Be a little cautious about what you expect from The Creel. We expected a first-class seafood restaurant ( Rick Stein, Good Food Guide), with rooms attached. All reviews mention fantastic fresh ingredients, with the chef buying whatever looks best from the boats that morning. That is not what we got. Starters were very good, but all of our main courses were very disappointing. Surprisingly, it was not the quality of the cooking that let them down, but the quality of the ingredients. Our scallops may well have been hand dived, but they had not been hand dived very recently. In fact, I suspect they may even have been frozen. Texture and colour were both wrong. The fish stew of halibut, ling and lobster sounded wonderful but, again, the ingredients did not seem particularly fresh. Our worst fears were confirmed when the dinner menu was identical on the second evening of our stay.
We did not try desserts but we did overhear another diner saying "the desserts are exactly the same as they were when I worked here 20 years ago."
Wine list is ok but very narrow. Only one chardonnay in a seafood restaurant was surprising.
Bizarrely, the chef seems to focus his attention on breakfast, which could not be faulted. Warm fruit compote with yoghurt, warm smoked salmon, and delicious home baked bread.
Our room was quite large and furnished adequately, although we both found the beds very uncomfortable.
Bed and breakfast is £110, which is acceptable because of the outstanding breakfast. Dinner is £32 for two courses, which would have been fine if ingredients had been fresher.
If you go expecting a pretty good bed and breakfast, with above average dinner, you will enjoy the experience.
St Margaret's Hope is a very pretty little village.
Bed and breakfast

Stayed here for one night and dinner at the end of August 2011 at the beginning of a long weekend in Orkney, and all subsequent accommodation and eateries we visited had a lot to live up to by comparison. The quality of ingredients for both dinner and breakfast were exceptional, and among some of the best I've had anywhere.

My kipper for breakfast was delicious, and the homemade muesli superb (who would have thought homemade muesli could be so different from shop bought - but it was!). My wife's fruit compote was also something very special for breakfast, as were the sausage and bacon.

Dinner was excellent (and the homemade bread and bannocks a great touch), and our accommodation in room 2 very comfortable, with great views across to the pier (and the lovely sunset was a nice bonus - although can't give the Creel full credit for that!).

General ambience was very nice, and we felt very free to come and go as we please, as well as use the well-placed communal areas. Fresh flowers were also lovely.

All in all, an outstanding establishment - the owners should be very proud of all their hardwork - well done!

Food out of this world, especially breakfast. Service friendly and general ambience relaxed and welcoming.

Food to dream about while enjoying a lovely view over the bay and being treated to friendly service.
We stayed for 3 nights and had a wonderful time. In addition to the best breakfast EVER we got great advice each morning for local walks.
The room at the top is good - plenty of space, warm and comfortalbe.
Well worth a special trip to Orkney