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Avalon House
Avalon Carness Road, Kirkwall KW15 1UE Scotland
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About
5.0
#1 of 8 guest houses in KirkwallLocation
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
See why so many travellers make Avalon House their guest house of choice when visiting Kirkwall. Providing an ideal mix of value, comfort and convenience, it offers a charming setting with an array of amenities designed for travellers like you.
Guest rooms offer amenities such as a flat screen TV, and guests can go online with free wifi offered by the guest house.
The property also features free breakfast to make your visit even more pleasant. Guests arriving by vehicle have access to free parking.
For those interested in checking out popular landmarks while visiting Kirkwall, Avalon House is located a short distance from Wideford Hill Chambered Cairn (1.1 mi) and Grain Earth House (1.2 mi).
While staying in Kirkwall, you can check out a popular Italian restaurant like Lucano, which is serving up some great dishes.
Looking to explore? Then look no further than Saint Magnus Cathedral (1.2 mi), The Orkney Museum (1.2 mi), and The Earl's Palace (1.2 mi), which are some popular Kirkwall attractions – all conveniently located within walking distance of the guest house.
We’re sure you’ll enjoy your stay at Avalon House as you experience all of the things Kirkwall has to offer.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Free breakfast
Special diet menus
Non-smoking hotel
Laundry service
Room features
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Flatscreen TV
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is officially classified according to VisitScotland standards.
HOTEL STYLE
Modern
Mid-range
Location
Avalon Carness Road, Kirkwall KW15 1UE Scotland
Getting there
50 Restaurants
within 5 miles
224Reviews1Q+A33Room tips
ReviewsWe perform checks on reviews.Tripadvisor’s approach to reviewsBefore posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
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Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
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We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
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Detailed Reviews
We had a lovely stay here and Elaine made us very welcome. The house is purpose built for B&B so the rooms are spacious and well appointed with everything you need for a comfortable stay Elaine takes care that covid requirements are met so it is all spotless . We enjoyed her porridge for breakfast which was delicious with cream on, there were the normal fulk breakfast options as well and kippers too.
The B&B is about a 30 min walk from town so we drove in. The restaurants seemed to get booked up so recommend you ring first before the evening. We enjoyed a nice meal at Busters (American diner style, but I had a lovely prawn salad in Marie Rose sauce with a great array of salad including beetroot grapes pineapple egg leaves pickled onions & coleslaw ).also ate at locano Italian but not such a great meal.
The B&B is about a 30 min walk from town so we drove in. The restaurants seemed to get booked up so recommend you ring first before the evening. We enjoyed a nice meal at Busters (American diner style, but I had a lovely prawn salad in Marie Rose sauce with a great array of salad including beetroot grapes pineapple egg leaves pickled onions & coleslaw ).also ate at locano Italian but not such a great meal.
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Get booked into restaurants early as they tend to get booked up at the moment with the covid...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Elaine Young, Owner at Avalon House
Responded 18 Jun 2021
Thank you for that, we will see you and Paul when you next come back.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed at Avalon House for 6 nights and were made very welcome. The whole purpose built house was spotlessly clean, the rooms light and airy finished to a very high standard.....and the breakfasts copious and very tasty. Elaine and Keith went out of their way to make us welcome in their home and spent their time telling us about all the various interesting possibilities of places to visit and eat. They are delightful friendly hosts. Although we live a long way from Orkney we look forward hopefully to staying at Avalon House again in the future.
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I could write and write about this place and it's owners. It is utterly magical.
Located just a short distance from Kirkwall town center you will find Avalon House. Keep an eye out for the signs. No signs here are very large (which I rather like).
There is a very nice parking area with plenty space at the front. The minute you walk through the front door you realise you are in a house where the owners pay attention to every detail. It is delightful.
We were warmly greeted and keys etc were explained to us. Our room was huge and very well appointed. A wall mounted TV, coffee / tea making, spotless carpets and a wonderful bed. It was so beautiful.
The bathroom too was equally good. Big shower, plenty white towels, shower gel, shampoo etc. There was nothing that they had not thought of.
The bed was superb. So comfortable. We had a great sleep on every one of our four night stay.
Breakfast was amazing every day. Locally sourced produce. The sausages were my favourite but it was all simply delicious.
We are both sorry to depart. I would dearly love to come back. It was welcoming, comfortable, spotless, great location - perfect in every way and well worth what we paid to stay. A 100% perfect B&B.
Located just a short distance from Kirkwall town center you will find Avalon House. Keep an eye out for the signs. No signs here are very large (which I rather like).
There is a very nice parking area with plenty space at the front. The minute you walk through the front door you realise you are in a house where the owners pay attention to every detail. It is delightful.
We were warmly greeted and keys etc were explained to us. Our room was huge and very well appointed. A wall mounted TV, coffee / tea making, spotless carpets and a wonderful bed. It was so beautiful.
The bathroom too was equally good. Big shower, plenty white towels, shower gel, shampoo etc. There was nothing that they had not thought of.
The bed was superb. So comfortable. We had a great sleep on every one of our four night stay.
Breakfast was amazing every day. Locally sourced produce. The sausages were my favourite but it was all simply delicious.
We are both sorry to depart. I would dearly love to come back. It was welcoming, comfortable, spotless, great location - perfect in every way and well worth what we paid to stay. A 100% perfect B&B.
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Date of stay: August 2021
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â Every room here is a great room.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Elaine Young, Owner at Avalon House
Responded 5 Sept 2021
Thank you so much for your great review, much appreciated.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My wife and I spent three nights at this bed and breakfast accommodation near Kirkwall, Orkney Islands. The room was large, especially by European standards, quiet, and very clean. The proprietors were quite friendly and gave advice on exploring the islands and where to eat in Kirkwall. Breakfast was what I would call semi-custom. The lodging is about 1 1/2 miles from the center of Kirkwall, so it is best suited for someone with a car or willing to walk for about a half-hour into town. It got fairly bright in the room early in the morning due to the long days and the absence of blackout curtains.
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Date of stay: May 2022
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Elaine Young, Owner at Avalon House
Responded 2 Jun 2022
Thank you for your review. I wish you had mentioned the morning sun and I would have shown you the Venetian blinds that were on your window, sorry I must have forgotten to mention them to you. Glad it was sunny for you though.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Had a wonderful 2 nights at Avalon Guest House- second stay in a year. Elaine and Keith are extremely welcoming and hospitable. The bedroom and ensuite were spotless, spacious and decorated and furnished to a very high standard, as were all the public spaces. Breakfast was delightful. I felt nothing was too much trouble and I could relax at the end of a busy day. Wonderful!
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Date of stay: June 2022
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Elaine Young, Owner at Avalon House
Responded 17 Jun 2022
Thank you for your review, it was nice to see you back, hopefully see you next year.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Avalon Guest House is set in a very quiet area about 20 minutes walk from the centre of Kirkwall. It is run by Elaine and Keith who are perfect hosts and make sure you have everything you need. Covid procedures are very well addressed and it is obvious that every precaution has been taken as the whole place is immaculate. When we were shown our room it looked as if we were the first occupants. The room was very well appointed and very comfortable. Breakfast was chosen the night before and also the time required. I would definitely recommend Avalon to anyone visiting Orkney.
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Date of stay: August 2021
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Elaine Young, Owner at Avalon House
Responded 5 Sept 2021
Thank you for your review.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stayed in Avalon Guest House for 6 nights in June 2021. It was lovely, great location, near enough to walk to Kirkwall, far enough away to be peaceful with wonderful views of the sunset over the nearby water.Tthe rooms were spacious, clean and comfortable, with everything you needed. If there was something else you required, you only had to ask. Elaine and Keith were the perfect hosts. They were friendly and knowledgeable about Orkney and very easy to talk to .I looked forward to the breakfasts every morning. Served in a bright airy room overlooking their lovely garden, the food was freshly cooked and varied-porridge, fruit salad, kippers or full breakfast, all tasty and generous portions. Thank you Elaine and Keith, I enjoyed staying with you!
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Date of stay: June 2021
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Elaine Young, Owner at Avalon House
Responded 18 Jun 2021
Thank you Margaret, we enjoyed having you staying with us.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed at Avalon House B&B for 4 nights on our epic Land’s End - John O’Groats - Orkney - Shetland cycle trip on a tandem during the summer. The B&B is excellent, we enjoyed very good breakfasts and we had a clean, comfortable and spacious guest room. The bed was the most comfortable one we slept in on our entire trip. Elaine and Keith, the B&B owners, are very friendly and helpful. Our tandem was safely locked away in the garage overnight which we appreciated. Elaine very kindly washed our clothes for us in the washing machine, which we were very grateful for. We were able to depart wearing clean kit and feeling refreshed from our comfortable and enjoyable stay. This is a top quality B&B and we recommend it when staying in Kirkwall.
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Date of stay: July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Elaine Young, Owner at Avalon House
Responded 17 Sept 2022
Thank you so much for that lovely review. It was a pleasure looking after you.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We visited Orkney with our two grandchildren for a week's sightseeing in July 2021 and were very glad to have found this wonderful B&B. The hosts, Elaine and Keith could not have been any better and we were made to feel welcome from the minute we arrived. The Family room was very spacious, clean and modern with a large bathroom which had both bath and shower. location was perfect having the tranquility of the countryside but only a few minutes by car from Kirkwall. Nothing was too much trouble and Keith's breakfasts were amazing. We'll certainly be back.
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Date of stay: July 2021
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Elaine Young, Owner at Avalon House
Responded 3 Aug 2021
Thank you for your review. I’m still smiling thinking about Donna’s stories. It was a pleasure having you all and we look forward to your next visit.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Avalon is better than a hotel! The rooms are clean, modern, stylish and very comfortable.
Breakfast was superb with plenty of choice - the cooked breakfast was perfect - better than any hotel we stayed at during our trip to Scotland and the Orkneys.
Elaine and Keith are perfect hosts offering advice on travel arrangements and tourist attractions. Nothing was too much trouble.
An excellent choice to visit the Orkneys - can't fault it!
Breakfast was superb with plenty of choice - the cooked breakfast was perfect - better than any hotel we stayed at during our trip to Scotland and the Orkneys.
Elaine and Keith are perfect hosts offering advice on travel arrangements and tourist attractions. Nothing was too much trouble.
An excellent choice to visit the Orkneys - can't fault it!
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Elaine Young, Owner at Avalon House
Responded 18 Jul 2021
Thank you for your great review, it was a pleasure having you all here, Keith is delighted you enjoyed his breakfasts.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The price varies on room size and number of occupants. If you require more information please use the form on our website.
"As Avalon is a bit out of Kirkwell, you will need to travel for lunch and dinner. Book your restaurant at least a week ahead as they are very popular. Taxi service is great."Read full review
"The accommodation is situated a couple of minutes drive outside Ki rkwall. It is quiet and close to the sea. Plenty of parking space"Read full review
"Get booked into restaurants early as they tend to get booked up at the moment with the covid restrictions on spaced tables. There are still some places closed so check"Read full review
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LOCATION
United KingdomScotlandOrkney IslandsMainlandKirkwall
NUMBER OF ROOMS
5
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Frequently Asked Questions about Avalon House
Which popular attractions are close to Avalon House?
Nearby attractions include Saint Magnus Cathedral (1.2 miles), Scapa Flow (3.1 miles), and The Orkney Museum (1.2 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Avalon House?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and free parking.
What food & drink options are available at Avalon House?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Avalon House?
Conveniently located restaurants include Sheila Fleet - The Kirk Gallery & Café, The Foveran Restaurant, and The Storehouse Restaurant With Rooms.
Are there any historical sites close to Avalon House?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Saint Magnus Cathedral (1.2 miles), The Earl's Palace (1.3 miles), and Bishop's Palace and Earl's Palace (1.2 miles).
Is Avalon House accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.