Following the quiet road to its end, Grunkeys is a large wooden house about 30m down the track. With epic views to the west, north and east over sea, you can see most of the northern islands of Orkney from here. Grunkeys is in a very peaceful location about 8 miles from Kirkwall.
Grunkeys is home to me and my 12 year old daughter when she is with me. We have 2 farm cats and a hamster, and look forward to meeting people from everywhere and anywhere.
You are able to use our kitchen facilities (cooker, gas hob, fridge-freezer, microwave, kettle, toaster, all crockery/cutlery/glasses/mugs/pots/pans/utensils and sink) as you need to - I would just ask that when my daughter is staying you give us priority over the kitchen facilities so she is able to get to school / after school activities on time.
Our kitchen/breakfast bar/dining area/living area is large and open-plan, with lots of windows to the west. Of course you are welcome to use all of this. Our "Snug" (sitting room) has a multi fuel burner for the colder months but in the summer it is usually more than warm enough with no heating. Large windows give amazing panoramic views to the southwest/west/northwest. There is a TV and DVD/bluray player in here which you can use.
The downstairs double bedroom has a bathroom adjacent (note: not ensuite) with a walk-in shower, spa bath, toilet, sink and mirror with shaving plug. You will have priority for this bathroom over other guests and us.
Upstairs, both single bed rooms are quiet and have use of the shared upstairs bathroom (shared with my daughter - again please let her have priority during the school week for getting ready).
Outside, Grunkeys has a large garden with big front lawn and sizable back lawn, a vegetable garden, a small young tree plantation, a child's climbing frame, outside washing line and a large area of decking at the front of the house with an outside eating table. There is an electric car charging facility, please discuss with me if you wish to use it to find out the costs. There is a lot of room for parking.
We are near the point of Rerwick Head, which means the sea surrounds us on 3 sides and is no more than 5-10 minutes walk. There is a secluded sandy beach, rocky shore and then a more cliffy coastline to the east. Rerwick Head has the remains of a World War 1 & 2 defensive battery, with several buildings remaining. There is an established path around the point, very easy to walk although wellies or walking boots are recommended in winter months.
There is an immensity of wildlife around us including hen harriers, owls, kestrels, lapwing, oystercatcher, curlew, arctic tern, common gull, kittiwake (a small number have been noted to nest along the cliffs to the east), gannet, heron, snipe, various waders, otters (rare to see but there in plentitude, orcas (rare to see), hare, rabbit, Orkney vole, shrews, hedgehogs.
In the summer months, it is quietly breathtaking to sit with a beer or a glass of wine and watch the sun set, late in the day, while listening to waves lapping on the shore and the call of the nesting birds all around. Equally inspiring, if you can get up early enough, is the dawn of a summer day. On particularly warm days, take your swimming costume to the shore and enjoy a dip in the crystal clear water and feel flatfish flitter around your feet.
In winter, a dark and clear night reveals more stars than you thought possible, and the glow of the aurora borealis (northern lights, or "mirrie dancers" in local dialect) - a regular sight - will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, especially when they shimmer different colours across the whole northern hemisphere.
When I work (2 weeks out of every 5) if you are staying it will almost feel as if the house is your own as I am away for most of the time. If you stay when I am not working, it is equally no problem and I will be happy to suggest interesting places to visit, share my tips on when to go to certain places or where to park, who to speak to and how to make arrangements to get to other islands. Having been brought up on one of the outer north isles of Orkney, and lived in Orkney most of my life, I feel I have good reliable knowledge to share with you!
