually looks more like the Sands of Wright where there is something of an impromptu campsite used by locals (friendly enough) Hoxa is maybe a mile further down that road, yes you can park at Hoxa (room for 2 M/h) and from there its a short walk to the WWI gun battery or an even shorter walk in the other direction takes you to where the tapestries are made (you can buy a copy) but no beach at Hoxa just low cliffs
 
Admin said:
There is a lovely beach at Hoxa. There are toilets there.

[video]https://www.facebook.com/WildCamping/videos/1209721769062636/[/video]
Click to expand...


Make sure you visit the coastal battery at Hoxa point ....well worth a look round with interesting history AND not a shot fired in anger ...











 
I dont know when you took the pictures of the Balfour Battery but it had gone a long way down hill from the first time I saw it in about 2006, quite sad its its way, at least one of the buildings now has its flat roof collapsed (done so intentionally I was told for safety reasons).

Unfortunately Paulby will be there too early to see either of the major archaeological digs, Ness of Brogar (Neolithic site) opens in July and the other at Cairns (near Windwick, South Ronaldsay) an Iron age site starts mid June I think.
still lots to see and lots to do (if you like archaeology) and much of the best stuff is FREE!
 
When we visited last year we did not stay on any sites there are plenty of places to stay there is toilets in many places, we stayed at St Margrets passenger ferry on South Ronaldsway we used Gills Bay Ferry to and from Orkney.

Alf
 
We always used to use Pentalina from Gills Bay as it was always much cheaper but the last couple of times Northlink from Scrabster was actually cheaper, slightly longer crossing but it disembarks us nearer to where we are going.

There are really only three sites, Stomness, Birdsay and Kirwall the Kirkwall site is excellent but is becoming rather expensive - particularly if you are going for 7 or 8 weeks at a time as I do
 
There are lots of overnight stops on the POI database ... you'll be spoiled for choice :D
 
The laird said:
Hi mate when the ferry arrives in Orkney the ferry terminal has showers ,toilets and washing machines to use.when you come off the ferry there's a site about a mile away called point o ness.thers a big site in Kirkwall but on the island there's loads of places to wild.very friendly folks up there.
If you want any great info pm merv ( Brandyman ) who is the most informative guy you could ever ask.
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I would think twice about PM'ing Merv (Brandyman) ... I seem to remember in the Orkney Meet thread that he said he had a problem with his PM's ... I tried PM'ing him a few weeks back, but as he hasn't replied I assumed he still has a PM'ing problemo.

Maybe we should start a thread so we can all pester the poor man with questions ... Once the serious requests were over we could bombard him with nonsense requests (just kidding admin.)
 
Auld Pharrrt said:
I would think twice about PM'ing Merv (Brandyman) ... I seem to remember in the Orkney Meet thread that he said he had a problem with his PM's ... I tried PM'ing him a few weeks back, but as he hasn't replied I assumed he still has a PM'ing problemo.

Maybe we should start a thread so we can all pester the poor man with questions ... Once the serious requests were over we could bombard him with nonsense requests (just kidding admin.)
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Just try it not a nice quote brandyman think about discount pm still having problems Merv
 
Last year Wild Camping had two meets on the Orkney Islands. These meets were magical. Brandyman not only arranged the ferry discounts for us, he welcomed us to the Orkney Islands personally. He gave up his time to stay on the campsite with us and make sure our every need was met. He was a great host.

Merv (Brandyman) is negotiating a deal for us with the ferry company. Once he has the details, he will pass them on.

Although you won't hear him moan, Merv has some health issues. And he really does not need the stress of dealing with lots of requests from members. Can I ask that if you have any questions about the Orkney Adventure, that you PM me.
 
Admin said:
Last year Wild Camping had two meets on the Orkney Islands. These meets were magical. Brandyman not only arranged the ferry discounts for us, he welcomed us to the Orkney Islands personally. He gave up his time to stay on the campsite with us and make sure our every need was met. He was a great host.

Merv (Brandyman) is negotiating a deal for us with the ferry company. Once he has the details, he will pass them on.

Although you won't hear him moan, Merv has some health issues. And he really does not need the stress of dealing with lots of requests from members. Can I ask that if you have any questions about the Orkney Adventure, that you PM me.
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Well that's me told, and had my wrists slapped (rightly so) but I'm pretty sure everyone knew I was kidding about pestering Merv.

However I wholeheartedly apologise to Merv personally and collectively to anyone who may think my post above was in poor taste ... It was just meant as lighthearted banter and I did not intend for anyone to actually act upon the suggestion. .
 
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