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Bon Accord B&B is a charming, family-run guesthouse located at 14 Mayburn Court in Kirkwall, the historic capital of Scotland's Orkney Islands. This cozy establishment offers five en-suite rooms decorated with Orcadian wool textiles and antique furniture, each named after local landmarks like Stromness and Hoy. Guests enjoy a generous breakfast featuring smoked salmon from Orkney Fisheries and homemade jams, served in a sunlit conservatory with views of Kirkwall's rooftops. The B&B's central location places it just 300 meters from St. Magnus Cathedral, making it ideal for exploring Orkney's Norse heritage. The hosts, Margaret and Alistair Sinclair, are known for their encyclopedic knowledge of Neolithic sites and will happily arrange guided tours to Skara Brae. For dining options within walking distance, The Reel on Castle Street serves Orkney beef burgers with cheese from the Orkney Creamery, while Lucano offers authentic Italian pasta dishes using local seafood. The award-winning Helgi's pub combines live folk music with Orkney Dark Island ale and plates of haggis-stuffed chicken. The Foveran, a 10-minute drive west, provides fine dining with panoramic Scapa Flow views, where chefs incorporate seaweed foraged from Birsay Bay. Budget-friendly options include The Kirkwall Hotel's soup-and-sandwich lunch specials and Bothy Coffee's artisan pastries baked with bere barley. The Kirkwall Farmers Market every Saturday showcases artisan producers like Orkney Ice Cream and Barony Mill's traditional oatcakes. Kirkwall's historical treasures begin with the red sandstone St. Magnus Cathedral, founded in 1137 by Viking earl Rognvald Kolsson, where visitors can climb the tower for views across the archipelago. The Orkney Museum traces 5,000 years of history through Pictish carvings and a replica of the Lewis chessmen. The Earl's Palace ruins reveal Renaissance architecture from 1607, while Highland Park Distillery offers tastings of whisky aged in sherry casks. Prehistoric sites dominate the surroundings: Maeshowe Chambered Cairn (15 minutes by car) contains Viking runes carved during a 12th-century snowstorm, and the Ring of Brodgar stone circle stands amid heather-covered moorland. The Scapa Flow Visitor Centre details WWII naval history, including the scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet. Business and official institutions include Orkney Islands Council headquarters on School Place, which manages the archipelago's unique wind-powered hydrogen energy project. NHS Orkney at The Balfour provides healthcare services, while Orkney Harbour Authority oversees the busy ferry terminal linking to Aberdeen and Shetland. Major employers include Orkney Meat's abattoir in Hatston and EMEC (European Marine Energy Centre), testing tidal turbines in the Falls of Warness. The University of the Highlands and Islands has a campus on the former Kirkwall Grammar School site, offering marine science degrees. Orkney College's archaeology department frequently collaborates on excavations at the Ness of Brodgar dig site. Recreational facilities include the Pickaquoy Centre, a sports complex with a 25-meter pool and climbing wall modeled after Viking longship designs. The Kirkwall Golf Club's 9-hole course challenges players with coastal winds and views of the Churchill Barriers. Sea kayaking tours launch from Scapa Scuba in Stromness, exploring shipwrecks like the HMS Royal Oak memorial. Cyclists can rent e-bikes from Orkney Cycle Hire to traverse the 55-mile Orkney Ring road, passing neolithic villages and seabird colonies. The Orkney Angling Association arranges trout fishing at Harray Loch, where record-breaking catches exceed 20 pounds. Transportation to Bon Accord B&B typically involves flying into Kirkwall Airport (KOI), served by Loganair flights from Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Inverness. The airport is 3 miles east; taxis cost about £15, or the X1 bus stops on Victoria Street. Ferries arrive at Hatston Terminal from Aberdeen (NorthLink, 6 hours) and Lerwick (12 hours), with the B&B a 10-minute walk from the town center. Kirkwall itself is walkable, but renting a car from Orkney Car Hire is recommended for reaching Neolithic sites. Electric bike charging stations are available at the Travel Centre on West Castle Street. Budget accommodation alternatives include The Ayre Hotel, a no-frills option near the ferry terminal with rooms overlooking the harbor, and West End Hotel, offering simple lodgings above a pub with live fiddle music. Kirkwall Youth Hostel provides dorm beds in a converted Victorian mansion near the Earl's Palace, while Skerries B&B in St. Ola has budget twin rooms with shared bathrooms. For self-catering, Peedie Hostel near the cathedral rents compact pods with kitchenettes. Guest reviews consistently praise Bon Accord B&B's breakfast spreads featuring Stornoway black pudding and rhubarb compote from the garden. Many highlight Margaret's welcome tray with homemade shortbread and a dram of Highland Park whisky. The rooms' blackout curtains are appreciated during summer's near-constant daylight, though some note the steep staircase may challenge mobility-impaired visitors. Travelers value the loan of detailed Ordnance Survey maps and thermos flasks for day trips. Criticisms are rare but occasionally mention limited evening dining options within 5 minutes' walk. The B&B maintains a 9.8/10 average on booking platforms, with particular acclaim for its authentic Orcadian hospitality and spotless rooms adorned with watercolors by local artists. Evening entertainment ranges from The Orkney Folk Festival in May, where sessions spill into streets, to The Sound Archive's vinyl listening nights featuring recordings of Orkney's dialect. The Palace Cinema screens indie films and live Met Opera broadcasts, while The Shore hosts monthly Trad Tuesdays with fiddle groups. Seasonal highlights include St. Magnus Day processions (April 16) and the Ba' Game on Christmas/New Year's, where hundreds compete in a medieval street football match. The Orkney Science Festival in September attracts Nobel laureates to discuss topics like marine archaeology. In summary, Bon Accord B&B epitomizes Orkney's warm hospitality while providing unparalleled access to Kirkwall's Norse and Neolithic heritage. The town's compact size belies its cultural richness—from the haunting echoes of St. Magnus Cathedral's choir to the whisky-scented warehouses of Highland Park. While budget options exist, few match this B&B's combination of central location, gourmet breakfasts, and insider knowledge of Orkney's hidden gems like the Gloup sea cave or the Italian Chapel's prisoner-of-war art. With Kirkwall serving as the gateway to Orkney's 70 islands, the B&B's thoughtful touches (like packed lunches for ferry trips) make it a standout for travelers seeking both comfort and authentic immersion in Scotland's northern isles.
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