Orkney self catering accommodation, 5 star

Rebuilt in 1995 as luxury bed & breakfast accommodation, this had for centuries been a croft in the heart of rural Orkney. The croft house and around 20ha. of land are situated on the eastern boundary of what became the World Heritage Site, a scenically spectacular and environmentally sensitive location. Our objective has always been to provide the best we could, but without the inherent waste which so often accompanies luxury and with the minimum environmental disruption.

The new accommodation was not only complementary in the landscape, but was constructed using local labour and local suppliers with rigorous attention to those features which lead to waste - maximum insulation, a Kidd super-efficient oil boiler, energy-efficient double glazing (retain heat in winter, lose heat in summer); low-energy light bulbs and individually-switched lights; mains showers (no baths: too much waste). Domestic appliances are “A” or “B” energy rated and all cleaning products are eco-friendly.

In the shower-rooms we supplied both eco and Neways products: with the laundry, rather than stick to a rigid schedule –and use enormous amounts of energy and chemicals - we gave our guests the option to chose when they wanted their towels and bedding changed.

We ran the B&B this way for eleven years then using the same eco-friendly routines, converted to 5-star self-catering in 2007. We provide “green” products – from dish-washing to loo rolls, the laundry routine remains customer-led and a comprehensive recycling system is in operation, with containers provided for the various materials.

We actively managed our 20ha., taking around 30% of it - including the Burn of Rickla - out of production and putting it into CPS Schemes to encourage wildlife and bio-diversity. Around 4000 hedging plants and trees gave yet more habitat: the result is that this is a major habitat for the Orkney Vole and innumerable varieties of mouse and shrew - so our land supports many hen harriers, kestrels and owls.

One field is a haven for ground-nesting birds such as curlew, lapwing and sky-lark, while hedgehogs live in the broad hedge. The Burn is now the regular haunt of heron, while the pond areas are home each year to several families of duck.

Surrounded by land which has Statutory Protection against development, in an area where there is virtually no traffic or noise or pollution or light pollution (you can see the Northern Lights!), where the roads and tracks are narrow and winding, this accommodation was designed for the visitor who wants to escape, to relax and to soak in the character of the Island.

Our philosophy, and the work both inside and outside the house, resulted in us being awarded the Green Tourism "Gold" award. In 2005 we were finalists in the coveted Scottish Thistle Awards and in 2006 we won the Scottish Thistle Customer Care Award. We have also achieved Hospitality Assured accreditation.