Accommodation Options
Saxa Vord’s size and layout mean that we can offer you a choice of warm, bright and comfortable accommodation: accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets.
You can choose between our Nordabrake Holiday Houses or our Sergeants' Mess Hostel & Study Centre. You can cater for yourself or you can enjoy the finest local produce in our Officers' Mess Restaurant or delicious bar meals and a wide range of drinks in our Sergeants' Mess Lounge Bar.
While the newly refurbished accommodation, restaurant and lounge bar will give you all the comfort that you desire, it is the people – and the warm and welcoming Saxa Vord style that they create – that makes a stay with us truly memorable.
You can choose between:
• 3 * Nordabrake Self Catering Holiday House
Saxa Vord’s 18 Nordabrake houses were purpose-built to the highest standards as home-from-homes for RAF families in 1989. Set in a circle round a central lawn with a children’s play area, each house sleeps 5 adults.
The houses are generally rented on a weekly basis, Saturday to Saturday, though 3-night rentals are also available.
Note: Our Nordabrake holiday houses may be rented for 1 or 2 nights until the hotel opens, lunches and evening meals can eaten in our restaurant, making the Serviced Houses. We do not serve breakfast.
• Our 3* 26-bedroom Sergeants' Mess Hostel
The hostel/study centre is warm and comfortable and has all the facilities that walkers and cyclists need. Parties of all shapes and sizes are welcome. We have double, twin and single rooms available - all of our rooms are individual - with access to shared bathroom and kitchen facilities. Towels are not included in the price however we offer a towel hire service. Our hostel accommodation is self-catering but guests have access to our restaurant which serves lunches and evening meals. We do not provide breakfast.
Nordabrake 3* Self Catering Holiday Houses
The Nordabrake self catering houses are ideal for parties of all shapes and sizes, from couples to families to larger parties wanting to rent several houses together: for people wanting to do their own thing while taking advantage of our facilities as and when it suits.
You can cater entirely for yourself/ves in a fully-fitted kitchen, or alternatively you can relax while enjoying delicious meals in our restaurant - breakfasts included.
Houses are generally let on a weekly basis. However, they may also be rented from as little as 1 night if your stay on Unst is shorter.
The houses sleep 5, though some have sofa beds in sitting rooms and can sleep 7.
Please click on Rates And Reservations for more information.
General
All residents have access to our restaurant which serves lunches and evening meals - we do not serve breakfast.
Nordabrake is situated on the north side of Saxa Vord and consists of 18 warm and comfortable houses set in a circle around a central lawn with children’s play area.
Each house has 1 double, 1 twin and 1 single bedroom, a good sized kitchen with ample work surfaces and storage, a conservatory for dining, a large sitting room and a small private garden. Some houses also have sofa beds in sitting rooms and cots can be provided on request.
Each of the 18 Nordabrake houses has been awarded 3 stars under VisitScotland's Quality Assurance Grading Scheme.
Facilities:
All houses are equipped with a wide range of useful appliances to make your stay as enjoyable and carefree as possible. And, of course, you can cater for yourselves or dine out in our restaurant.
Sitting Rooms:
Sitting rooms are large and equipped with TVs, DVD, CD players and board games.
Dining Rooms
Dining tables are in the conservatories - light and bright during the day, very atmospheric at night.
Kitchens:
Kitchens are well equipped with electric cookers, microwaves, fridge-freezers etc
Bedrooms:
1 double, 1 twin and 1 single. Bedrooms are bright and airy with ample storage space. Linen is provided and cots by arrangement.
Bathrooms:
All have baths, showers and electric shaver points. Towels are provided.
Heating:
All houses are heated throughout by electricity – included in the price.
Laundry Facilities:
Laundry facilities include washing machines, indoor clothes drying and ironing boards and irons.
Garages:
All houses have private garages.
No-Smoking:
Note that all houses are strictly non-smoking.
For Sale
Download a schedule for information on purchasing a Nordabrake house [.pdf 48.2Kb]
The Sergeants’ Mess Hostel
Saxa Vord’s Sergeants' Mess Hostel is much more than a hostel - indeed it is more akin to a university hall of residence in style.
Designed with lovers of the great outdoors in mind, it is warm and comfortable and has everything that you need to relax after a day’s exploration, including a bar selling delicious bar meals just down the corridor. See special full-board price on the Rates & Reservations page.
The main hostel is situated in the former Sergeants’ Mess and has large, bright rooms, with double, twin and single rooms available.
Large Parties
Parties of ornithologists, archaeologists, geologists and general travellers are very welcome and block bookings of one or both bunkhouses are encouraged, subject to availability. We also have a variety of meeting and lecture rooms which can be put at your disposal should you need them.
Facilities
Bedrooms:
There are 26 bedrooms, most having single beds and wash basins though some have twin or double beds. There is ample storage space and bed linen is provided, though not towels, which may be hired.
Bathrooms:
There are communal bathing and toilet facilities, with baths, showers and electric shaver points. Towels are not provided but may be hired.
Kitchen:
There is a kitchen with cooker, refrigerator and microwave. You are also very welcome to eat in our restaurant and, of course, to enjoy bar meals in the bar - see special full board price.
Laundry:
Service Washes are available.
Parking:
There is ample parking outside the Hostel.
No-Smoking:
Smoking is not permitted in the Hostel.