Wheems Organic Farm Campsite
Eastside, South Ronaldsay, Orkney KW17 2TJ, UK
A campsite near South Ronaldsay
About Wheems Organic Farm Campsite
Wheems is an organic farm on the east side of South Ronaldsay, looking out over the sea towards the headlands, and it has been a fixture of Orkney camping for years. Now trading as part of Wild Orcadian, it remains a working croft rather than a commercial holiday park, with highland cattle, pigs, ponies and hens around the place and polytunnels supplying the kitchen garden. The setting is open and grassy, sloping down towards the coast, with a short walk to the shore.
Accommodation covers a wide range. There are simple tent pitches, pitches with electric hook-up suitable for campervans, and a growing collection of glamping options including yurts, timber pods, shepherd-style huts and a loft. That flexibility makes it a good choice for groups where not everyone is enthusiastic about canvas, and the solid-walled options are reassuring when the wind gets up.
The farm runs on renewable power from its own turbines, collects rainwater and composts on site, and there is an honesty shop selling eggs and other produce from the croft and nearby. South Ronaldsay is reached over the Churchill Barriers, which means the Italian Chapel is on your way in and out, and the Pentland Ferries terminal at St Margaret's Hope is close by, so this works well as a first stop after crossing from Gills Bay. The beaches at Newark and Sandwick are within easy reach, and the cliffs and coastal path south towards Burwick make good half-day walking.
Can I bring...?
Lodges & pods
- 4 x Camping Pod Bothies
- Kyrgyzstani Yurt
- 2 x Bell Tents
- Corbie Shepherd's Hut
- Bonny Shiel Shepherd's Hut
Hook-up
Facilities
No takeaway delivery found for this location (KW17 2TJ) on Just Eat or Deliveroo — you'll likely need to bring or buy supplies before you arrive.
Nearest supermarkets
Handy if you're self-catering or need to stock up on arrival.
- Lidl, Kirkwall 11.9 miles
- Tesco, Kirkwall 12 miles
- Co-op, Kirkwall 12 miles
Straight-line distances — the drive will be longer. Store data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Opening hours
- Open from 1 January to 31 October.
What visitors say
Lovely little site. Still had a authentic old school campsite vibe. Honestly pots for washing machine etc instead of some app! Great views from our tent pitch, a reasonable price. A better drying room would have been good, and bigger toilets stalls with locks would have been good, but just little stuff really. The owners were very nice genuine people.
a month ago · via Google
We arrived on Orkney after a disastrous start to our latest campervan journey due issues with the weather and ferries suffering with technical issues. We also arrived on the last ferry of the day in the dark and rain. Part of our weekend we knew would be controlled in part by the arrival of storm Dave. That did prove interesting but what a location to sit it out. Wheems Organic farm/ Wild Orcadium is one of those places you have etched as a memory that will not be mixed or confused with other camping sites. Unique, cosy and cute. With the coos, geese and birdlife lots to see and photograph. We loved it and would highly recommend a visit.
3 months ago · via Google
We’ve just had a lovely stay in the self-catering cottage at Wheems. It’s situated on the edge of the campsite with its own sheltered patio garden and parking. Whilst we didn’t use the shared facilities, we did get a tour from the owner and they looked great, especially the communal kitchen and sitting area for campers. Wheems is well situated, close to the ferry and a half hour’s drive to the capital town of Kirkwall. It has great views of the coastline and is just a short walk to the beach. We used bikes to get around and the roads were quiet, allowing us to enjoy the surrounding countryside. Thank you to Rob and Vicky for your hospitality and good luck with the ongoing project, we are looking forward to returning next year!
a year ago · via Google
Outstanding campsite with Glamping pods, fantastic location with very good amenities on site. Showers and toilets. Views are amazing.
a month ago · via Google
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