Garrison Hall

31/05/2024

This new handy guide to Stromness is include in our apartments when you stay with us. There are plenty of places to explore just a short stroll away 🔍🚶‍♀️🚶

Do you want to explore Stromness?

A new visitor guide, developed by local businesswomen, features more than 30 businesses from within the town, and walking routes for visitors.

These can be picked up locally, at the Kirkwall iCentre, or viewed and downloaded here:
https://www.orkney.com/plan/visitor-guides

30/03/2024

Our first published advert is out now!

Find us inside the Orkney Islander and discover what Orkney has to offer. Download your copy in the link 👇

This year’s Orkney Islander magazine is available now!

At a special launch event at The Storehouse, Kirkwall, it was a first chance to see this year’s bumper 132-page magazine, which covers every aspect of Orkney life and all the essentials for visitors to our islands.

Pick up a copy today!

11/01/2024

Fancy a unique cycle ride on your visit to Garrison Hall? Then check this out ➡️🚲⬇️

Did you know that our new Hoy on Hoy cycle route has been included in VisitScotland's 11 Reasons to Visit Scotland in 2024? 😊

Launched last year by Olympic champion cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, it focuses on his namesake island of Hoy and is one of 12 new routes based in Orkney's smaller islands.

Find out more ➡️ visitscotland.com/inspiration/why-you-should-visit

17/10/2023

17/10/2023

All year round there are beautiful skies in Orkney and this evening was a real treat 🥰 🌅

12/10/2023

We ship beer out in cask, keg and tanker and sometimes even boxes with beer for our small batch bottling. This box contains Cliff Edge IPA but question today is how many bottles were filled from this bulk box of beer? Closest to the correct answer, wins a case of beer? T&CS - Over 18s and UK only, winners announced Monday 16th October. Thor's word is final! To qualify of course you also need to like and share this post. 🍻😀

06/09/2023

One last push please for Garrison Hall, with only 5 star feedback from guests so far, it would be great to have an award to shout about! Please take 2 minutes to vote! If we win we will add something special to our welcome packs for all guests in 2024.

Destination Orkney is delighted to launch the Orkney tourism awards to recognise excellence in Orkney’s tourism businesses.

26/08/2023

Now that the nights are drawing in we have added a telescope to our Armoury apartment for the stargazers ✨️

24/07/2023

Well that's another Stromness Shopping Week over. The ribbons are off the cars and the flags are down. 🎀

It was a pleasure to drive the Royal Party, Leah, Menna, Lucy, Jake, Finley and Tessa to their duties and during the parade. Thank you also to the chaperones who kept us all right and encouraged the waving to the crowds. 👋

It was great to also support the 3 legged beer race, programme design and website for another year.

It was a fantastic turn out and lovely to see so many people enjoying themselves. 🥳

24/07/2023

Would love a few votes please.

Destination Orkney is delighted to launch the Orkney tourism awards to recognise excellence in Orkney’s tourism businesses.

09/07/2023

The Tall Ships cruise in company event held in Orkney in 2011 attracted over 30 Tall Ships to the ports of Kirkwall and Stromness over a 4 day period, and was regarded as one of the most successful cruise in company events in the UK. Tall Ships sailing at their leisure from the race ports of Greenock to Lerwick, regarded Orkney as a convenient and appealing leisure destination.

The Tall Ships races this year have a much different dynamic in terms of race routes and number of ships taking part. Ships will sail from Arendal in Norway to Lerwick and back again to Frederikstad in Norway, not passing Orkney en route, and there are considerably lesser numbers of ships taking part this year in total.

As part of earlier planning locally, it was hoped and realistically expected that some Tall Ships would call in to Stromness between the 20th and 24th July as Aberdeen is also a cruise company port and would also attract ships south of Norway; unfortunately this has not materialised.

A programme of events for Tall Ships crews has been devised in support of and in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of Stromness Shopping Week, and it is still hoped that at the last minute, and weather being favourable ships may still come. This will be a challenge for any meaningful forward planning but as always ships will be very welcome.

The sail trainee programme for the 2023 Tall Ship races has been extremely successful with 16 Orcadians between the ages of 15 and 25 now fully selected and briefed for their adventure. They will join another 84 sail trainees from the north of Scotland between the 16th July and the 10th August over 2 sectors. We wish them well and fair winds.

14/06/2023

Our latest guests have really been enjoying the weather 🌞 as they tour around in their lovely Morgan... and it matches our branding perfectly! 🚙

09/05/2023

The Orkney islands are a magnet for artists. Find out more about the art galleries where you can view the amazing work of Orkney artists.

08/04/2023

Double-y delighted 😀

Some beautiful flowers 💐 and card from last years competition winner's who have just enjoyed a week with us.

And we have our plaque from VisitScotland

31/03/2023

The new Orkney Islander magazine from The Orcadian is out now, and it’s full of information for anyone planning a trip to the islands this year 🤩

It features visit ideas and inspiration as well as details on local businesses who can help make your holiday extra special.

Download your free copy ➡️ orkneyislander.co.uk

28/03/2023

We are delighted to share the exciting news about our 4 🌟 VisitScotland grading.

They said; "An exceptional standard of housekeeping and maintenance is very much in evidence, with a very personal level of service and attention to detail"
orkney.com Destination Orkney

24/02/2023

Get yourself booked quick!

We’re very excited to announce that the globally renowned Scottish folk group Capercaillie are set to appear at the festival in May!

Having made their Orcadian debut at the fourth Orkney Folk Festival, in 1986, and now with over 20 years since they last visited the county, the band are set to return in an unprecedented collaboration with a local orchestra led by Orkney Schools Instrumental Music Service, supported by players from Orkney Camerata and Kirkwall Town Band.

Capercaillie’s long-established line-up of Karen Matheson (vocals), Donald Shaw (accordion), Charlie McKerron (fiddle), Ewen Vernal (bass), Manus Lunny (bouzouki) and David Robertson (percussion) will join with James Mackintosh (drums) and Fraser Fifield (whistles and pipes) in taking to the stage flanked by the bespoke community orchestra.

Featuring brand new orchestrations by Greg Lawson (who will also conduct the orchestra) and Donald Shaw, the set-list will span Capercaillie’s entire back-catalogue. The one-off performance will take place in Kirkwall’s Pickaquoy Centre arena, on Friday 26 May.

A seminal presence in contemporary Celtic music, Capercaillie are revered for their many ground-breaking achievements - including performances in over 30 countries, and over a million album sales - and beloved as a thrilling live act.

We cannot wait to welcome them back to the festival for the 40th anniversary, and what is sure to be an unforgettable concert!

14/02/2023

Romantic attractions in the Orkney islands, including beaches, jewellery, food, music and the Italian Chapel.

14/02/2023

Some lovely walks to be had, in the Armoury we allow 4 legged visitors. Up to 4 people can stay in the Quadrant. Book your stay at www.garrisonhall.co.uk now!

Orkney has a variety of beaches, ranging from those exposed to Atlantic and North Sea storms to more tranquil sheltered bays.

12/02/2023

Only a 5 minute walk from the ferry ⛴️ we are the perfect base while you explore all that Orkney has to offer.

The Northern Isles are breathtaking and wild, rich in Norse and Scottish history, wildlife, delicious food and drink, unique folklore, music, poetry and prose. Orkney and Shetland are both quite unlike anywhere else in the UK. With NorthLink Ferries they’re closer than you think.

You can download the NorthLink 2023 Guide here ▶ https://bit.ly/2023NorthLinkBrochure

Onward, Voyager to Orkney and Shetland!

VisitScotland Promote Shetland orkney.com

09/02/2023

Another upgrade coming soon. Because the grass is always greener.........
More details coming real soon.

08/02/2023

Stunning sky this morning. Certainly worth getting up to catch.

06/02/2023

Your comfort is of the upmost importance to us, so naturally we have given you cushions from nature on which to sit and enjoy the sea views.

27/12/2022

Season's Greetings from Garrison Hall 🎄

Book now at www.garrisonhall.co.uk for next year to secure the most popular dates 🔒 ..and book before the end of January at 2022 rates! 🤩🥳

08/12/2022

Website for Orkney Folk Festival - Concerts, Ceilidhs, Dances, Festival Clubs, Pub Sessions, Open Stage, Youth Concert, Fiddlers Rally, Talks and more...

09/10/2022

This weekend we have been busy upgrading the kitchen sink in the Quadrant apartment. We think it's a big improvement. 🤩

Book your unique stay now at www.garrisonhall.co.uk

03/10/2022

Another lovely review.

19/09/2022

Last night's service of remembrance at St Magnus Cathedral, included the reading of a tribute written to Queen Elizabeth II by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage.

On the day of her state funeral we felt it appropriate to share that poem - an acrostic - with you.

Floral Tribute by Simon Armitage

Evening will come, however determined the late afternoon,
Limes and oaks in their last green flush, pearled in September mist.
I have conjured a lily to light these hours, a token of thanks,
Zones and auras of soft glare framing the brilliant globes.
A promise made and kept for life – that was your gift –
Because of which, here is a gift in return, glovewort to some,
Each shining bonnet guarded by stern lance-like leaves.
The country loaded its whole self into your slender hands,
Hands that can rest, now, relieved of a century’s weight.

Evening has come. Rain on the black lochs and dark Munros.
Lily of the Valley, a namesake almost, a favourite flower
Interlaced with your famous bouquets, the restrained
Zeal and forceful grace of its lanterns, each inflorescence
A silent bell disguising a singular voice. A blurred new day
Breaks uncrowned on remote peaks and public parks, and
Everything turns on these luminous petals and deep roots,
This lily that thrives between spire and tree, whose brightness
Holds and glows beyond the life and border of its bloom.