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The location was great. The room was clean and spacious, completely comfortable. The breakfast was delightful, the bar welcoming, and the staff exceptional.

I had stayed at this property about ten years prior, and had not anticipated the changes that I experienced during my visit due to new owners. The hotel is still a charming early 20th century property, situated in a quaint village at the edge of the harbour. The changes though, are stark. No longer a little pub to grab a snack and a drink, for that you have to walk up the cobblestone street to another hotel. The breakfast is included, although everyone seems confused about it - the desk staff tells you to write down your breakfast order and leave it at the desk, but you arrive to the breakfast dining room and find it is buffet style eggs and such. Two of the staff members were incredibly kind, welcoming, and made me feel at home - the rest spoke in a foreign language and broken English when speaking to me, often getting in seemingly heated arguments with each other in front of guests in the foreign tongue. I arrived and found the window in my room was stuck in the open position and for two days I asked for it to be closed, as the evenings were quite cold, and no one would do this. But the second night, one of the friendlier staff members asked how my stay was and when I told her about the window, she immediately rang for a gentleman to go close it. I came back (from the other hotel for dinner) to find it still open, told her and she followed me to the room to get it closed herself. Note: not that they at all claim to be handicap accessible, but this hotel is not at all handicap accessible. The lift is too small for a standard wheelchair (it only fits one person with luggage, or two people with none) and the en suite restroom is not accessible if in a chair.

The location.

Great location, views

Our accommodation at Castaway was lovely. Highly recommend this guest house for future Orkney travelers! The room was really comfortable and included all necessary amenities, and Stacey was extremely helpful and provides delicious breakfast options upon request.