Orkney Caravan Park

Orkney Caravan Park offers a town-based stay on Orkney’s Mainland, beside the Pickaquoy Centre in Kirkwall. Shops, pubs and restaurants are a short stroll away, making it convenient for evenings out without taking the vehicle. The medium-sized site has 80 pitches across grass and hardstanding, with electrical hook-up on 30, and welcomes tents, caravans and campervans. Two glamping pods offer an alternative to bringing your own accommodation. Shared facilities include toilets, showers, washing machines and a washing-up area, and dogs are welcome.

Kirkwall rewards time spent exploring on foot, with independent shops lining the streets between the harbour and the historic centre. St Magnus Cathedral, founded in 1137 and built from local red and yellow sandstone, is a distinctive introduction to Orkney’s medieval history. The Orkney Museum adds context for trips around the islands, tracing their story from prehistory through the Norse period and beyond. Highland Park Distillery is around a 30-minute walk from the campsite, giving whisky enthusiasts another option within town.

For walkers, the campsite lies on the St Magnus Way, a long-distance pilgrimage route through Mainland Orkney inspired by the saint’s story. Its sections link places including Birsay, Dounby, Finstown and Orphir, with the final mainland section running from Orphir to Kirkwall. It offers a way to plan walking days around the island’s history rather than treating Kirkwall solely as an overnight stop.