Hire the Centre FAQs

When is the Centre available to hire?

The Centre is available when Kristin Linklater has no scheduled workshops. See CHECK AVAILABILITY for dates.

How do I make a booking or enquiry?

Please use the HIRE THE CENTRE ENQUIRIES button, fill in the application form giving a brief outline of your use for the Centre, anticipated numbers and the dates you are interested in and a member of the KLVC team will be back in touch to discuss your enquiry.

How much does it cost to hire the Centre?

Please use the HIRE THE CENTRE ENQUIRIES button, fill in the application form giving a brief outline of your use for the Centre, anticipated numbers and the dates you are interested in and a member of the KLVC team will be back in touch with the costs involved. 

How many people can the Centre accommodate?

The Bothy has 12 single occupancy rooms, sharing four toilet/shower rooms and one additional room which can be a twin or a double with en-suite. 

Is there wheelchair access?

The entire Centre is on ground level.  Concrete paths provide access outside with independant ramps available where necessary. The studio and living area has a wheelchair accesssible toilet/shower room and the accommodation has a wheelchair room with ensuite.

What food is provided on arrival day?

KLVC shall provide a two-course Welcome dinner on arrival day, served at 6.30pm.

What food is served on departure day?

Breakfast is available as normal and a home cooked lunch will be provided and available to the group (except for early departures).

What food is provided and within the workshop fee?

Mealtimes are communal. Lunch and dinner are cooked by our own chef. 

Breakfast – Bread, cereal, local eggs, milk, cheeses, cold meats and yogurt

Lunch – Home-made soup, bannocks, cheeses, cold meats

Dinner –Main course and dessert,

Herbal and black teas, juices and coffee (decaf options) are available at all times. 

A fruit bowl is available all day. 

We cater for dietary considerations including the following: gluten free, vegetarian, vegan and lactose intolerant. We regret to say that we are unable to accommodate more complex dietary requirements.

If further information is required we are happy to discuss, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.        

Is there any assistance required at meal times?

KLVC operates a communal living approach and we encourage participants to assist with the mealtimes.  A fully catered facility can be provided if necessary and this can be discussed once you have made your initial enquiry. 

How will we know how the Centre operates?

The KLVC team can provide an orientation at the Welcome Dinner if required or our Centre Manager will go through procedures with the participants as they arrive.

What if there is a change to my flight, who do I contact?

If you experience any changes to your travel (delay or cancellation) on the arrival day, please phone the KLVC Mobile – +44 (0)7425284679. Let us know your new arrival time and we will adjust your pick-up. Use a payphone if you don’t have a UK mobile/cell phone. Please do not email on arrival day.

What is my destination airport?

Kirkwall airport (KOI), Orkney.

Where do I start looking for flights from my country?

www.skyscanner.net is a useful search engine but there are many other search options as well. We recommend booking on one ticket and with British Airways whereever possible to protect you in case of flight delays.

Which airports will I connect through?

Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness all provide connecting flights to Kirkwall (KOI), Orkney and these are all well-connected to the major international airports.

Which airline should we use?

Loganair.co.uk and FlyBe.com fly to Kirkwall (KOI) from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness.

Important if travelling by air - To ensure being looked after in the event of flight delays or cancellations we advise you to make your flight reservations on one ticket and wherever possible through British Airways. Loganair.co.uk have a code share agreement with British Airways. This means they use the same flight numbers and protects you in case of flight delays.

If using an online travel company, you should use the larger more recognised firms: Expedia, Travelcity etc. Note your booking reference number (14 digits) and carry it as you travel. Having your reference number to hand will assist with tracing your booking if there’s a problem.

Can I come by ferry?

NorthLink Ferries operate two ferry routes into Orkney, we recommend the Scrabster (Thurso) to Stromness which is a 90-minute crossing by MV Jamnavoe. This is a foot passenger and car ferry. We will arrange for you to be picked up from Stromness Ferry Terminal and taken to the Centre. The Aberdeen to Kirkwall is not recommended.

Pentland Ferries is a 1-hour foor passenger and car ferry that operates between Gills Bay (4 miles west of John o’Groats) and St. Margaret’s Hope, South Ronaldsay, Orkney. There is a connecting bus to Kirkwall during the Summer months only. We cannot pick you up from St Margaret's Hope.

John O’Groats Ferries is a 40-minute passenger ferry with connecting bus travel to/from Kirkwall that operates 7 Days a week from 1 June to 31 August between John o’ Groats and Burwick, South Ronaldsay and you can book , including connecting bus travel to/from Kirkwall from 1 June to 31 August. We will arrange for you to be picked up from Kirkwall and taken to the Centre.

How do I get to the North of Scotland?

Inverness is the travel hub to the North of Scotland.  Having arrived in Inverness trains and buses will connect you to Thurso, Wick, Gills Bay or John o'Groat for your ferry. The nearest train stations to the ferries are Wick and Thurso, connected by Stagecoach bus, which has limited connections. Bus services run between Inverness to meet most sailings (see links Stagecoach and Citylink), and by Stagecoach. (CityLink have an explorer pass that can save you up to 20% on NorthLink ferries to Orkney). To check which bus route you need to connect to your desired ferry connection, first check the map below to get the number, then refer to that route number on the Timetable pdf.

Bus route map

busroute map

Timetables

Due to restricted bus timetables to Scrabster Pier, you are advised to pre-book a local taxi to take you from Thurso Train Station to Scrabster Ferry terminal (1 ½ miles). Try Harbour Taxis 01847 892868 or Ormlie Taxis 01847 893434.

Are there Car Hire/Letting companies in Orkney?

Yes, you can make enquiries and bookings direct with the following local companies:

What should I do once I have booked my travel?

Once you have your travel arrangements in place please forward your arrival and departure, dates and times to the administrator of your group.   

Once we have arrived in Orkney how do we get to the Centre?

We shall co-ordinate participant pick-up and transfers to the Centre from a comprehensive list of arrivals the administrator of your group has provided. The co-ordinator of YOUR group will be responsible to collate a list of arrival times and forward to KLVC’s administration team. 

What happens on our day of departure?

We shall co-ordinate your groups drop-off on the departure day.  The co-ordinator of YOUR group will be responsible to collate a list of departure times and forward to KLVC’s administration team.  

Am I required to place a deposit?

Once you secure your dates, a deposit is required.  

What happens if I must cancel my booking?

Please refer to our Hire the Centre - terms of business  for cancellation fees.

Can KLVC assist with advertising my event?

We cannot undertake any promotion or advertising of your workshop.  However we will post it on our website page - Hire the Centre - Coming up...' with a link to your own promotional material.

Can KLVC assist with the administration of my event at the Centre?

You shall deal with all the administration for your group: collating names and numbers, invoicing, gathering travel details, dietary requirements and emergency contact details and forward to KLVC within three weeks of your arrival date. We do offer a booking form HERE for your use to ensure you gather all the relevant information required for each participant.

What equipment does the studio have?

Equipment available to those hiring the Centre are: piano, chairs, tables, camcorder with tripod and a mobile speaker system suitable for jack connections. Conference facilities are available on request and may incur an additional cost. 

Is there Wi-Fi at the Centre?

You will have access to Wi-Fi in your rooms, within the Bothy area only. Please be aware that the broadband connection in Orkney may not be at the level of speed and reliability to which you are accustomed! We advise that you plan and choose to be as ‘unplugged’ as possible while you are here. There is no Wi-Fi available in the Studio/Living area.

Is there a good mobile (cell) phone signal?

The mobile (cell) reception is also limited in Orkney and at the Centre. There is intermittent coverage and you may need to take a short walk to find a stronger signal.

What is the weather like and what clothes should I pack?

Orkney's weather may be a little cooler than you are used to at home so please remember to pack woollens, have plenty of base layers and a waterproof jacket. Also some comfortable walking shoes, hat and scarf will equip you for getting out and about for walks and sight-seeing.