On the wonderful Orkney Islands, just 3 miles from the village of St Margaret's Hope (where the ferry arrives from Gill's Bay near John o'Groats), is Rinibar. This traditionally styled, stone-built detached house is set in 70 acres of private land and coastline with a superb beach nearby, rugged cliffs and beautiful views over the bay.
Quick Info
Sleeps: 4/10 | Bedrooms: 5 |
Changeover Day: Sat | Pets Allowed: No |
No smoking | Bathrooms: 2 |
Licence No: OR00013F |
Built using hand quarried stone as the 'new farmhouse' at Rinibar in the 1950s, the house has retained many of its period features such as the original floor tiling and woodwork. It has been sympathetically furnished in character, but without any compromise on 21st century comfort.
There is a smart modern kitchen and sitting room and with bedrooms and modern bathrooms upstairs and down, the accommodation really is very practical. Rinibar’s open situation means it catches the sun all day and most of the bedrooms look out to the sea. Heating is by electricity supplemented by a stove in the dining room and an open fire in the sitting room. Electricity for appliances and lighting is generated by a small wind turbine outside.
Rinibar has just the right ambience for both families and parties of friends to relax in unpretentious comfort and enjoy the lovely surroundings. Children can play in safety, far from traffic, in the grass garden or surrounding open spaces and it is just a short walk from the house to the shore, making it easy to come and go for meals or if the weather should change.
Here you are right at the top of Orkney’s most southern island, South Ronaldsay, on the Hoxa peninsula between Scapa Flow, the Pentland Firth and Widewall Bay. Orkney has a vibrant craft industry, with a waymarked walk that will lead you to the Hoxa Tapestry Gallery where you can view the magnificent, hand woven tapestries. Then carry on to the Hoxa Tearooms and finally to Hoxa Head.
Orkney was of vital strategic importance in both World Wars and nowhere is the legacy more evident than here on South Ronaldsay. The peninsula was crucial to the defence of Scapa Flow and the impressive remains of these coastal batteries can still be seen at Hoxa Head. To reach the Orkney 'mainland' you will have to cross the impressive Churchill Barriers, passing the Italian Chapel en route. This was built by Italian prisoners of war using anything they could get their hands on and stands as a poignant reminder of these difficult times.
The history of Orkney goes much further back than that though. Farmed for at least 5,000 years, the islands are a treasure trove of discoveries - the amazing World Heritage Site at Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, the Stones of Stenness and the burial chamber at Maeshowe to name but a few. On South Ronaldsay itself you can explore the Tomb of the Eagles, Banks Tomb and the nearby Burnt Mound. The Vikings too have left the legacy of their long occupation of these islands, not only in the local place names but also in more visible examples, such as the magnificent St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall and the graffiti they left behind in Maeshowe.
St Margaret's Hope (known locally simply as 'The Hope') is home to the renowned multi award winning Creel restaurant as well as a café, a few shops, tennis courts, a bowling green and even a golf course. The capital, Kirkwall (all facilities), is within a half hour drive. The must-sees there are St Magnus Cathedral, the Bishop’s Palace and the Earl's Palace, as well as the Orkney Museum. From there, too, many ferries sail to the outlying islands, each of which has its own particular character.
Orkney's second town, Stromness, is a delight, with its lively harbour and quaint cobbled streets. From there you can take boat trips to view the local marine wildlife, or to dive to the wrecks in Scapa Flow, where the German fleet scuttled itself in 1918. Close by are the impressive sea pinnacles of the Yesnaby Stacks, or take a day trip to Hoy, have a picnic on the sands at Rackwick Bay and walk round to the most famous stack of all - the Old Man of Hoy itself.
Quite apart from the fascinating history and breathtaking scenery, Orkney is internationally renowned for its birdlife and your stay in Orkney will be rewarded with spectacular sightings of a wide variety of birds, in differing peaceful habitats - the farmland, heather moorland and coastal waters. Hoxa itself is home to many visiting and breeding birds, including hen harriers and a pair of short-eared owls.
So much to see, then and Rinibar certainly provides an excellent base from which to explore these fascinating islands.
Local Events and Attractions
Please note: while we make every effort to be as accurate as possible, the actual position of the cottage indicated on the map above and the proximity of the amenities in the Local Info section cannot be guaranteed to be precise and should be used as a guide only.
Accommodation
Downstairs
Sitting room with open fire and TV/DVD
Dining room with multi-fuel stove
Kitchen with gas hob, double electric oven, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, microwave, etc
Utility room with washing machine, tumble dryer and sink
Double bedroom
Double bedroom
Shower room with WC and wash basin.
Upstairs
Twin bedroom
Double bedroom (king-size)
Single bedroom with small double bed
Bathroom with bath, WC and wash basin.
What's included
- Linen (Double Bed)
- Free
- Linen (Single Bed)
- Free
- Sets of towels (per person)
- Free
- WiFi
- Free
- Cot (excluding linen)
- Free
- Highchair
- Free
Services
Bed linen and towels are INCLUDED. The first £25 of electricity is INCLUDED with any additional usage payable by meter reading at the end of your stay. Heating is by multi-fuel stove, open-fire, and electric night store heaters. WiFi is INCLUDED. Sorry, no smoking or pets within the house.
Please note: For Rinibar House, the tariff for 4 persons is based on the two downstairs bedrooms and shower room only being made available.
Weekly Prices
The weekly guide prices for this property are shown below. Use the availability & book sidebar on the right to select your holiday or calculate short break rates (where available).
From 11/10/2024 to 14/10/2024
From 18/10/2024 to 21/10/2024
From 27/09/2024 to 30/09/2024
From 13/09/2024 to 16/09/2024
From 04/04/2025 to 07/04/2025
From 04/10/2024 to 07/10/2024
From 25/10/2024 to 28/10/2024
From 18/10/2024 to 21/10/2024
From 11/10/2024 to 14/10/2024
From 20/12/2024 to 23/12/2024
From 27/12/2024 to 30/12/2024
From 06/09/2024 to 09/09/2024
From 20/09/2024 to 23/09/2024
Changeover Day: Sat
Rental - Date Range | Sleeps 4 | Sleeps 10 |
24 Aug 2024 - 13 Sep 2024 | £795.00 | £995.00 |
14 Sep 2024 - 04 Oct 2024 | £650.00 | £895.00 |
05 Oct 2024 - 25 Oct 2024 | £795.00 | £995.00 |
26 Oct 2024 - 19 Dec 2024 | £550.00 | £795.00 |
20 Dec 2024 - 27 Dec 2024 | £1,195.00 | £1,195.00 |
28 Dec 2024 - 05 Jan 2025 | £1,195.00 | £1,195.00 |
06 Jan 2025 - 31 Jan 2025 | £550.00 | £795.00 |
01 Feb 2025 - 04 Apr 2025 | £650.00 | £895.00 |
05 Apr 2025 - 25 Apr 2025 | £795.00 | £995.00 |
26 Apr 2025 - 02 May 2025 | POA | POA |
03 May 2025 - 23 May 2025 | POA | POA |
24 May 2025 - 30 May 2025 | POA | POA |
31 May 2025 - 27 Jun 2025 | POA | POA |
28 Jun 2025 - 18 Jul 2025 | POA | POA |
19 Jul 2025 - 29 Aug 2025 | POA | POA |
30 Aug 2025 - 12 Sep 2025 | POA | POA |
13 Sep 2025 - 03 Oct 2025 | POA | POA |
04 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025 | POA | POA |
25 Oct 2025 - 19 Dec 2025 | POA | POA |
20 Dec 2025 - 27 Dec 2025 | POA | POA |
28 Dec 2025 - 05 Jan 2026 | POA | POA |
06 Jan 2026 - 05 Jan 2027 | POA | POA |
06 Jan 2027 - 05 Jan 2028 | POA | POA |
06 Jan 2028 - 05 Jan 2029 | POA | POA |
Please note: Prices are calculated based on your party size at the time of booking and where more than one tariff is shown, the number of bedrooms made available may vary. This allows us to offer larger properties at lower rates for smaller parties. If your party size changes for any reason after booking, please let us know so we can ensure the accommodation provided meets your exact requirements.
For Rinibar House, the tariff for 4 persons is based on the two downstairs bedrooms and shower room only being made available. If you require more flexibility, please get in touch.
Reviews
(Supplied Independently through Feefo)
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Alles hat problemlos funktioniert.
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We loved our stay at Rinibar House, the location was beautiful and very peaceful. The cottage was well equipped and comf...
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Rinibar House is well appointed and very comfortable. It is ideally located for calm, peaceful countryside, birdsong and...
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The property itself is in a lovely location. It's just a shame about the electricity charges. Please see earlier comment...
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Rinibar is a lovely house located in the South of Mainland Orkney, about half an hour drive from Kirkwall. There is a pr...
Read MoreGuest Comments
‘We’ve had a wonderful stay. The house is lovely, location beautiful and it is perfect for our young family. Thank you for the numerous little touches that help keep the children entertained!’
‘We have enjoyed our holiday in Orkney. The house is in a beautiful position and everything is comfortable and well thought out.’
‘The house is bright, spacious and comfortable and we felt thoroughly at home. We enjoyed the tearooms and can recommend the day trips to Hoy and Westray – a bird lover’s paradise!’
‘Very comfortable stay. Fabulous location and we saw owls and hen harriers from the sitting room window.’
‘We have had a lovely week here. Warm and comfortable house, wonderful scenery and something new to see and do every day.’
‘We have thoroughly enjoyed the Orkney Isles. Hoxa Head in particular has been a lovely place to be – fantastic views and weather, friendly rabbits, excellent beach, peace and quiet.’
Guest Comments
‘We’ve had a wonderful stay. The house is lovely, location beautiful and it is perfect for our young family. Thank you for the numerous little touches that help keep the children entertained!’
‘We have enjoyed our holiday in Orkney. The house is in a beautiful position and everything is comfortable and well thought out.’
‘The house is bright, spacious and comfortable and we felt thoroughly at home. We enjoyed the tearooms and can recommend the day trips to Hoy and Westray – a bird lover’s paradise!’
‘Very comfortable stay. Fabulous location and we saw owls and hen harriers from the sitting room window.’
‘We have had a lovely week here. Warm and comfortable house, wonderful scenery and something new to see and do every day.’
‘We have thoroughly enjoyed the Orkney Isles. Hoxa Head in particular has been a lovely place to be – fantastic views and weather, friendly rabbits, excellent beach, peace and quiet.’