Boloquoy Victorian Farm and Watermill

• Sleeps: 6
• Bedrooms: 3
• Bathroom: 1
• Minimum stay: 3 nights

Boloquoy has stood on the remote Orkney island of Sanday for three centuries: a working farm that remains home to heritage livestock, assorted crops and vegetables, and an old watermill that thrives with wildlife.

In April 2023, friends and owners Jackie and Dave planned to turn the vacated farmhouse into a simple holiday cottage. Yet as they began their renovations, they discovered an emotionally captivating wealth of family possessions and heritage artefacts, each one telling a spellbinding tale from the past.

Jackie and Dave felt compelled to preserve as much as they possibly could; working tirelessly and carefully to restore the house as it once was. Their guests now have a unique opportunity to embark on a deeply immersive – and potentially transformative – experience of life lived in the 18th century, when the Fea family made Boloquoy their home.

You’ll be warmly welcomed with a Victorian style afternoon tea, before exploring your time-capsule-like surroundings, getting to know the Fea family a little better through their photographs, archives, and authentic possessions.

As you explore, you’ll also uncover treasure after treasure. Walls are papered with pages from classic books and Victorian ladies’ fashion magazines, as well as beautifully-restored period wallpaper samples. The furniture, meanwhile, has been rebuilt or made using salvaged materials and traditional methods: including an Orkney fireside chair, and a ‘rag rug’ ingeniously crafted from old clothing.

Up to six adults can be accommodated here, in three historic double beds: one in the ground-floor Parlour, within the alcove of a traditional Orkney box bed. If you’d like to sleep in such a bed, you’ll have the option to do just that in Annie’s Room upstairs, or choose the master bedroom to snooze in an 18th century oak four-poster bed.

Subtle, well-thought-out modern amenities will add comfort and convenience to your stay, including a modern shower room, and a luxurious 21st century spa bathroom with a ready supply of fluffy towels, bathrobes, and slippers. There’s a fully-equipped 1950’s kitchen and dairy, too (styled for when they were originally added to the house), and soft period lighting for a cosy evening glow.

At a glance

• A unique and carefully-preserved Victorian farmstead with a historic watermill, offering guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in remote Orkney island life as it was once lived.
• Travel to Sanday by plane or ferry from Kirkwall, on the Orkney mainland.
• The retreat sleeps up to six adults in three double bedrooms, with an opportunity to sleep in a traditional Orkney box bed.
• Check in and out at your convenience – you’ll also be welcomed with a traditional Victorian afternoon tea.
• Modern kitchen and bathroom facilities include a 21st century spa bathroom and a well-equipped 1950’s-style kitchen.
• Optional experiences include wildlife-guiding, farm tours, historical baking and crafts, storytelling, and learning heritage crafts.
• Sanday is rich in archaeological history, wildlife, and beaches to visit.

Features

• Adults Only
• Dog Friendly
• Seaside Breaks

More information

There’s no TV or digital entertainment, of course, but plenty of opportunity to play parlour games, reconnect, and laugh all together… as well as myriad options to travel even further into Orkney island life. Learn heritage crafts, traditional music or historic baking techniques, or perhaps arrange a hands-on experience out on the farm – where you may catch sight of an otter, curlews, or even kestrels soaring overhead.

The island of Sanday itself – so named because of its sandy beaches – is awash with intriguing history, diverse wildlife, wide open fields, and the most beautiful seascapes, as well as a small and friendly community of residents.

However you choose to spend your time here, Jackie and Dave will be happy to personalise your stay so you leave feeling inspired and invigorated, with a lingering sense of appreciation for the simple, natural, and sustainable island lives once lived.

Things to note

As this is a unique and exclusive experience, each booking is fully personalised and tailored to guests’ needs. Please note that Boloquoy is not suitable for young children (under 14 years). Low occupancy rates apply to 1 and 2 guests.