The Pickaquoy Caravan and Camping Site

gray@madcaravanner.co.uk

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SITES TO VISIT MY PICTURES

These are some sites my friends and I have visited over the years and either like or dislike

These are not adverts for sites you cannot book them via this website

You can, however, use the links provided or telephone the sites direct

You may not like these caravan sites as everyone's personal preferences are not the same. So please check them out yourself and don’t just take our word for it for them

Have you got a site that you think everyone should know about please E-mail me

Gray@madcaravanner.co.uk

fishing

The Pickaquoy Caravan and Camping Site

The Pickaquoy Centre
Muddisdale Road
Kirkwall
Orkney
KW15 1RR

Tel: 01856 879 900
Fax: 01856 879 901

Email: enquiries@pickaquoy.co.uk
Web site: www.pickaquoy.com/

Situated on the outskirts of Kirkwall all the facilities of the town are within walking distance. Orkney has its obvious attractions and you are centrally located for all the tourist sites on the mainland.

The site is a mix of small hard standings and grass pitches and the electric points are bullet proof! The guy who wired this site could make a fortune wiring caravan sites. The toilet block contains a laundry and lounge for you tenters to "lounge". The whole lot is kept superbly clean by Joan who is a mine of local information.

There are sheltered spots to get out of the wind and plenty of room for all. The centre is superb and the facilities are very reasonably priced and the staff excellent, always willing to help.

Not really qualifying as a fishing site but all the fishing is very close and great.

Worth the short ferry crossing.

Dave Benison. CLIC. July 2003

Details:
Site run by the Pickaquoy Centre for the Orkney Islands Council. No resident warden resulting in motor van owners and cyclist and motor cyclist campers using the facilities without actually being on the site.
Bookings are made through the Pickaquoy Centre and you must register there before parking up.

In some areas of the site the caravans are much too close together particularly if using awnings, in other areas vehicles can become bogged down if wet (which it frequently is).

There is a Somerfield's and a Co-op within walking distance and the centre of Kirkwall is also within walking distance.
Kirkwall is a central point for touring the Orkney mainland where there are numerous sites of interest… Ring of Brogar, Stones of Stenness, Maes Howe, Skara Brae, various RSPB sites and an easy to follow craft trail to name but a few.

Orkney is very windy so an awning strap is advisable along with extra guys.

Not the worst site I have seen but a long way from being the best.

Irena Krasinska-Lobban. CLIC. July 2005

Update on Pickaquoy Caravan Site. September 2005

Whilst Orkney is still a wonderful place to visit, for the tourer this site could now be a potential disaster.
Whilst new "temporary" Porta-cabin toilets and showers have been installed they are left unclean every weekend from the Friday morning to the Monday morning. In fact the site is virtually on its own during the weekend. There is a duty officer at the centre but they seem to avoid anything to do with the site except taking money during centre opening hours. This means that "casual" campers can have a weekend pitch for free as long as the are off before the staff arrive on Monday morning. Of course they do not stick to guidelines on distances and often pitch between already pitched units.
Lack of maintenance now means the site is boggy when wet and soon cuts up. The warden tries his best but is more General Handyman than actual caravan site warden, which includes being a handyman of course!

This potential Jewel in the Crown of touring sites is a disappointment from what it used to be. I have been assured that things are changing but from my dealings with the site and council there is no change on the horizon. I would recommend the Stromness site as an alternative which although exposed to the elements and with limited toilet facilities does seem to have a warden who cares about and for the site. Stay clear of the Pickaquoy site at the weekend. It is OK during the week!