Where the Orkney Brewery is, and why the schoolhouse matters

The brewery stands at Quoyloo on Orkney's West Mainland, in an old schoolhouse built in 1878. The brewery was founded in 1988 as one of Scotland's first micro-breweries; the managing director, Norman Sinclair, is from Quoyloo himself, acquired it in 2006 and rebuilt it around a new 30-barrel brew plant in 2010, turning the school part into the visitor centre and tasting hall. That history shapes the visit: you are walking into a Victorian schoolroom with copper kettles next door, not a purpose-built industrial estate taproom.

The setting is rural and low-key, which is exactly why it works as part of a west-side day. It is not a place you stumble on from the Kirkwall waterfront; you need a car or a booked excursion. Pair it with Skara Brae and the Ring of Brodgar rather than trying to walk between them.

Getting there from Kirkwall or Stromness

From Kirkwall, take the A965 west towards Stromness and turn off for Quoyloo and Skara Brae on the B9055; from Stromness the run is shorter, on the same west-side road network. There is no train on Orkney, so driving or a tour bus is the realistic option. Work out your route on a map before setting off, because signposting on minor roads is sparse and single-track sections need care.

The brewery is about two miles from Skara Brae, the Neolithic village, which makes the two an obvious pair. Allow a half-day on the west side rather than trying to squeeze Quoyloo, Skara Brae and the standing stones into a morning. See current details on the brewery's own site for access and parking before you leave.

Inside the visitor centre and tasting hall

The visitor centre is described by the brewery as a five-star accessible facility, with a tasting hall in the old schoolroom and a brew-house alongside. Tours explain the school's history and the family connection, then walk you through the brewing process: raw materials, hop varieties, malt roasts, mashing and boiling in copper kettles, and the fermentation room where beers rest at different stages. Expect a working-brewery atmosphere rather than a polished museum.

The tour finishes with samples, which is the part most visitors come for. If you are driving, decide in advance who is on soft drinks; the samples are generous and Orkney's roads are not the place for guesswork. Wheelchair users should ring ahead, since the accessible claim comes from the brewery's own description and specific access queries are best confirmed directly.

Brewery tours: season, frequency and booking

Tours ran every 45 minutes from April until October according to the brewery's account, which makes the season the key planning fact. Outside those months, do not assume a tour is running: check the brewery's website or ring to confirm what is open before you drive out. The shop and café side may operate on different terms from the tours.

For bookings and enquiries the brewery lists phone (01856) 841 777 and email enquiries@orkneybrewery.co.uk. Ring ahead for groups, for accessibility questions and for anything time-sensitive, such as a ferry to catch later in the day. Ask about tour prices when you book; the brewery publishes what it charges and you should not rely on second-hand figures.

The beers to look for, grouped by what they drink like

Dark and malty first: Dark Island is the flagship, a chocolatey Scotch ale that pairs with stews, chocolate pudding and strong cheese. Dark Island Reserve takes that further, brewed to 10% ABV and stored in selected whisky casks for three months, and it won best strong dark ale at the World Beer Awards in 2011. Dragonhead is the winter dark, released alongside one or two new beers a year.

For something strong and slow, Skull Splitter is an 8.5% ABV barley wine and was Scottish CAMRA winter beer champion in 2015. If you want crisp and hoppy instead, Corncrake Ale and Orkney Gold are the managing director's own favourites, and Red MacGregor won a SIBA gold. Corncrake carries an RSPB logo on the bottle, with a donation per bottle sold, which makes it an easy local gift.

Northern Lights, Raven Ale and Puffin Ale fill out the range, with Raven and Dark Island both having taken CAMRA Scottish beer champion honours. Bear in mind Skull Splitter's strength when you are choosing a bottle to carry home or drink before driving. Orkney's other drinks stop is on the other side of the island: compare it with Highland Park distillery on Holm Road if you are building a full day of Orkney producers.

Eating at the visitor centre

The café serves home-cooked fare built on Orcadian produce, and the home bakes are the thing to leave room for, particularly the Dragonhead Cake. This is a lunch or coffee-and-cake stop rather than a full evening restaurant, so plan it as a break in the middle of a west-side drive. Kitchen times are worth checking before you set out, as they can vary with the season.

If you want a proper sit-down meal back in town, The Shore in Kirkwall is the known address for a relaxed lunch or dinner after the drive. Keep the two separate in your plans: eat at the brewery for the setting and the bakes, then book The Shore for the evening.

The shop and what travels well

The shop stocks bottles and branded beer to take home, and the range includes the main ales plus stronger singles like Skull Splitter and Dark Island Reserve. Buy the strong bottles last if you are continuing the day in a warm car. Check the shop's opening days with the brewery before making a special trip, particularly outside the April-to-October tour season.

For food to carry home, pair the beer run with The Brig Larder in Kirkwall, which is the practical place for deli supplies and Orkney produce. Buy the bottles at Quoyloo and the cheese and oatcakes in town, then pack them flat in a suitcase. Check airline hold allowances before you buy more than a couple of bottles.

How long to allow, and when to ring ahead

Budget around two hours for the tour, tasting and a café stop, then add driving time from Kirkwall or Stromness. If you are coming from a ferry, leave slack: the west-side roads are slow and single-track in places. Ring ahead for tours, groups and accessibility questions using the brewery's contact details, and treat the website as the place to confirm current hours.

One honest trade-off: outside the April-to-October window, the tour may not be running at all, and the drive from Kirkwall is long enough that a wasted trip stings. Check before you go, and have a fallback such as Skara Brae or Stromness. A distillery visit at Scapa distillery on Scapa Noust is a sensible alternative if the brewery is closed to visitors on your date.

Is the drive to Quoyloo worth it?

Yes, if you are already doing the west side for Skara Brae and the standing stones, and if you go between April and October when tours are running. It is a poor fit for a quick Kirkwall stroll, and a poor bet out of season without a phone call first. Check the brewery's site for hours and prices, then build the day around the drive rather than the other way round.