Papa Westray, Holland House

Holland House is a country residence featuring distinctive crow-stepped gables, rendered flagstone walls, and a main structure spanning two stories with a single-story extension on its south side. The property also contains farm buildings, including a circular stone engine house with a restored conical roof, and sits within an enclosed garden laid out in the 1800s.

Thomas Traill began construction of the main residence in the mid-1600s after acquiring Papa Westray lands in 1637. The property expanded over the following centuries with additional farm buildings as agricultural use of the estate increased.

The property houses a Bothy Museum displaying farm tools and household items that reflect daily rural life on the Orkney Islands. Visitors can see how people worked and lived in this remote island community through the objects on display.

The site sits near the intersection of two roads on Papa Westray and is accessible by foot once you reach the island, though traveling to this remote location requires careful planning with ferry schedules in mind. The quiet surroundings allow visitors to explore the buildings and grounds without crowds.

The property features a circular horse engine house with a restored conical flagstone roof, a rare structure showing how island residents powered machinery before steam engines arrived. This building type nearly disappeared but has been preserved here as a reminder of rural engineering innovation.

Location: Orkney Islands

Location: Papa Westray

GPS coordinates: 59.34690,-2.89988

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:00