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contents: health and care services ¦ transport ¦ toilets ¦ shops ¦ restaurants and hotels ¦ community centres and activities ¦ other attractions ¦ events
Health and care services
Daisy Villa, Doctors Road: GP and health clinics – www.daisyvilla.co.uk.
Braeburn Court, St Margaret’s Road: an extra care facility managed by Orkney Islands Council – https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/S/adult-respite-and-short-breaks_contacts.htm.
Transport
Stagecoach X1: bus service to Kirkwall and Stromness with frequent buses Monday-Saturday – https://www.stagecoachbus.com/routes/north-scotland/x1/stromness-hamnavoe-st-margaret-s-hope-ferry-terminal/xiax001.o. [There are no bus stop signs – but three stops are marked on the map for the route to Kirkwall and Stromness. You can also hail the bus. Sometimes the bus cannot get up Back Road because of poorly parked cars so it is best to go to the bus stop by the propeller in Cromarty Square or hail the bus at the corner of Church Road and St Margaret’s Road].
Pentland Ferries: service to Gills Bay, Caithness operates from the pier – www.pentlandferries.co.uk.
Electric vehicle charging points: in the car parks on Church Road and at Braeburn Court.
Toilets
There are public toilets and a waiting area on the corner of School Road and St Margaret’s Road (next to the Smiddy Museum).
Shops
The Old Trading Post, Back Road: open daily for general provisions, post office services (including cash), off-licence and newspapers – https://www.facebook.com/OldTradingPostOrkney/.
B. Doull and Son, Church Road: open Monday-Saturday for a wide of goods including a range of fresh and frozen foodstuffs, ice creams, toiletries, household provisions and hardware – http://doulls.co.uk/
The Workshop and Loft Gallery, Front Road: a craft producers’ co-operative selling knitwear and local crafts, and art gallery – www.workshopandloftgallery.co.uk.
Restaurants and hotels
Murray Arms Hotel, Back Road: Bar, seafood restaurant and accommodation – www.themurrayarmshotel.com.
Robertson’s Coffeehoose, Church Road: licensed restaurant and bar – https://www.facebook.com/coffeehoosebar/.
The Bellevue Hotel, Front Road: Bar and accommodation – http://www.thebellevueinn.com/.
The Grill, by the junction of St Margaret’s Road and the A961: takeaway food and drink.
There is also a takeaway fish and chip van operating in the village on Saturday evenings.
Community centres and facilities
St Margaret’s Church, Church Road: Church of Scotland Kirk and Community Centre – https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheHopeKirk/about/.
Cromarty Hall, Cromarty Square: A venue for many community events including yoga, Pilates, table tennis, dancing, film nights, craft fairs and book sales. The hall is also available for private hires – www.cromartyhall.co.uk.
Marengo Centre, Marengo Road, has a community room available for hire as well as an en-suite double room and a laundry facility – https://en-gb.facebook.com/marengocentre/.
Marengo Community Garden, Marengo Road: open to all – https://www.facebook.com/marengo.garden/.
Click to explore the Marengo Community Garden
Community Play Park, Back Road: There is a pedestrian entrance on Back Road, but if you are in a car it is best to park in the car park on Church Street. Walk for a few seconds along Thorfinn Place, and take the short path to the park beyond the turn – https://www.facebook.com/hopeplaypark/.
Peedie Pandas Playgroup meet in the Church Hall on Church Road. For further details: https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheHopeKirk/about/.
St Margaret’s Hope Healthy Living Centre, School Road (next to the school): Gym and fitness centre provided by Orkney Islands Council. https://www.facebook.com/hopehealthylivingcentre.
Bowling Club and Tennis courts, School Road: https://www.bowlschat.com/directory/clubs/st-margaret-s-hope-bowling-club.
South Ronaldsay Golf Club, St Margaret’s Road: Said to be the most challenging course in Orkney, it is open 7 days a week. Visitors are welcome and tees booked on the website – https://southronaldsaygolf.com/
Hope Community School, School Road: – https://www.vikingnewmedia.net/hope/.
Other attractions
Smiddy Museum, School Road: open in the summer season, the Smiddy Museum is a restored blacksmith’s Smiddy. It contains equipment and machinery ranging over the past century, along with a collection of horse-drawn implements and other smiddy-made artefacts. It also houses photographic archives of local village and island life – https://en-gb.facebook.com/smiddymuseum/.
Events
The Festival of the Horse and Ploughing Match: one of Orkney’s unique occasions that dates back two centuries – https://calendarcustoms.com/articles/boys-ploughing-match-festival-of-the-horse/ and http://www.orkneyjar.com/tradition/festivalofhorse.htm.
Discussing the sheep at the Show 2022
Sooth Isles Craft Fairs, Cromarty Hall: local craft people exhibiting their work – https://www.facebook.com/South-Isles-Craft-Fairs-240242836455908/.