St Margarets Hope, South Ronaldsay, Orkney

South Ronaldsay with an area of 4,980 hectares (19.2 sq. miles) and the highest elevation being Ward Hill 118 metres (387 ft) is the nearest Orkney Island to Scotland, being just six and a half miles across the Pentland Firth from John O'Groats. St Margaret's Hope is the third largest settlement in Orkney and sits at the head of a sheltered bay at the northern end of South Ronaldsay. The village's growth owed much to the establishment of a herring fishery here in the early 1800s, and this was consolidated through the development of a naval base in Scapa Flow during the two world wars. Fishing has diminished in importance, but the harbour, boatyard and slipway areas remain very active, even when the ferry isn't berthed. St Margaret's Hope itself offers visitors a step back in time with its interesting streets and attractive waterfront. There are a number of things to do in the village, including a visit to the William Hourston Smiddy Museum celebrating the role of the village blacksmith in local communities

Front Road, St Margarets Hope.

St Margaret’s Hope, South Ronaldsay, Orkney.

New House Pictures

View of Kitchen with new units and oil fired Rayburn for cooking and heating.

Bedroom with exposed beams and sandstone walls.

The House.

Back View of Cottage Bottom
While in Orkney we looked at a few houses ,most of which did not make any impression on us,but one stood out from the others, situated in Front road St Margaret's Hope it was a 180-200 year old terraced cottage in a quiet area only a stones throw from the sea. The cottage is small with a Kitchen,Dining room and Bathroom on the ground floor,Lounge on the second floor and a Bedroom in the roof,plenty big enough for us.The cottage is in good decorative order with new kitchen units and a Rayburn cooker,all new skirting's,stairs & door frames.There are exposed stone walls with fireplaces in the Dining room & lounge.
At the back of the cottage is a small courtyard with a large tree and a garden shed in one corner ,the back gate opens onto Back road,with a Post office + small shop.At the top of the road there is a mini market & a General Store, and not forgetting the Murray Arms and the Cafe.
We made an offer two days later which was turned down,so increased our offer which was accepted, at the time of writing the sale is going through and should be ours by the end of March.

Orkney. Saturday 7th to Wednesday 10th Feb.

On Saturday 7th we said good by to our hosts and made our way to Kirkwall by way of the Churchill barriers,built in the second world war to stop the German submarines from sinking our ships in Scappa Flow.Our accommodation for the next three nights was the Shore B&B which had smart rooms,a restaurant and a lounge facing the harbour.
Kirkwall is the largest town in Orkney,with all the shops you could ask for in the oldest part of the town with Flagstone roads and the imposing St Magnus cathedral & the ruins of the Bishops Palace.The following day we took the bus to Stromness, and walked along the coast with great views of the hills of Hoy across Hoy Sound ,with plenty of bird life and fifty plus seals ,another great day.On Wednesday we flew back to Bristol. In the next post The House.

ORKNEY wednesday 3rd to saturday 6thFeb

We took the 11.15 flight from Bristol ,arriving at Inverness at 1.15pm .The view of the Highlands from the plane were spectacular all covered in snow.We had a four hour wait for the connection to Kirkwall which was only a thirty five minute flight in a small taking only thirty three people plane, it was dark when we arrived at Kirkwall.we took a taxi ride to our accommodation for the next four nights, the Murry arms at St Margaret's Hope,south Ronaldsay.
After a good nights sleep and a hearty breakfast we took our first walk around the village before taking a long walk along the coast,the wildlife was very impressive with fields full of mixed waders and hundreds of Greylag Geese. Jill spotted two Harbour seals close into the shore which really made her day, the weather was not to bad, bright with a cold breeze.Over the next three days we viewed a few houses and took more walks around the surrounding coast.Our Hosts for our four night were Graham & Heather who made us very welcome & fed us well.
The locals in St Margaret's were all very help full and were interested in our search for a new home.