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Originally only planned overnight stop but liked it so much stayed two nights then back for one on return (and could catch the early morning ferry as it's only 5/10 minutes drive from terminal). Lovely owner and, though it has a simple, ramshackle air, the facilities outshine many glitzier operations eg thoughtful touches like bathmats, hand towels. End shower unit has heated towel rail so a bit warmer in the Orkney wind. [Not many others camping when we were there so no issues with hot water supply].
Fridge/freezer, cooker, biodegradable dog poo bags (honesty box system - sums up Orkney really). Things are composted/recycled where possible (hence biodegradable poo bags). And - luxury - it had a toaster in the covered kitchen! We loved it, dog loved it. Friendly, calm and peaceful. We'd happily have paid more.
South Ronaldsay is worth a look round rather than just passing through. From the beach and little church at the bottom of the road to quirky Tomb of the Eagles at Isbister (including museum of relics) and WW2 battery at Hoxa Head.
More of an old fashioned and charmingly rustic camping site than a caravan site and we cannot recommend it to standard or larger motorhomers even at £14 per night.
We found the access track tight for our not particularly large motorhome due to the lack of hedge cutting, although the small, hard pitch area was reasonably level.
There are no dedicated chemical disposal facilities and we disliked on hygiene grounds the suggestion of using the toilets for this purpose. The sole water tap was also unsuitable for motorhomes unless you happen to have a clamp type fitting and are willing to block the entrance whilst filling the tank.
The owners are a delight and were very helpful, although they were uniquely charging for the pitch based on our unit length! The main site, however, is long/unmown grass, leading to wet feet. The facilities are unisex and, whilst clean, can only be described as primitive - an adjective that describes the site generally, although doubtless some folk would see this as a benefit. There were 17 units (mainly tents) on the site during our 2 night stay sharing only 3 unisex toilets and 2 showers.
The problem on Orkney is the shortage of sites, although there are plenty of places to wild camp and, we are really sorry to say, we would rather stay at the graveyard car park down the road from Wheems if we visit Orkney again.
We spent our first night on Orkney at this site just because it is only 1. 5 miles from the ferry terminal at St Margaret's Hope, and we were arriving on the evening ferry. We were so delighted by it that we rearranged our plans so that we could come back later for a couple of nights.
One of the best things about Orkney is the scenery and abundance of wildlife, and you can appreciate both to the full in this site, looking over the South Ronaldsay coast and cliffs in one direction, and some other Orkney islands in the other. The farm's owners are very welcoming and helpful.
They have recently added four level hard-standing pitches with hook-up and quite a number of other level grassy pitches, with and without hook-up.
The facilities are fairly basic but quite adequate. One of the toilet/shower cubicles is larger than the others and so suitable for parent & child or disabled person & carer. There is a sheltered kitchen area where you can cook and eat a meal. The cost is reasonable and you only pay extra for the washing machine or if you want to cook a full meal in the kitchen.
The village shops at St Margaret's Hope are 1. 5 miles away, and the supermarkets are at Kirkwall, some 15 miles away, and so you need to be reasonably self-sufficient. You can only empty your chemical toilet here if you use green chemical fluid - otherwise you would need to travel to public toilets to empty it.
The island of South Ronaldsay is connected to the Orkney mainland by causeways and so you can drive to the Orkney tourist sites. South Ronaldsay itself has the very interesting Tomb of Eagles, Hoxa Tapestry Gallery, and the Sands of Wright. The South Ronaldsay east coastal walk is easily accessible from the campsite.
Stunning location, tucked away on a farm but just a couple of miles from the ferry terminal at St Margaret's Hope.
Pitches are in a field with a lovely view of the coast; unfortunately it's quite sloping so if you have a big tent you'll struggle to find level ground. The grass was quite rough too.
Facilities include an undercover dishwashing area that also has a washing machine (for a charge), drying line, fridge and freezer for camper use. We really appreciated the latter, no struggling with bags of ice.
There are two units each containing a toilet / washbasin / shower and one that's just a toilet. Hot water can sometimes be an issue - as well as running out if usage has been heavy, there were a couple of occasions on which the hot water (and the second time the lights in the toilet block) cut out completely. However, Mike worked hard to resolve this.
The wardens Mike and Christina were both friendly - note that generally they're only around from 9-10am and 6-7pm, so folk arriving at other times can just pitch up and speak to them later.
All in all a nice site, if slightly basic, and handy for many of Orkney's attractions - great value for money!
We will definitely use it again. It is only a few miles from St Margaret's Hope ferry port. The site's facilities were basic but were kept in good, clean order.
The owner was friendly and approachable, and the cost very reasonable(£7 per night for a large tent, a car and two adults)Fresh eggs and vegetables were available to purchase if needed.
The views and the nearby beach were lovely. The main town of Kirkwall was about 15-20 minutes drive away, and there was a good range of restaurants and takeaway food providers there, as well as three supermarkets.
We would recommend this site if you are looking for a quiet, relaxed place to spend some time in Orkney.
This is a small site at Eastside on South Ronaldsay, with wonderful views over Eastside beach and St. Peter's church. It's only a couple of miles from St. Margaret's Hope, where the ferry from Gill's Bay arrives, and would make a handy stop over.
The camping field slopes a bit and might be a bit rough for tents, but for a camper van it was fine. The facilities are simple but good for the price, which at the time was £3 per person - a real bargain! Hot water and showers don't cost any extra. No hook ups or children's play area. Friendly hosts who run a well established organic farm. You can buy eggs from the farm, and veggies in season. The nearest shops are at St. Margaret's Hope, which is a short drive away, and there are also a couple of places to eat and drink in the village.
If you're looking for a quiet, friendly, simple site with wonderful views and a fantastic beach within walking distance this is ideal. We loved it!
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Common Questions
Is Wild Orcadian Bothy And Campsite child friendly? YES, it accepts children View all facilities
Where is the nearest shop to Wild Orcadian Bothy And Campsite? There is a shop within 5 miles View all facilities
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
All reviews and comments are the personal opinion of the review author only , and as such do not represent the view of the UK Camp Site.co.uk.
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Tent Pitches 
No Caravans 
Motorhome Pitches 
Small Campervans 
Glamping Units 
No Statics for Hire 
No Statics for Sale 
No Seasonal Pitches 
Electric Hookups 
Hardstanding Pitches 
No Fully Serviced Pitches 
Families Welcome 
Not Members Only 
No Rallies 
Not Naturist Site 
Dogs Welcome 
No Dogs Allowed 
Groups Welcome 
Motorbikers Welcome 
Toilet Facilities 
Hot Showers 
Washing Up 
No Bathroom 
No Baby Changing 
Laundry On Site 
Drinking Water 
Disabled Friendly 
No Chemical Disposal 
Battery Charging 
No Gas Exchange 
Recycling Facilities 
Kitchen Facilities 
Freezer / Fridge 
No Motorhome Point 
Wifi Access 
Shop <5 miles 
Bar <5 miles 
Restaurant or Cafe or Takeaway <5 miles 
No Playground 
No TV Room 
No Games Room 
No Evening Ents 
Fishing <1 mile 
No Wild Swimming 
No Indoor Pool 
No Outdoor Pool 
Horse Riding <5 miles 
Cycle Hire On Site 
No Golf 
Tennis <5 miles 
Beach <1 mile 
No Watersports 
No Boat Launch 
Sea Views 
Working Farm 
Campfires Allowed 
No Waterside Pitches 
Public Transport <5 miles
No Dog Walk 
Originally only planned overnight stop but liked it so much stayed two nights then back for one on return (and could catch the early morning ferry as it's only 5/10 minutes drive from terminal). Lovely owner and, though it has a simple, ramshackle air, the facilities outshine many glitzier operations eg thoughtful touches like bathmats, hand towels. End shower unit has heated towel rail so a bit warmer in the Orkney wind. [Not many others camping when we were there so no issues with hot water supply]. 
