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Gyms in Orkney

The Pickaquoy Centre in Kirkwall, a 25 m pool in Stromness and pools and fitness suites on the isles. Here's where to train in Orkney and who to train with.

Gyms and venues
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Showing 1–24 of 48 gyms

Towns in Orkney

Kirkwall, Stromness and the rest of the islands.

Training in Orkney

One big leisure centre, pools on the isles and a lot of coastline.

Orkney is about 70 islands, 20 of them inhabited, and 22,000 people at the 2022 census, up from 21,349 in 2011. A quarter of residents (24.9%) are 65 or over, against 20.1% across Scotland. Kirkwall and Stromness, on the Mainland, are the two towns, and the other islands are linked to them by ferry, plane and the Churchill Barriers.

The main place to train is the Pickaquoy Centre in Kirkwall, with two pools, a gym, a strength and conditioning gym, a climbing wall and bouldering cave, squash and an athletics track. Orkney Islands Council runs five swimming pools, at Stromness and on Hoy, Westray, Sanday and Stronsay, plus fitness suites and healthy living centres at community schools, including the KGS Sports Centre gym in Kirkwall, which is open to the public in the evenings and at weekends. Beyond those there are very few commercial gyms, and many of the venues on this page are sailing, golf and football clubs.

On a small island, the right training partner is worth a lot: someone to swim with at Stromness, a belay partner at Pickaquoy, someone to walk the St Magnus Way with. Gymist is how you find them.

Where to train in Orkney

The Pickaquoy Centre and the council's pools and fitness suites first, then the isles and studios.

Kirkwall: the Pickaquoy Centre and KGS

Stromness and the West Mainland (Orkney Islands Council)

Pools and fitness suites on the isles (Orkney Islands Council)

  • North Walls Healthy Living Centre and Swimming PoolHoy · Pool and fitness suite
  • Westray Healthy Living Centre and Swimming PoolWestray · Pool and fitness suite
  • Sanday Swimming PoolSanday · Pool
  • Stronsay Swimming PoolStronsay · Pool and healthy living centre
  • St Margaret's Hope Healthy Living CentreSouth Ronaldsay · Fitness suite
  • Rousay and Shapinsay Healthy Living CentresRousay and Shapinsay · Fitness suites

Studios

Find a training buddy in Orkney

A lane partner at Stromness pool, a belay partner on the Pickaquoy climbing wall, someone to lift with at the KGS gym: find people nearby who train when you do.

Find a buddy

Start an Orkney training group

A weekend walking group on the St Magnus Way, an early swim group at Pickaquoy, a bouldering night in Kirkwall: set it up in minutes and we'll help people nearby find it.

Start a group

Train outdoors

Free places to train in Orkney.

  • The St Magnus Waya 58-mile walking route through Mainland Orkney in six sections, finishing in Kirkwall.
  • The Old Man of Hoya 137 m sandstone sea stack near Rackwick Bay, first climbed in 1966 and climbed up to fifty times a year.
  • The Churchill Barrierswartime causeways that carry the road from the Mainland to Burray and South Ronaldsay, good for a long run or ride.
  • A right of responsible accessthe Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 lets you walk, run, cycle, paddle and swim on most land and inland water.

Getting around

Ferries, flights and buses to Orkney's gyms and pools.

Ferry

  • NorthLink: Aberdeen to Kirkwall, Scrabster to Stromness, and Kirkwall to Lerwick
  • Pentland Ferries: Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope
  • Orkney Ferries, owned by the council, to every inhabited island

Air

  • Loganair from Kirkwall Airport to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Sumburgh
  • inter-island flights, including Westray to Papa Westray, the shortest scheduled air service in the world

Bus

  • Stagecoach on the Mainland and across the Churchill Barriers to Burray and South Ronaldsay
  • free bus travel for everyone in Scotland aged 5 to 21 with a National Entitlement Card

Who trains here

What Scotland's Census 2022 says about the people you'll meet in the pool, at the rack and on the coast path.

  • 22,000People at the 2022 censusUp from 21,349 in 2011, spread across 20 inhabited islands.Scotland's Census 2022, rounded population estimates
  • 24.9%Aged 65 and overAgainst 20.1% across Scotland, so training partners here come in every age group.Scotland's Census 2022, rounded population estimates
  • 22.2People per km²Against 69.8 across Scotland. People train close to home, so a buddy at the same pool matters.Scotland's Census 2022, rounded population estimates

Orkney gym questions

What people ask before they train here.

How many gyms are there in Orkney?

Gymist lists 48 leisure centres, pools, fitness suites, studios and sports venues across Orkney. Only a few are dedicated gyms: most training happens at the Pickaquoy Centre, the council's pools and the fitness suites at community schools, and many of the other venues are sailing, golf and football clubs.

Which leisure centres and pools are in Orkney?

The Pickaquoy Centre in Kirkwall is Orkney's main leisure centre, with two pools, a gym and a strength and conditioning gym. Orkney Islands Council runs five swimming pools: Stromness (25 m, with a sauna, steam room and fitness room), North Walls on Hoy, Westray, Sanday and Stronsay. It also runs fitness suites at the KGS Sports Centre in Kirkwall, Dounby, Rousay, Shapinsay and St Margaret's Hope.

Is there a climbing wall in Orkney?

Yes. The Pickaquoy Centre has a climbing wall and a bouldering cave, and the KGS Sports Centre's gymnasium hall has a climbing wall. Outdoors, the Old Man of Hoy is a 137 m sea stack first climbed in 1966, with up to fifty ascents a year.

Where can I train outdoors for free in Orkney?

The St Magnus Way is a 58-mile walking route through Mainland Orkney in six sections, from Egilsay and Evie to Kirkwall. Scotland's right of responsible access covers most land and inland water, so coastal walks and runs are open to everyone.

How do I get to Orkney and around the islands?

NorthLink Ferries sail from Aberdeen to Kirkwall and from Scrabster to Stromness, and Pentland Ferries from Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope. Orkney Ferries, owned by the council, connect every inhabited island to the Mainland. Loganair flies from Kirkwall Airport to the Scottish mainland and between the islands. Stagecoach runs buses on the Mainland and across the Churchill Barriers, and bus travel is free for everyone in Scotland aged 5 to 21.

How do I find a gym buddy in Orkney?

Join Gymist free, add your gym or pool and when you train, and browse members across Orkney. If there isn't a group for your kind of training yet, start one.

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