Merkister Hotel

The Merkister Hotel stands on the shore of the Loch of Harray, on Orkney's West Mainland, roughly midway between Kirkwall and Stromness. It has been family-run for more than 30 years and offers 16 letting bedrooms, including three garden suites, most with en-suite bathrooms, with breakfast included in the rate. The hotel's Skerries Restaurant serves Aberdeen Angus beef sourced from farms within ten miles alongside hand-dived scallops and other local seafood, with a separate lounge bar for casual meals and drinks. Guests can fish the loch from the hotel's own boathouse, which keeps six rowing boats and a jetty for private boats, with ghillie bookings arranged on request. The Ring of Brodgar stone circle is eight miles away and the Stromness ferry terminal eleven. The hotel remains independently owned rather than part of a chain.