Murray Arms Hotel

Location: Back Road, South Ronaldsay, Scotland, KW17 2SP, South Ronaldsay, GB

Star Rating: 9 Stars

Property Type: Inns

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 02:00 PM - 11:30 PM

Check-out: 10:00 AM

Amenities & Facilities

• Free breakfast
• Arcade/game room
• Birdwatching nearby
• Free WiFi
• Garden
• Picnic area
• ATM/banking
• Gift shops or newsstand
• Snorkeling nearby
• Hiking/biking trails nearby
• Sailing nearby
• Scuba diving nearby
• Arcade/game room
• Free breakfast
• Smoke-free property
• Free wired internet
• Wheelchair accessible parking
• Parking (limited spaces)
• Free self parking
• Computer station
• Birdwatching nearby
• Eco-friendly cleaning products used
• Fishing nearby
• Horse riding nearby
• Wheelchair-accessible van parking

Rooms Available

• Basic Single Room, Ensuite

  1 Double Bed

  129 sq feet

  
  

  Layout - Bedroom

  Need to Know - Weekly housekeeping, towels not available, bed sheets not available

  Non-Smoking, pet friendly

  Max Occupancy: 1 (1 Adults)

  • Weekly housekeeping provided
  • Towels not available
  • Bed sheets not available

• Double Room, Ensuite

  1 Double Bed

  Layout - Bedroom

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Entertainment - Digital channels

  Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker

  Bathroom - Private bathroom and shower

  Need to Know - Weekly housekeeping, towels not available, bed sheets not available

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • Private bathroom
  • Free WiFi
  • Weekly housekeeping provided
  • Towels not available
  • Bed sheets not available

• Basic Double Room, Ensuite (Small Double Room)

  1 Double Bed

  161 sq feet

  
  

  Layout - Bedroom

  Need to Know - Weekly housekeeping

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Private bathroom
  • Weekly housekeeping provided

Guest Reviews

• Laurel (10/5): - So pleased to find Murray Arms. It was 5 minutes from our arriving ferry. Upon checkin by Suzanne, we were assigned private off-road parking. Our room for 3 nights was comfortable. The staff was exceptionally warm and welcoming for all - babies, dogs, and patrons. The meals in their restaurant were first class. They have dive boats for scallop harvesting. Our scallop dinner was the best EVER!
• Brown, (8/5): - Pros: The Murray Arms is ideally placed for the ferry terminal. Very convenient and easy to find. Rooms were clean. Restaurant was good for dinner. Cons: the walls are very thin and can hear neighbours easily.
• Vlad-Iulian (10/5): - We stayed with them overnight and the accommodation was great, as was the breakfast. We also had dinner here as it had great reviews for seafood. Sadly we were left quite disappointed as none of the food impressed and the sea bass was particularly bad. Our waitress was great, but there was some commotion behind the bar with the younger staff and you could tell that there was some conflict, just enough to make everyone uncomfortable without anything actually happening. I'm all for the younger generation to get work experience, but they still need to be professional. We also had drinks in their pub and although everything was fine, it somehow had the feeling of walking into a local old man's pub where everyone knows eachother and looks at you suspiciously. Nothing happened but again, there was just something off about the atmosphere. Overall I'd definitely recommend staying here, but not too sure about eating / drinking here.
• William (10/5): - Decent room, good food. Peaceful.
• Paul (10/5): - The Manager makes you feel right at home , first name terms and genuinely interested in how you day has been . Service was excellent. The food was fresh, scallops were caught at 4 every day .
• Randi (10/5): - The proprietors are very friendly and accommodating. The place has a lot of charm and is clean and perfect for our needs.
• Carol (8/5): - Beautiful location with convenient parking and friendly accommodating staff. Our room was comfortable with kettle, tea, biscuits etc. Breakfast choices were adequate and generous portions. Our fish supper on the first night was excellent but - for a non fish/ seafood variety we decided to eat elsewhere on our second night. We would definitely stay here again.
• Pär (8/5): - Amasing personal, excellent dinner and breakfeast
• SHEONA (8/5): - Accommodation was very clean and comfortable and location was very handy for ferry terminal. Only slight issue was layout of the bedroom; sloping roof and wall lights made it more awkward to get past bed to get to bathroom during the night. Food was amazing particularly the seafood platter. Good choices for breakfast too.
• Beverley (8/5): - Lovely location and everything ok, staff friendly and helpful. Food good
• David (10/5): - I only stayed overnight but it was very comfortable, the staff were friendly,and the food hot and tasty.
• Peter (10/5): - small but very friendly hotel with good food and a characterful atmosphere
• Rebecca (10/5): Lovely stay - My 2nd time staying here. Very welcoming and friendly staff. Food (dinner menu and breakfast) was fantastic again. Wouldn't hesitate to book again.
• Graeme (8/5): - Excellent food, but the rooms are a bit on the snug side.
• Claire (10/5): - Lovely hotel, fantastic seafood.
• Verified traveler (10/5): Sea food heaven - The staff go out of their way to make you feel at home and comfortable. The breakfast is really good. All food when possible is locally sourced. The hand dived scallops are excellent. Sea food platter is awesome. The rooms are clean and warm. I will definitely come back.
• Jillian (10/5): Breakaway - Amazing - great food, friendly people!
• Kevin (10/5): - Fabulous place with so many pluses. Great food and hospitality.
• Lisa (10/5): - We had a very pleasant stay. Beautiful area.
• Audrey (10/5): - Lovely welcome, one night stay comfortable bed nice room clean en suite. Food here is excellent and local-a must if you enjoy fresh seafood! Friendly staff throughout stay.
• Verified traveler (10/5): People were great - The people that work here are really lovely. We enjoyed our meals. Our room was on the small size, but very cozy. We parked in the back patking lot with no issues.
• Mark (10/5): The friendliest place I've ever stayed - From the moment we checked in, we felt like family. The staff here are the warmest of people. The smiles weren't just customer service smiles, they were genuine. Suzanne in particular went to great lengths to ensure we had a wonderful stay. We were genuinely sad to leave her! Suzanne couldn't have been more kind to our elderly dog, Smurf. She always made a fuss of her and had a sneaky treat for her. Often in 'dog friendly' accommodation, dogs are tolerated. Here dogs are loved....and that made all the difference to our holiday. ....and I haven't even mentioned the delicious seafood and fab breakfast/coffee! Thanks to all at Murray Arms for looking after us so well. We will be back. Love from Emma & Mark xx
• Ian (10/5): Great stay - This is an excellent place to stay, really convenient for the ferry and well connected to the mainland. Our room was very clean and comfortable if a bit on the small side for 2 of us. However this didn’t detract from our stay. The staff are welcoming friendly and helpful. The restaurant is lovely and the food is outstanding
• Heidi (10/5): - Bright, modern B&B with modern rooms. Ours was filled with natural light owing to skylights and had a comfortable bed and contemporary decor. The restaurant was excellent and specialises in high quality and excellently cooked seafood dishes. Breakfast was great too!
• David (10/5): Lovely Stay - We stayed overnight before going to Hoy. The welcome was excellent and warm and our room was lovely- the whole place was spotlessly clean. Eating in is an excellent option; we did and I would highly recommend!!!
• Sue (10/5): Traditional little gem! - Lovely food and welcoming atmosphere
• Philip (10/5): - The hotel check in was quick and easy. No elevator though. The staff was excellent especially the two young men in the restaurant. They were excellent in every way. Book this hotel early they fill up quick with bus tours. There is a few restaurants nearby if you want a change but Brae Hotel dinner menu changes daily. They also worked with my wife's food allergy.
• Kohila (10/5): - Gina & Suzanne were friendly and helpful
• David (10/5): Amazing stay in a great hotel - Great hotel. Room was very comfortable and clean. Food was amazing and very fresh. Staff were very friendly and helpful, we were made to feel very welcome. It was my birthday and they got me a cake and sang happy birthday. Made my birthday very special.
• Edwina (8/5): Friendly welcome - Friendly welcome, very good restaurant
• Robert (8/5): Worth a trip - Absolutely good Sandra host was outstanding and room was clean and excellent breakfast
• Stephen (10/5): - All the people were very friendly and the management kindly refunded us when we foolishly double booked.
• John (10/5): - Spot on!
• Thomas (10/5): Everything excellent - Very friendly and welcoming .breakfast and dinner are excellent using locally caught seafood. An extremely well run hotel with lovely staff. Bed very comfortable, room large and very clean. Highly recommend.
• David J. (10/5): - Fresh scallops are available in the restaurant every day! The rooms are updated and the showers are great.
• David J. (10/5): - Very nice pub and hotel. Great food and staff. Highly recommend!
• Christine (10/5): - We had a lovely time , the staff were so friendly and helpful!
• Judith (10/5): - We had an incredibly restful stay here. The food was great, staff very friendly and the bed big and comfy...thank you! Would stay here again.
• Debra (8/5): Lovely hotel but room on the tight side - Lovely hotel the room was very small nowhere to put anything and very tight but staff were very friendly and helpful and dinner on the evening was delicious
• S (10/5): - I arrived after 11pm, was warmly received and taken to my room. Breakfast was very good, as was the service all round.
• Martyn (10/5): - This is a great place to stay. Friendly staff, fantastic seafood and nice cosy rooms. It’s in a nice little village on South Ronaldsay - which is very pretty and has lots of good walking and interesting wildlife. It’s about a 20 minute drive from Kirkwall across the Churchill barriers. There also seems to be a decent bus service to Kirkwall and Stromness although I didn’t use this. Highly recommended!
• Mary Susan (10/5): Exemplary staff and manager - Beyond expectations in hospitality. We had a tasty meal in the bar with locals filling us in on island lore. The staff was beyond friendly. As a team, they helped rescue my laptop, left on a local bus, by asking a friend to chase the bus down by car…a brilliant rescue.
• Jane (10/5): - A real treasure of a find. Host was so welcoming and genuinely helpful. They went above and beyond to accomodate us and our doggy. Really doggy friendly. Gave us ideas, hints and low-downs! The seafood was divine: freshly caught and cooked beautifully. If you get the opportunity, share a seafood platter with another in your party. What an experience! We don't go back to revisit places as a rule but we would definitely come back here.
• Kevin (10/5): Top hotel - Everything First class.
• Steven (10/5): Good placr - Good friendly staff good food vlesn bathroom and room
• Ian (10/5): Excellent hotel in Orkney - Really enjoyed staying at the Murray Arms Hotel. Clean and nice room, really comfortable. A really friendly place to stay. The food is fantastic too, enjoyed it. Would stay again!
• Isobel (10/5): Fabulous - From the moment we arrived we felt very welcome and pretty much at home. The owner, Gina, has certainly got it right in every department. The manager, Suzanne, is always on hand and nothing is a bother to her. She takes time to chat with everyone and is always cheerful. Our room was comfortable and spotlessly clean. We were also greeted at breakfast each morning by a very cheerful Jacqueline. However the best part, by far, was the food. We ate in the restaurant on each of our four nights and were treated to the most amazingly fresh, well cooked seafood. Its the best we've eaten anywhere in the world. Generous portions, reasonably priced. This is seafood heaven.
• David (8/5): - Staff excellent, friendly and helpful. Good food, heavily geared to fish and seafood. Access to a shared kitchen/dining area, with washing machine and drying rack. Bathroom very tight, and had a bare clear window, insufficient provision for towel hanging. Beds a bit high.
• Laurie (10/5): - This was a lovely inn in a beautiful little community. The room was clean and big enough for us to feel comfortable in while living out of 2 big suitcases. The staff were friendly and helpful. The restaurant was FABULOUS- so much so that we ate there 2 nights in a row. The freshest fish!!!! I would highly recommend this inn!
• Thomas (10/5): - Very friendly people and lovely food. A wee gem. Glad we stayed there.
• Shaun (8/5): - Lovely, welcoming l, helpful staff and great food at breakfast and if you have an evening meal. The people really make it a great place to stay.
• Steve (10/5): - Received a very warm and friendly welcome. The staff and service received in the hotel and restaurant was excellent. Our room was very clean and well equipped. Perfect for our one night stay as we travelled through on our Orkney Islands trip.
• Verified traveler (10/5): Don’t hesitate just book it - This is a little gem of a place The staff could not be more friendly or helpful especially Gina & Jackie The accommodation is comfortable,homely and super clean The friendly atmosphere created by the the staff in the newly upgraded facilities made this a memorable holiday for all the right reasons The food in their sea food restaurant is second to none. And keenly priced Quality through and through The Sea Food Platter is highly recommended The banter in the bar from the OLDIES at the Thursday Club apparently is and was legendary There was one member of staff with a strong North East accent that was at times difficult to understand but other than this observation !! A great stay.
• Lona (8/5): Murray Arms Hotel - Lovely comfy room, though a couple of minor issues with TV and lights, but not major enough to spoil the ambience. An actual bath as well as a shower and Ioved the lightwell in the bathroom. Friendly and helpful staff. Only issue is that car park isn't sign posted, so i parked on street, but that was very close by. Would happily stay here again
• Barrie (8/5): - Great place to stay, clean, cosy, comfortable, friendly.
• Verified traveler (8/5): - A perfect place to rest my head after a night out with friends, rather than a long drive home. Would stay again, the room was comfortable, clean and tidy, the staff friendly.
• Zoe (10/5): Perfect all-round - The perfect place for exploring Orkney. A super, cosy and comfy Inn, with incredibly friendly and efficient owner & staff and the food was delicious every night. Highly recommend and will return.
• Alex (10/5): Excellent Seafood Restaurant - A very enjoyable and comfortable 2 night stay at the Murray Arms Hotel. Couldn't be handier for the ferry, and delicious food in their seafood restaurant, good breakfast options too. Free on street parking or in the hotel's own spaces. Very welcoming and helpful staff, will definitely stay here again when we return to Orkney.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Lovely location with welcoming staff, nice rooms and great food
• Magnus (8/5): Lovely little hotel! - A very comfortable bed. Slept like a log! Our room was exactly what we needed. Access to the rear car park was good. The central location in St Margaret's Hope was great. The breakfast in the morning was reduced due to Covid but the options were still good and the food was good. Overall a good little stopover for us!
• stephen (6/5): riendly - Friendly welcome and great anti Covid regime. Sadly there was an all night party across the courtyard so sleep was pointless and my packed lunch breakfast never materialised despite assurances
• Verified traveler (10/5): - A two minute drive to the Gills Bay ferry. An easy drive to the heart of Neolithic Orkney, And friendly hosts and guests at the pub on premises.
• Monica B. (10/5): Heaven - Just what we needed
• Verified traveler (8/5): - Very warm friendly welcome. Roon ok size wise. Beds very comfortable. Although i booked a double room 2 was 2 single beds pushed together.
• Cecily (10/5): Thumbs up Murray Arms!!!! - Jill & I stayed at Murray Arms for 2 nights. From the moment we arrived, our hosts were very friendly & helpful. They were terribly hospitable, obliging with extra milk & also offered to get up early & make a cooked breakfast for us, when we were leaving early to catch the ferry. I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again & wished our stay had been longer.
• Irene (10/5): Murray Arms Fantastic - Exelent place to stay convenient for ferry to mainland good food and sometimes live music some evenings
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Pleasant and helpful staff. Dinner at the restaurant was wonderful.
• Verified traveler (6/5): - the property Was Fine, Organisation Poor, They Had To Remove Other Guests From The Room We Had Been Allocated. Breakfast Was Only Done Because They Had To. Some Mornings There Was Very Little On The Plate, There Was Never The Offer Of Any More Than One Cup Of Tea / Coffee. Absolutely No Conversation. Very Poor Compared To The Other Two Hotels On Our Holiday. All Very Much The Same Price. Bottom Line! We Won't Be Recommending It To Friends.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Beautiful rooms, restaurant and bar with great staff and 2 minute walk from strolling along the seawall.
• Ami (10/5): - The staff are relaxed and friendly, the food is locally sourced and delicious. Much used by locals. We had a great stay.
• Chris (10/5): great hotel, great food - A nice friendly hotel right on the coast. The best thing about the hotel is the food, probably the best fish I have had for a long time and its caught literally over the road.
• Ben (8/5): Beware of opening hours before booking this hotel. - Unfortuantly the hotel was not open when we arrived due to unforseen circumstances . We were left to wait outside until a neighbour asked us to join her in her home .It would have been nice to have seen a note on the door advising us of the problem.
• Helen (8/5): Good location to explore from - Arrived off the ferry and just a short drive down the road was the hotel, and from there it is easy to explore the whole island. The room was basic but suited our needs. And it is always nice to be able to walk downstairs for food. Breakfast had choices, which was appreciated.
• Sally (8/5): - Nice small port town in Orkney which is a fantastic place to explore. This small hotel was perfect for me: clean, comfortable, friendly, close to places of interest.
• dave (10/5): Idea base - Great base for exploring Orkney, very dog friendly indeed friendly full stop
• Colin (6/5): Room ok, food poor - Small but ok room. I had poor quality chicken in the curry that I had in the restaurant. It had gristly bits and fat, I complained, but got no feedback even when I queried again when paying my bill. No cutlery given with my desert until I asked for it. Table next to me had no spoons for their soup and had to help themselves from the bar.
• rick (2/5): - We were looking for accommodation about Thurso to over night for The morning ferry to Orkney. The Murray Hotel came up. Once booked we realised it was a ferry ride from where we were and impossible to get to that night Tried and tried to reverse the booking but your web site didn't allow Crashed on several occasions and also had a didn't load. Rang the hotel to advise them They noted the no show but said there was nothing they could do as the booking was held by Expedia. You stuffed. So not happy Feel very strongly that this hotel should not have come up on a Thurso search. It maybe is with a measure of mile but it is across and significant stretch of water Not happy and I and would like a refund Realise I should have checked the geography but we are strangers to the area travelling on GPS so didn't see the region as we could have but believe you Experdia have a responsibility to help protect people from foreseeable mistakes Look forward to.you reply
• Verified traveler (8/5): - The hotel in town. Food good. Rooms upstairs as usual. Parking wherever. Un organised at breakfast. Food at night was good.
• Gary (10/5): - Really enjoyed stay at hotel, would definetely return or recommend
• Brian (8/5): Orkney trip - Hotel location is very convenient for close to the ferry port. The food is good and the room prices are reasonable
• Kenneth (10/5): Lovely, personal hotel in a stunning location❣️ - I can really recommend the friendly Murray Arms Hotel in the beautiful and tranquil Saint Margaret Hope on the Isle of South Ronaldsay in The Orkney Isles❣️Owner and manager Gina, together with the rest of her staff, really makes sure that patrons are well looked after and they will go the extra mile to « dot the i’s » and make your stay very personal. There’s always a solution to any queries, and any mishaps are dealt with on the spot!😊 The rooms are generous, the Wifi well functioning, the restaurant is well looked after and serves lovely meals, focussing on the abundance of the nearby sea. And the bar/reception provides for a great end-of-the-day natter with the hotel personnel as well as other patrons! It truly is an intimate kaleidoscope of the community, as well as the internationalism of visitors to the islands🌍xx
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Couldn't be more friendly. Our dog was made welcome and so were we! Standard of food, service and accommodation excellent. Parking easy behind the hotel. Local shop with supplies for the journey home.
• Linda (10/5): Good accommodation close to ferry - Nice modern clean room,excellent food, good selection of beers ,very peaceful location in small village, ideally situated for ferry, recommended
• Verified traveler (10/5): - The Murray Arms for a warm and welcoming Orkney experience. Friendly and engaging staff and excellent food, the local seafood should definitely tried.
• Brian (10/5): Close to ferry terminal - Stayed here for 3 nights in September 2017. Murray Arms is close to the ferry terminal so convenient for evening arrivals to Orkney and morning departures. We enjoyed the small bar and were able to chat with some local folks. The breakfasts were quite good and dinners were also quite good. Bar and restaurant staff very friendly. Would stay here again.
• Verified traveler (8/5): - Lovely evening meal, comfortable room and friendly staff
• Lynne (6/5): Lovely location and nice home style cooked meals - We stayed here for two nights as a base to visit all the historical sites. The Hotel serves drinks and Gina the owner cooks lovely meals which are reasonably priced. It is quite a way from the ferry so our hire car came in handy. The rooms are clean and adequate.
• Karen (10/5): - Very comfortable
• Verified traveler (10/5): Wonderful - Very friendly staff,great food! Nice place to stay in the Orkney Islands.

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