Orkney Islands district, Scotland, United Kingdom

Places to visit near Stromness

Stromness is a town in Orkney Islands district, Scotland, United Kingdom, home to about 1,730 people. Within 50 km by road there are 231 places to visit — 94 forts & heritage, 37 hill stations & viewpoints, 28 beaches & coast and 19 lakes, dams & reservoirs. The must-see places are Stromness Museum (1 km), Hoy Low (4 km) and Hoy High Lighthouse (4 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Stromness on the map

Stromness, Scotland
Stromness, Orkney Islands district, Scotland, United Kingdom. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Stromness at a glance

Location
Orkney Islands district, Scotland, United Kingdom
Population
about 1,730
Coordinates
58.9650° N, 3.2960° W
Places within 50 km
231 (50 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for forts & heritage; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints

Top places to visit near Stromness

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Stromness: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Stromness

Things to see near Stromness, by type

Forts & heritage near Stromness

111 forts & heritage within 100 km of Stromness. The closest is John Rae Monument (1 km); the best-known is Unstan Cairn (4 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Scotland →

Hill stations & viewpoints near Stromness

38 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Stromness. The closest is Hill of Lynedardy (4 km); the best-known is West Hill (5 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

All hill stations & viewpoints in Scotland →

Beaches & coast near Stromness

36 beaches & coast within 100 km of Stromness. The closest is Hamnavoe (1 km); the best-known is Hoy Low (4 km). Best time: october to march.

All beaches & coast in Scotland →

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Stromness

26 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Stromness. The closest is Loch of Stenness (6 km); the best-known is Loch of Boardhouse (21 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Scotland →

Rivers, islands & mangroves near Stromness

20 rivers, islands & mangroves within 100 km of Stromness. The closest is Inner Holm (1 km); the best-known is Cava (15 km). Best time: september to february.

  • Cava · river spot · Orkney Islands · ~15 km · Must-see
  • Inner Holm · river spot · Orkney Islands · ~1 km
  • Outer Holm · river spot · Orkney Islands · ~1 km
  • Graemsay · river spot · Orkney Islands · ~4 km
  • Holm of Houton · river spot · Orkney Islands · ~11 km
  • Hoy · river spot · Orkney Islands · ~16 km

All rivers, islands & mangroves in Scotland →

Churches near Stromness

17 churches within 100 km of Stromness. The closest is Breckness House and Site of Chapel (4 km); the best-known is St Nicholas's Church (Ruins) Aka Orkney Round Church C12 (12 km). Best time: year-round.

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A one-day trip from Stromness

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 19 km on the road.

  1. Start in Stromness
  2. 1 km Stromness Museum · museum, Orkney Islands
  3. 3 km Hoy Low · beach, Orkney Islands
  4. 2 km West Hill · hill, Orkney Islands
  5. 2 km Hoy High Lighthouse · beach, Orkney Islands
  6. 7 km Unstan Cairn · heritage site, Orkney Islands
  7. 4 km Back to Stromness

Plan a longer trip from Stromness — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Stromness

No traveller has reported from around Stromness yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Stromness

    All places near Stromness by distance

    Within 15 km of Stromness

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Stromness by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Forts & heritage94111John Rae Monument (1 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints3738Hill of Lynedardy (4 km)
    Beaches & coast2836Hamnavoe (1 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs1926Loch of Stenness (6 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves1920Inner Holm (1 km)
    Churches1417Breckness House and Site of Chapel (4 km)
    Museums1011Pier Arts Centre (1 km)
    Other attractions77Dwarfie Stane (11 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens22Happy Valley Local Nature Reserve (9 km)
    Caves11Cave of Banks (25 km)

    Stromness: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Stromness?

    Stromness Museum (museum, about 1 km), Hoy Low (beach, about 4 km), Hoy High Lighthouse (beach, about 4 km), Unstan Cairn (heritage site, about 4 km), West Hill (hill, about 5 km), Ring of Brodgar (heritage site, about 7 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Stromness?

    231 places on Spotwander: 94 forts & heritage, 37 hill stations & viewpoints, 28 beaches & coast, 19 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 19 rivers, islands & mangroves.

    Which is the nearest fort to Stromness?

    John Rae Monument, about 1 km by road; Alexander Graham Fountain (0 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Stromness?

    Hill of Lynedardy, about 4 km by road; West Hill (5 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest beach to Stromness?

    Hamnavoe, about 1 km by road; Hoy Low (4 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Stromness?

    Start in Stromness, visit Stromness Museum, then Hoy Low, then West Hill, then Hoy High Lighthouse, then Unstan Cairn, and drive back — about 19 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Stromness?

    October to February for forts & heritage; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints.

    Towns near Stromness

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Stromness’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Stromness on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.