We had the most wonderful stay at this welcoming hotel. When I say that the Sands Hotel is quite traditional, I mean it in the most complimentary way. It feels like a home from home. Set on the working pier, you see the fishing boats leave in the morning and return in the evening - and if you’re lucky you overhear the fishermen in the hotel bar at the end of the day :-) We had a triple room with a sea view and I’m so glad I booked this - the room had Velux windows with gorgeous views that were lovely to open in the early morning and late evening to enjoy the sun rise and sunset. Breakfast is pre-ordered the night before and we had consistently some of the best hotel breakfasts we’ve ever had. We tried the full breakfast (the choice to include everything you could imagine - including haggis!) as well as one day having Greek yogurt with strawberry coulis (perhaps the most delicious yogurt I’ve ever tasted) with croissants. The staff are incredibly friendly and professional, running a great establishment - we couldn’t fault them. The hotel itself was spotlessly clean. Perhaps the real star of the show is the hotel restaurant, where the food was exceptional. We ate there on our last night and enjoyed Chicken Balmoral (chicken stuffed with a delicate haggis, served in a cream sauce) and baked Scottish Salmon (perfectly cooked). Both were served with new potatoes and vegetables. For dessert we had one of the best sticky toffee puddings we’ve ever had and an Orkney cheesecake. I cannot recommend this hotel highly enough. It’s simple, yes, but in all the best ways.
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