The Mill O'Cara's interior is at once engaging, luxurious and homely. Laid out on five different levels, it has been decorated and furnished to an extremely high standard. Modern improvements such as underfloor heating, a fully fitted kitchen and a panoramic skylight on the mezzanine floor are the perfect complement to beautiful plastered walls and wood finishings.
The Mill has one double and one twin bedroom and a second concealed bedroom (in concealed attic space). The spacious lounge area is furnished with a leather suite, a traditional Orkney chair and a solid fuel stove. A television, DVD and stereo is located in a concealed unit. If you'd prefer a more tranquil experience, sit back with the window open and listen to the millburn as it trickles past the window to meet the waves at the edge of the shore. The kitchen is situated on a balcony overlooking the lounge area, and is fully equipped, including a dishwasher.
The mezzanine floor above offers spectacular views over the bay to the picturesque village of Burray to the north and the Hoy hills to the west. A utility room provides full laundry facilities, and the bathroom incorporates a power shower with a beautiful stone base.
Outside, the Mill lies immediately by the rocky shoreline, and the outline of the former delivery jetty can still be seen beside the burn. To the east of the Mill is parking for two cars on a sealed driveway, with a traditional stone wall running down from the road, flanking the courtyard to the millburn and bridge at the lower side.
The mill is a five-minute drive from the village of St Margaret's Hope, which offers a grocery shop, a newsagent and a bakery, alongside three local pubs and award-winning restaurant The Creel. Also on offer is a wide range of sporting facilities, including tennis court, bowling and a nine-hole golf course. The Churchill Barriers join South Ronaldsay to the mainland of Orkney. The capital town of Kirkwall is only a fifteen-minute drive away and features the beautiful 875-year old St Magnus Cathedral, along with excellent shopping, eating and leisure facilities.
Built in the 1800s on the peaceful shores of Scapa Flow, the Mill O'Cara provided the Burray and Grimness end of South Ronaldsay with a working mill. The mill stopped working at the end of the war, as the construction of the Churchill Barriers had enabled people to travel to other mills. The Mill stood derelict for many years. Now fully renovated, it offers a unique holiday experience as a superb self-catering accommodation in Orkney.