I am looking at 2 weeks in Orkney during the next Summer holidays. The plan is that the main purpose will be a family holiday, with fishing fitted in where possible. As such, I am looking for advice on any recommended accommodation (Self catering cottage, not too far from amenities) that will be suitable for a family of five and is located close to fishing (walking distance would be great, to allow swift exit following young ones bedtime or early morning foray before breakfast).
The area I have been gravitating towards is the West Mainland, but I am open to suggestions from the experienced, as this will be our first trip to the Northern Isles.

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But Jesus beheld them and said unto them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Matthew 19:26

You need to stay in Stromness,as kirkwall is a bit further away from the fishing and the only ammenities as such are Kirkwall/Stromness.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Thanks Jim,
I've pencilled a couple of cottages in as maybes, and they are both near Stromness. The only other area that caught my eye was Dounby. We'll be self catering, so the only real amenity we'll need is a village shop to top up our main supplies from Stromness/Kirkwall.

Looking forward to doing some serious birdwatching up there too.

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But Jesus beheld them and said unto them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Matthew 19:26

i`ve been going to orkney for the last 8 or 9 years , stromness is nearer the fishing , but there is more for the family to do in kirkwall.
as the wife doesn`t fish i stay in stromness for 2 weeks then move to kirkwall for a week or so.

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it`s nice to catch fish , but not essential !

personally i would go for dounby.close to the lochs and there's a shop.

dounby would be fine , but i would have to go fishing with a knife in my back if there was nothing for my wife to do.

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it`s nice to catch fish , but not essential !

For my twopenneth

I'd vote for Kirkwall - more to do and easy access for boats to the other islands. It don't take that long to get round Orkney Mainland.

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[COLOR="Blue"]"A fish seen is a fish nearly caught"[/COLOR]

There's more pubs in Kirkwall

If you want to be close to the fishing then Dounby is the perfect area. Only 15 mins drive from about half a dozen good quality brown trout lochs. There is a Co-op in Dounby itsef and a pub where you can get grub too.
If you want to be close to things to do with the family then your going to want to be nearer Kirkwall.
Wherever you end up you're probably never more than 30mins drive from a loch.

Check out the Orkney Trout Fishing Association website for more info.

Regards
Paul

(A Shetlander living in Orkney)

Its not as though there is big drives to the lochs from either place we stayed nr Kirbister, it was easy enough to get to any of the fishing, incuding the handy loch easker1