The Orkney Isles are a unique and very special place and Herston Hall (listed in the Times in January 2013 as one of the 50 best rural retreats in Britain) is an equally unique and special place from which to explore their many delights.

A former chapel, it dates from 1885 and was built as a mission hall to accommodate parishioners who found it too difficult to get to the district parish church. Outwardly it looks exactly as it did then, but internally it has been painstakingly and lovingly converted by its new owners as their own holiday retreat, which they have now generously decided to share with other fortunate visitors.

It has a fabulous situation on Widewall Bay, a bird watcher's paradise on South Ronaldsay near the pretty village of St Margaret's Hope (shops, cafes and hotel), which is where you will land if coming by the car ferry from Gill's Bay. South Ronaldsay is linked to the mainland by the Churchill Barriers, so you are effectively on mainland Orkney, with the capital Kirkwall just half an hour's drive up the road.

The Hall stands in its own garden area surrounded by a low wall, with stupendous sea views and it has hard standing parking across the tiny road from the garden. On entering, you come first to the former vestry, now a delightful little flagstoned sitting area, with a multi-fuel stove which assists the underfloor electric heating in keeping the place toasty warm. Next is a superbly equipped modern kitchen with a shower room off the kitchen area.

The main 'body of the kirk', to use an old Scots phrase, is now the main living area with the high vaulted roof and lancet windows giving a wonderful feeling of light and space. From there, stairs lead to a double bedroom with bathroom.

While the Hall is not troubled by the disturbance of a TV, there is a projector with built-in DVD player for dark evenings when the spectacular seascape outside is no longer visible to keep you enthralled. A selection of board games, books and WiFi round out the entertainment options.