Forss House Hotel was built in 1810, this delightful country house is set in its own 20 acres of…
Our View
The Bishop's Palace is a hall-house of the 12th century, later much altered, with a round tower built by Bishop Reid in 1541-48. A later addition was made by the notorious Patrick Stewart, Earl of Orkney, who built the adjacent Earl's Palace between 1600 and 1607 in a splendid Renaissance style.
Facilities – at a glance
Assist dogs allowed
Features
- Opening Times: Open daily, Apr-Sep, 9.30-5.30; Oct, 10-4 (last admission 30mins before close). May close for lunch. Closed Nov-Mar
Also in the area
About the area
Discover Orkney
This cluster of more than 70 islands and skerries lies off the northern coast of Scotland, separated from it by the churning waters of the Pentland Firth.
Approaching on the ferry from Scrabster or Aberdeen, the first view of Hoy, with its tall rock stacks and slabby red sandstone cliffs, is at first misleading. Only when the boat swings towards the harbour at Stromness on Mainland is a more typical view of Orkney revealed – low, green and fertile, with cattle grazing and crops growing.
On a warm summer day, the scent of wild flowers in the clean air of these islands is invigorating. Kirkwall, on the eastern side of Mainland is the capital and the largest island in the archipelago. There is much to explore among the islands, which are linked by causeway, ferry or air. The air links include the shortest scheduled route in the world – just under two minutes for the one-and-a-half-mile flight between Westray and Papa Westray.
Orkney shares a close history with Scandinavia and today these islands ring with the Norse place names of the Scandinavians who lived here. However, the Picts and Celts pre-dated the Vikings by at least 3,500 years, leaving incredible signs of their presence at Maes Howe and Skara Brae.
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Places to Stay
Dining nearby
Restaurants and Pubs
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