Stromness

The captivating old town of Stromness is the main ferry port on Orkney.

The burgh of Stromness, on the west of Orkney's mainland, is the islands' major seaport. It first attracted sailors for the fine anchorage provided by Hamnavoe and has provided a haven for mariners for centuries, being the last port of call before many a transatlantic voyage. Now it is the arrival point for ferries from mainland Scotland, and cruise ships stop by.

The hill of Brinkies Brae shelters the captivating town with its jumble of seagull-strewn slate roofs. Stromness has just one street, narrow and winding.