Stromness – A Museum Morning and an Afternoon Swim
A day.
The route
Here's an easy family day in Stromness that works whatever the weather.
Stromness Museum is free for under-16s, with galleries on the sea, Scapa Flow in the wars, natural history and things brought home from all over the world. Lunch is at the Ferry Inn on the harbour, then it's along to the town's pool for a splash, with toys and floats out at the fun sessions.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is House of the Northern Gate, 24 miles away. Sleeps 18.
Book a table at the Ferry Inn online for up to eight, and ask for a high chair when you book; in the bar there is usually room for walk-ins.
The day
Stromness
A morning among the museum's ships, wartime stories and natural history, then lunch by the harbour. The afternoon is in the pool at the top of the town.
About four and a half hours
Stromness Museum
Stromness Museum is on Alfred Street at the south end of the town. There's only a little parking at the museum, so you may need to park by the harbour and walk 15 to 20 minutes along the flagstoned main street. It opens Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm and on Sunday from 11am to 4pm; under-16s go free and adults pay £8, at the time of writing. Its galleries cover the town's seafaring past, Scapa Flow in the wars, natural history, and objects brought home from all over the world, with temporary exhibitions through the year. The entrance and ground floor are level, there's a stair lift to the natural history collection but no lift to the other galleries, and an accessible toilet with baby changing. Only assistance dogs go in.
The Ferry Inn
Lunch
Lunch is at the Ferry Inn on John Street, on the harbour front across from the ferry terminal, a couple of minutes' drive back along the town, or 15 to 20 minutes on foot. It opens every day from 12.30pm, and its kitchen runs from April to November, serving Orkney beef and lamb, local seafood and a fish and chips special. Children are welcome in the restaurant, with high chairs if you ask when you book; tables can be booked online for up to eight, and in the bar there's usually room for walk-ins. Dogs aren't allowed at mealtimes. If it's full, Julia's Shed on Ferry Road does filled rolls, salad boxes and home-baked cakes to take away, with seats outside.
Stromness Swimming Pool
Stromness Swimming Pool is on North End Road at the top of the town, a couple of minutes' drive on, with a car park in front. It's a 25-metre pool, 0.9 metres deep for half its length. On the timetable that runs to 9 October, there's a public session and a fun session with toys and floats on Sunday early afternoon. A parents and toddlers session runs late on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, with more public sessions through the week. After that the council posts a new timetable on its Stromness pool page, so check it, or ring 01856 850552, before you go. A junior swim costs £3.30, toddlers £1.70, under-threes go free and adults pay £6.60, with the fun session £5, at the time of writing.
If it rains
It's all indoors except the walk along the street to the museum: park closer if it's pouring.
Where to stay
Make it a weekend
More days out on Orkney.
Photographs by Ian Tresman, Ferry Inn Stromness and Russell Haggata via Google