Kirkwall Youth Hostel

The hostel is within the Kirkwall town centre, and the facilities were good. The staff were quite friendly and helpful as this was my first ever journey to the Orkney isles and mainland.

Located in a quiet neigbourhood approx 15 mins walk to the city centre, and 5 mins walk to the nearby (new) hospital. Offering private rooms as well as dormitory-style accommodation, with a self-catering kitchen for guests, with ample dining and lounge areas. Continental-style breakfast is available (and can be included in your booking, or arranged upon arrival). No TV, however, wifi is on offer. Bathrooms and toilets are non-gender specific, and communal. Our ground-floor twin room provided comfortable, clean beds, along with a bedside table & lamp, plus sufficient drawers and hanging space. No tea/coffee making facilities in the room, however, we could help ourselves to all that was on offer in the communal kitchen. Friendly staff too - we asked for a hairdryer, and one was provided by the front desk staff at reception.

Does what it says on the tin. The room was clean and the beds comfortable. Large kitchen and dining area with plenty of fridges and cookers. There is a laundry room that tou can use by buying tokens at reception. The staff were great and very helpful. Would definitely stay here again.

The private room was ok but I did not like the gender neutral toilets and washrooms. If they had been single units affording some privacy, that would have been fine - but they weren’t. Also there was an unpleasant smell of cooking in the corridor. The room smelled ok. The doors of the other rooms banged as they were closing - so quite noisy late at night while trying to sleep.The warden was helpful and pleasant.

Too expensive breakfast.