Orkney Spring breaks - 2012
2011-10-10
Our Spring season commences March 12th till 31st May 2012. Bookings are being taken.
Castlehill is a small family run B&B, with a reputation for fine food and hospitality.We are located close for the ferry to Rousay and Castlehill is an ideal base for day trips to Hoy, Westray, Sanday and North isles. Kirkwall and Stromness are only a short drive away. We are close to the world heritage sites, Borough of Birsay, Earls Palace, Broch of Gurness and the beach at Evie. Local crafts -woollens, feltware and silversmiths closeby.
All enquiries are welcome. How to book - You can - book on-line or e-mail us with your dates. If you prefer, phone Jim on 07850 226950. We check the site twice daily for enquiries and confirm all bookings with you directly. Need to know more about Orkney - just ask, we're only too happy to help.
The Spring rate for the room is £70 per night (£35pp) and covers 2 people & full breakfast. Stays of 7 nights attract a £35 reduction reflecting a weekly cost of only £455 for two people. Single occupancy will cost £60.
All our rooms have en-suite facilities, oak furnishings and high quality Egyptian linen & Turkish cotton towels. All rooms have iPod/MP3 clock radio & Fast Broadband/Wi-Fi
We also provide high quality evening meals to meet different tastes and budgets, as required. Our food quality is of the highest standard and scored 5 star rating quality with Visit Scotland this year. Don't take our word - see us on Trip Advisor, we are highly recommeded by our guests..
Summer Bookings 2012 - now being taken
2011-10-09
All enquiries for Summer & Autumn 2012 are welcome. You can book on line or e-mail Jim from the website. We are a small family run B&B, with a reputation for fine food and hospitality. We are located close for the ferry to Rousay and Castlehill is an ideal base for day trips to Hoy, Westray, Sanday and North isles. Kirkwall and Stromness are only a short drive away.
We are close to the world heritage sites, Borough of Birsay, Earls Palace, Broch of Gurness and the beach at Evie. Local crafts -woollens, feltware and silversmiths closeby. For room availability & direct bookings - our web booking system is open 24 hrs or e-mail us with your dates from the website or phone Jim on 01856 751228 at B&B or mobile.07850 226950 We check the site twice daily for enquiries & bookings and confirm all bookings with you directly. Need to know more - just ask, we're only too happy to help.
Our Summer rate for a Double or Twin room will be £85 per night (£42.50 pp) and covers 2 people & full breakfast. Stays of 7 nights also attract a £35 reduction reflecting a weekly cost of £560. Single occupancy will be £60.
All our rooms have en-suite facilities, oak furnishings and high quality Egyptian linen & Turkish cotton towels. MP3/Radio. We have fast broadband/WiFi too. We also provide high quality evening meals to meet different tastes and budgets. See us on Trip advisor, highly recommended in all areas - accommodation, hospitality and food.
Hot tub & Sauna room - progress May 2012
2011-10-08
Our conservatory will contain our new hot tub & sauna.
May - The structural works are now completed and the new floor installed, the screed will be left to cure before tiling then the tub & sauna unit can finally be moved into the extension & commissioned by our suppliers soon afterwards.
Next - form a new corridor - linking the house to the extension with storage cupboards. Then complete remaining woodwork, shower screen, towel & robe store, fit wall tiles & finally get the decorating done.
Later in the year probably August/Sept, the last of the outside works - harling and paths will be extended around the new structure - the work will be in keeping with the main house as part of the landscaping for the garden area. The latter work will not affect the use of the facilities once they are installed and certified for use.
In October, we will upgrade the boiler (to get 95% fuel efficiency) and plan to fit argon sealed, heat reflective glazing units to the front of house window frames. These measures, together with the extra insulation, will improve our heat and retention by 20-25% over the year and improve our home heating system.
The conservatory overlooks our spectacular view of the North islands, sea and the Burgar Roust (a vicious tidal rip) and will provide splendid additional facilities at Castlehill. The sauna will accommodate up to 4 people and the hot tub up to 6.
When finished, the room will be approx 6.7 x 6.7 mtrs & give us enough space to grow some of our own fruit and salad vegetables in our planned hydroponicum area.
Fishing Boat, trips and tally
2011-10-07
Our 16'semi-v lureboat from Seastrike Boats captures the best in lure boat design and has been equipt for fishing the lochs and inshore bays for brown and sea trout, sea fish. The boat is fitted with a 20hp 4 stroke outboard motor, onboard navigation, depth sonar & automatic bilge pump. Fittings include rod holders, onboard fish keeping tank and gear storage space. The pivot seats offer comfort and can be adjusted to suit the angler. We use a local ghillie - Alan Shearer for trout fishing, he has his own boats on Lochs Harray, Boardhouse and Swanney. Season ends October 6th. Sea fishing - by arrangement. Fishing by boat is dependent on favourable weather conditions. Available all year round. Cost £30 per person per half day. Rods, gear, all weather coats & life jackets supplied. Sea Fishing tally - for 2011 6 trips Cod x 26 - 1 at 3.5kg with 4 @ 4-5kg Pollock x 29 at 2.8-4.2kg Ling x 6 - 1@3.9kg Coley x 2 at 3.1kg
Orkney Festival & Events - 2012
2011-09-20
Most of the Orkney Annual events & festivals have their own websites - just Google the event and follow the link.
February 26th - 31st Oct Sea trout season starts. We can arrange sea fishing for white fish throughout the season, subject to favourable tide and weather conditions
March 15th - 6th Oct The brown trout fishing season - We can arrange a guide & boat through Alan Shearer, he has boats on Harray, Boardhouse & Swanney although boats can be taken to other locations - Use our own web contact enquiry for bookings. More fishing information please see - www.orkneytroutfishing.co.uk Bank fishing is free and is best during April-May. Boat fishing is best and available during the full season, subject to favourable weather conditions.
Late April to end July - Puffins, Seals & boat trips Boat trips to view the puffins, corrmorants, skuas and seal colonies lying off the Pentland Skerries can be arranged. These trips offer the opportunity to get really close to these popular sea birds during their land nesting period after the young birds are born and the adults are catching sand eels to feed them during the Summer months.
These trips are subject to favourable weather and tides for landing. We can arrange for you to join the boat and have a fantastic day out amongst some of Orkney's exotic wildlife. Enquiries - use our contact point from this website.
31st May - 3rd June - Orkney Folk Festival - Events are held all over Orkney. Full programme usually available late March/April, just check their website for details.
June 9th - 16th Orkney Wine Festival
22nd - 27th St. Magnus Festival of the Arts, For details check stmagnusfestival website
30th Rousay Regatta
July 15th - 27th Stromness Shopping Week - lots of family fun and events
31st Queen Elizabeth cruise liner visits Kirkwall
August 9th Dounby Agricultural Show
11th County Agricultural Show
12th Vintage Car Ralley & Riding of the Marches
September 6th - 12th Orkney Science Festival
21st - 23rd Orkney Blues Festival
October - We are closed but may open for Story telling festival, please enquire by e-mail
25th - 28th Orkney Storytelling Festival - Our newest festival, very popular and always good fun
November - Closed
December - Open for Winter & Christmas bookings
26th The Ba
January 2013
2nd The Ba
Secret Scotland approval 2011 & Trip advisor award - 5 star 2010 & 2011
2011-08-16
We are pleased to announce that we have been selected and approved by Secret Scotland as an accredited accommodation provider on Orkney.
Secret Scotland visit and vet each accommodation provider and property personally. We do not pay to be in their guide or accommodation list and we are very proud to be included as a result of our service quality, accommodation standards, food and unique location.
We are again recognised by Trip Advisor for our 5 star service in 2011 and say thank you to our customers for their honesty and support in their reviews about their experience at Castlehill Orkney.
Short-eared owls, hen harriers & Orca (killer whales) at Castlehill
2010-08-14
We now have regular sightings of these beautiful birds amongst the range of other bird life that inhabit the area.
The Hen Harriers and the Short-Eared Owls are now being seen regularly over the RSPB reserve on Birsay moor and behind the house.
With care and patience both common grey & Atlantic seals can be photographed close on Eynhallow & Rousay from a boat.
Sightings of the killer whales are few, but they can be seen anytime during May & June,
