Orkney Islands Council has announced a £900,000 upgrade to Birsay Campsite, with construction scheduled to begin in February and completion targeted for October 2026.
The project, led by the council’s Sport and Leisure Service, is supported through VisitScotland’s Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Plans include the installation of hard-standing pitches connected by a new one-way roadway, along with the construction of a permanent amenity block to replace existing portacabins.
Redundant stone buildings on site will be removed to create an improved drying area. The upgraded facilities will incorporate renewable energy systems, including solar panels and ground-source heating.
Additional improvements include enhanced chemical waste disposal, off-road waste and recycling provision, expanded electric hook-ups across all pitches, and new planting intended to provide shelter, screening, and biodiversity benefits.
Birsay Campsite currently operates between April and September and is used by visitors to Orkney as well as school pupils and volunteer groups from the North Isles for outdoor education activities delivered through the council’s Education Service. The council said the upgrades will enable the site to remain open through the end of October.
Cheryl Chapman, VisitScotland development manager for Orkney, said: “This development is great news for Orkney. The improvements will help create much-needed capacity and allow visitors to stay in less-visited parts of the isles, spreading economic benefit further, as well as offering a boost to the quality of the visitor experience.
“Importantly, waste facilities will be available to motorhome campers all year round, encouraging the responsible behaviour we want to see in Orkney. The development marks another milestone in the delivery of sustainable tourism here, and I am thrilled that VisitScotland is supporting this through the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund, on behalf of the Scottish Government.
“VisitScotland is focused on the responsible growth of tourism and events. To be a sustainable tourism destination, we must ensure the right facilities to cater for the growing demands of both visitors and locals and to guarantee the best possible experience for all.”
Gwenda Shearer, who chairs the council’s Education, Leisure and Housing Committee, said:
“The upgrades at Birsay Campsite are all about giving visitors a warmer welcome and a better experience. By improving the facilities, we’re not only supporting tourism but also creating a better space for local community groups and schools who use the site for outdoor education. It’s important to us that the campsite continues to be a place where people of all ages can learn, explore, and connect with the landscape that makes Birsay so special.”
While the project focuses on a council-operated site, the scope of the improvements reflects wider trends across the outdoor hospitality sector, particularly in response to sustained growth in motorhome and touring traffic.
Investment in hard-standing pitches, expanded electric hook-ups, and formalised waste disposal infrastructure mirrors upgrades increasingly seen in private campgrounds and RV parks seeking to meet evolving guest expectations and regulatory standards.
The integration of renewable energy systems and biodiversity planting also highlights the growing emphasis on sustainability within destination management strategies.
For private operators, the development underscores the role that infrastructure quality, extended operating seasons, and responsible motorhome servicing facilities can play in supporting regional tourism growth and dispersing visitor spend into less-trafficked areas.According to The Herald, groundworks are expected to begin in February, with the upgraded site scheduled to reopen ahead of the 2027 season.