16 Facts You Didn't Know About Stromness and Orkney Islands
Na'ím Paymán
Sep 7, 2023
Stromness in Orkney is packed with history which ignites the interest of many travellers. As the second-largest town in the archipelago, it serves as the perfect gateway to the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, offering easy access to world-famous sites like Skara Brae and the Ring of Brodgar.
Stromness Orkney is widely regarded as one of the most atmospheric towns in Orkney Scotland, combining ancient heritage with easy transport links across the Orkney Islands.
The town is a perfect combination of winding streets, paths, alleys, and little lanes. Edged with homes, shops, and small businesses, many of which were built from local stone. Every street corner tells a tale.
Stromness gets its name from the parish where it lies. The name comes from the old Norse word “straumnes”.
Things to Do in Stromness: 16 Lesser-Known Facts
Here are 16 fascinating insights into Stromness and why it remains the ultimate base for your Orkney adventure.
These things to do in Stromness reveal why the town is a preferred alternative to Kirkwall Orkney for travellers seeking culture, scenery, and history.
1. A Historic Safe Haven
Stromness was a vital safe haven for ships in the late seventeenth century. While Britain was at war with France, ships were unable to traverse the English Channel safely.
The shores of Hamnavoe offered vessels a secure shelter moored in deep water. The writer Jo Ben referred to these waters, stating that “The French and Spanish very often avoid storms here.” Today, it remains a hub for Orkney maritime history.
The natural harbour later played a role in global trade routes connected to the Hudson’s Bay Company Orkney operations.
2. A Vibrant Centre During World War II
During World War II, The Stromness Hotel served as the headquarters of the OSDEF (Orkney and Shetland Defences), effectively making Stromness an army town. Despite the plight of war, residents could still see the latest films and attend dances. Celebrities such as George Formby and the comedy duo Flanagan and Allen entertained the troops here.
Stromness was strategically important due to its proximity to Scapa Flow, one of the most significant naval bases in Orkney.
Did you know? The legendary Dame Gracie Fields once appeared on the balcony of The Stromness Hotel to sing for soldiers and locals. The atmosphere was electric, allowing everyone to briefly forget the effects of war.
By 20th Century Fox - eBayfrontback, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58971987
3. The Town Started with an Inn
Due to the visiting ships, William and Mareon Clark built an inn on the shores of Hamnavoe around 1590, selling homemade ale and beverages to passing sailors. Gradually homes were built in the area, slowly developing into the town that Stromness is now.
4. Captain Cook’s Final Voyage
Captain Cook's ships, Discovery and Resolution, docked in Stromness in 1780 on their return voyage from the Hawaiian Islands, where Captain Cook had been killed.
5. Relics and artefacts from across the seas
The Stromness Museum gives great insight and many displays into the town’s history with a variety of “tale-telling” and fascinating collections of Inuit artefacts and whaling relics. They were believed to have been brought back as souvenirs from Greenland, the Arctic and Canada.
By Unukorno - Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62847861
6. A Literary and Artistic Hub
Stromness has deep creative roots:
- The award-winning, world-renowned poet George Mackay Brown was born here in 1921.
- Sylvia Wishart, a celebrated Scottish landscape artist, was also Stromness-born.
- Robert Shaw, the star of Jaws and From Russia with Love, spent part of his childhood here and even acted in a play at the Stromness Town Hall.
7. Digging up the past
Hugh Miller, a stone mason, geologist and theologian regularly contributed to the Stromness Museum. He found the oldest vertebrate remains discovered in Orkney, which is now on display.
His 1850’s book about it; ‘Footsteps of the Creator or the Asterolepis of Stromness’ went on to have an influence on Darwin’s “The Origin of Species”.
By Kim Traynor - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32607498
8. Setting the town to music
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies's popular piano piece "Farewell to Stromness", was written to protest plans to open a uranium mine in the area. The Revue was first performed by the composer at the Stromness Hotel on 21 June 1980, as part of the St Magnus Festival. Plans for the uranium mine were cancelled later that year.
9. Cliff Hangers & The Old Man of Hoy
Stromness faces a magnificent range of Atlantic cliffs, ranging between 100 and 500 feet high. For those seeking the ultimate Old Man of Hoy walk, the ferry from Stromness to Moaness is your starting point. The cliffs on Hoy are some of the highest perpendicular sea cliffs in the UK, and the Old Man stack stands at 450 feet—the same height as St Paul's Cathedral in London.
United Kingdom. The Old Man of Hoy stands at a height of 450 feet, the same height as St Paul's Cathedral in London.
10. 200 year celebration
In 2017, Stromness celebrated a milestone by marking 200 years since it became a Burgh of Barony, allowing the town to take control of its own affairs and establish a town council.
11. No news is good news
Stromness once had its own newspaper, The Stromness News, which was published in 1884. It only lasted for six months due to a lack of news.
12. Shedding some light
The Sule Skerry Shore Station was built in 1892 on a remote island 41 miles west of Orkney. It was the UK’s most remote manned lighthouse. Construction could only be carried out during the summer months due to harsh conditions, taking two years to complete.
13. Keeping it in the family
There were once 80 family-owned shops and businesses in Stromness. Amongst these were four bakeries and four butcher’s shops.
One of the butcher’s shops was E. Flett’s, which is still open. The business was founded in 1876 by Adam Flett after. The firm was then taken on by his son and then his grandson, who added the initial E to the name.
14. Stromness is famous for three delicious food products
Stromness is the home of three delicious exports distributed worldwide:
- Stockan’s Oatcakes
- Orkney Fudge
- The Island Smokery, which produces smoked and flavoured cheddars using milk from Orkney cows.
15. Leave your mark
Out at Billia Croo, on the shore at the foot of the Black Craig, on the outskirts of Stromness is a stone known as the ‘Naming Stone’.
This is a large vertical stone face, on which Stromnessians inscribed their names, some of the inscriptions go back to the 19th Century.
Detail at the naming stone, Billia Croo, Stromness, Orkney photo © Copyright Magnus Dixon
16. Record Flights
Orkney is home to the world's shortest scheduled commercial flight. The Loganair flight between the islands of Westray and Papa Westray takes less than two minutes, a bucket-list item for aviation fans!
Other hidden tales of the Stromness for the interested traveller
Orkney is not a European designated landing port, so it is not possible to land white fish commercially.
Orkney is home to the rare tiny purple primula scotica flower. It is found at Yesnaby in April, May and June.
- Diving Capital: Stromness is the main hub for diving in Orkney, particularly for those exploring the German High Seas Fleet wrecks in Scapa Flow.
- Rare Flora: Orkney is home to the tiny purple Primula scotica flower, found at the Yesnaby cliffs in April, May, and June.
- Cruise Hub: Contrary to older reports, Orkney is now a major destination, with a record 223 cruise ship calls in 2024.
- Ancient Sheep: The North Ronaldsay sheep are a 3,000-year-old breed that feeds almost exclusively on seaweed, making their meat tender and virtually fat-free.
- War History: Orcadian James Isbister was the first British civilian to be killed during World War II during a raid on the Bridge of Waithe.
- St. Magnus Cathedral: This stunning cathedral does not belong to the church; it was gifted to the people of Orkney by King James III in 1486 and is maintained by the council.
The largest landowner in Orkney is the RSPB, (The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) which has 113 reserves.
Visit Stromness: History, Mystery, and Comfort
Stay at the Stromness Hotel Enjoy your visit to Stromness by staying in a historically classic venue. Look no further than The Stromness Hotel. With a mix of history, modern amenities, and a location right on the doorstep of the ferry terminal, we are the ideal starting point for all that Stromness and the Orkney Islands have to offer.
Tags:myths
Na'ím Paymán
DirectorNa'ím set up Paymán Club in 2015 to provide comfortable accommodation for tourists and business travellers across the UK and further afield.
