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The Sands Hotel

2.5 star property
Hotel in Burray with free breakfast and restaurant

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for The Sands Hotel

Garden
Garden
Traditional Suite, Ensuite, Sea View (Second Floor ) | Room amenity
Bar (on property)
Classic Suite, Ensuite, Sea View (First & Second Floor ) | Room amenity

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Laundry
  • Parking included
  • Housekeeping
The current price is €246
includes taxes & fees
20 May - 21 May

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 4 of 4 rooms

View all photos for Standard Double Room, Ensuite, Sea View (First Floor )

Room amenity

Standard Double Room, Ensuite, Sea View (First Floor )

Highlights

Heating
TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Premium bedding
Separate bedroom
Heating
Hairdryer
Private bathroom
  • Sea view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Superior Double Room, Ensuite, Sea View (First Floor )

Room amenity

Superior Double Room, Ensuite, Sea View (First Floor )

Highlights

Heating
TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Premium bedding
Separate bedroom
Heating
Hairdryer
Detached private bathroom
  • Sea view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Classic Suite, Ensuite, Sea View (First & Second Floor )

Classic Suite, Ensuite, Sea View (First & Second Floor ) | Room amenity

Classic Suite, Ensuite, Sea View (First & Second Floor )

Highlights

Separate dining area
Fireplace
Heating
Kitchen
Fridge
TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Premium bedding
  • Sea view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 2 Single Beds

View all photos for Traditional Suite, Ensuite, Sea View (Second Floor )

Traditional Suite, Ensuite, Sea View (Second Floor ) | Room amenity

Traditional Suite, Ensuite, Sea View (Second Floor )

Highlights

Heating
TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Premium bedding
Separate bedroom
Heating
Shower/bath combination
Private bathroom
  • Sea view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Single Bed and 1 Double Bed
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About the area

Map
Pier Road, Burray, Scotland, KW17 2SS

What's nearby

  • Orkney Fossil and Heritage Centre - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Orkney Fossil & Vintage Centre - 2 min drive - 2.0 km
  • Italian Chapel - 7 min drive - 6.3 km
  • Highland Park Distillery - 14 min drive - 16.7 km
  • Gills Bay Ferry Port - 93 min drive - 35.5 km

Getting around

  • Kirkwall (KOI) - 22 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Robertsons - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪The Creel - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Commodore Restaurant & Bar - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Sands Hotel - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪The Watersound Hotel - ‬3 min walk

About this property

The Sands Hotel

Property highlights
Take advantage of free cooked-to-order breakfast, laundry facilities and a bar at The Sands Hotel. Be sure to enjoy children's meals at the on-site restaurant. Stay connected with free WiFi in public areas.
Other perks at this hotel include:
  • Free self-parking
  • A billiards/pool table, wedding services and smoke-free property
  • Guest reviews speak highly of the helpful staff

Languages

English

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9.0 out of 10, Wonderful, 227 reviews
The price is €210
includes taxes & fees
9 May - 10 May
Albert Hotel

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Free self parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available

Food and drink

  • Free cooked-to-order breakfast available daily 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant

Things to do

  • Billiards/pool table

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities

Conveniences

  • Laundry facilities

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Wedding services

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • No lift
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking

More

  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • TV

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; check-in end time: 10:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:30 AM

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Payment types at the property

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and cash
Property Registration Number OI/PL/86

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly)

Property is also known as

The Sands Hotel Hotel
The Sands Hotel Burray
The Sands Hotel Hotel Burray

Frequently asked questions

Is The Sands Hotel pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at The Sands Hotel?

As of 8 May 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Sands Hotel on 20 May 2025 start from €246.02, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at The Sands Hotel?

Self-parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at The Sands Hotel?

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; check-in end time: 10:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Sands Hotel?

Checkout is at 10:30 AM.

Where is The Sands Hotel located?

Situated in Burray, this hotel is within 1 mile (2 km) of Orkney Fossil and Heritage Centre and Orkney Fossil & Vintage Centre. Orkney Wine Company and Italian Chapel are also within 6 miles (10 km).

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The Sands Hotel Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 37 out of 43 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 43 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 43 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 43 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 43 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

9.6/10

Amenities

9.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

William Andrew Haralam and Mary Ann

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Pleasant Quiet comfortable nice dining options
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jack

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We stayed two nights and loved everything about this accommodation.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Slaveiko

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely property and very friendly staff.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Alex

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
An enjoyable stay. Attentive staff. Excellent food.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Wilma

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Would highly recommend the Sands, very friendly homely atmosphere couldn’t do enough to help and the food well presented and very tasty
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Neil

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Friendly welcoming hotel

Very comfortable, relaxed hotel with helpful staff and good hearty food. Great location for the ferry from Gills Bay, and all the major places of interest.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Martin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Brilliant staff and brilliant stay

The staff were brilliant and truly went out their way to make my stay very enjoyable. I would return here and recommend others to stay here also. The food was excellent and a very good selection to choose from.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

8/10 Good

Anne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
They are lovely people and it is a nice enough hotel. It’s in an out of the way location which was fine for us as we had a car. The food was ok. The room was light, clean and comfortable.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Lovely quiet historic hotel

Lovely quiet hotel being an old Herring Warehouse. Rooms were comfortable and had a nice view of the boat ramp. We stayed 2 nights and meals were nice both nights. We needed washing done and were able to pay 15 pounds for a small bag to be done for us, which saved having to go to Laundromat in Kirkwall.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lisa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This property is exceptionally clean! The restaurant staff were friendly, outgoing and accommodating to a food allergy. This hotel is convenient for morning ferry departures from St. Margaret's Hope.
Stayed 1 night in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kelsey

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

So lovely

Everything at this hotel was just lovely- staff, ocean views, food. The room was simple but nicely updated and maintained. This hotel was a highlight of our trip. The restaurant is also delicious and we loved breakfast.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ludovic

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Good base from where to explore part of Orkney

Our brief stay at the Sands Hotel was just what we were looking for in that part of Orkney. We wanted to see Skapa Flow, the Italian Chapel, and we discovered a fascinating private museum with fossil collection. The staff were helpful and welcoming and the room comfortable.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mr Stephen Bruce

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Fantastic place to stay on Orkney

Fantastic hotel - great location, warm & friendly service, beautiful rooms tastefully decorated & great attention to detail, excellent food & ambience. Highly recommended
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

kathleen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff is excellent. Fantastic location. Clean, quiet, I have no complaints
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

8/10 Good

Malcolm

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Close to Ferry

Clean Hotel with friendly staff near to Portland ferries.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Elise

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Loved it. Need a car to explore but that’s obvious
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A beautifully restored building with rooms tastefully decorated and having views over the water. A warm welcome and great food served. Only sorry that I was there for one night.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Simon

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

A hidden gem

For someone who stays in hotels a lot The Sands was a wonderful experience. All the tiny things that you’d wish for in other hotels are just done perfectly here! I can’t recommend this hotel highly enough. The restaurant is great, breakfast is cooked to order so absolutely no food waste and the evening meals are delicious.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Roger

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The Sands Hotel is a lovely small hotel in a tranquil island within the Orkneys. There is absolutely no noise in any of the rooms, they are equipped with WiFi and everything you need. The restaurant serves excellent-quality food with locally sourced ingredients. The staff are first rate, every single one of them. They helped us out with everything we needed. Very prompt and professional service. Best Hotel in the Orkneys, bar none!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Andrew

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Excellent hotel in Burray

Stayed at the Sands with my wife for one night. All the staff in the hotel we came into contact were very friendly and helpful. Our room was tastefully decorated and very comfortable.We enjoyed a beautiful evening meal in the restaurant and the cooked breakfast provided in the morning was one of the best I have had in any hotel.Our only complaint is we could only stay one night.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Loyd, Scottsdale

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property is somewhat remote and located in an industrial area with a boat repair adjacent. However, the hotel has a good restaurant and bar so we didn't feel the need to leave the property.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

A gem in Orkney's crown

This was an excellent hotel in a lovely location overlooking Watersound. We booked an apartment and were delighted with the spaciousness and facilities. It was spotless and looked like it had been recently refurbished. The staff couldn't have been more friendly and the food at breakfast and dinner was super, with a good choice of vegetarian and vegan dishes. We would highly recommend this hotel and will definitely stay there again.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Donna

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Above expections

We had alwasy said we wished to stay at the Sands whenever we have visited the Orkneys before. We booked Watersounds which was a family suite and was not disappointed. The suite, facilities, friendliness, food well....everything was so much more than we hoped for and some. Excellent place to tour the islandsas a base or just to relax and enjoy the scenery and pace of life.
View from suite window, beautiful
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Dont overlook this Hotel

A lovely hotel over looking Burray Harbour. The staff are so friendly and welcoming, rooms are very clean and comfortable, food is honest well cooked fair. The homemade Mac n Cheese was a delight. If youre leaving before breakfast theyll make up a lunch sandwich for you. Salmon and Scrambled egg and full cooked breakfast both superb. Lots of Tea and Toast too. The bar stocks well kept beer and a few Whiskys. You pass the Highland Park Distillery on the way to Burray. If you are looking for a quiet hotel with genuinely friendly people who provide superb service, book The Sands.
View from bedroom window.
View from bedroom window at sunset.
Hearty and tasty breakfast.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023