Stromness Swimming Pool & Fitness Centre

05/01/2026

Facilities will remain closed tomorrow.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Hi folks - Kirsty from the Council here at just before 2:00pm on 5 January with a quick - and I'm sure much anticipated - update for you on the schools, nurseries, Orkney College UHI Orkney and Papdale Halls of Residence

Due to ongoing weather and road conditions the decision has been taken to keep all nurseries and schools in Orkney closed tomorrow to staff and pupils. This decision includes the closure of UHI Orkney to staff and students.

A decision on whether we can reopen on Wednesday will be taken by 3:00pm tomorrow (Tuesday) and further updates provided then.

Sports and Leisure facilities - including swimming pools, healthy living centres, pitches, the Stromness and Kirkwall community centres and the St Magnus Centre Café - will also be closed. St Magnus Cathedral is open

The earliest that Papdale Halls of Residence will open - due to the weather and staffing shortages - is Thursday. We will keep families updated on the situation.

04/01/2026

🏊 NEW JANUARY - APRIL TIMETABLE 🏊
5th January - 3rd April 2026
Please note Learn to Swim Lessons recommence on Saturday 10th January and Thursday 15th January.

We are continuing trialling the extended gym & health suite hours until 20:30 each evening Monday - Friday throughout the darker winter months.

From 6th January - 3rd March ONLY, we will have the gym open to Activelife members on a Tuesday 9-12:30, but there will NOT have access to the changing facilities during school swimming hours.

During midterm break 12th February - 17th February inclusive, additional Fun/Inflatable sessions will be added and advertised nearer to the time.

04/01/2026

CUSTOMER ANNOUNCEMENT

The facilities will remain closed tomorrow Monday 5th January.

A decision will be made by Monday afternoon about opening of facilities on Tuesday.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Afternoon all - Kirsty from the Council here with your lunchtime headlines on the weather conditions at just after 12:30pm on Sunday 4 January.

👉Orkney has now been upgraded to an Amber weather warning from 18:00 tonight to 10:00 tomorrow morning - significant snow fall is expected, as well as drifting of the snow already here. The Orkney Local Emergency Coordination Group (OLECG) will meet this afternoon to assess the situation, and a further update will be released after that.

👉 Due to ongoing weather and road conditions - and with an Amber weather warning in place from this evening into tomorrow morning - the decision has been taken to close all nurseries and schools in Orkney tomorrow to staff and pupils. This decision includes the closure of UHI Orkney to staff and students. A decision on whether nurseries, schools and UHI Orkney will reopen on Tuesday will be taken by 3:00pm on Monday and further updates provided then. Sports and Leisure facilities - including swimming pools, healthy living centres, pitches, the Stomness and Kirkwall community centres and the St Magnus Centre Café - will also be closed.

👉Papdale Halls of Residence is closed today and tomorrow - a decision on Tuesday will be taken tomorrow

👉The advice from Police Scotland is to only travel if absolutely necessary. Road conditions are extremely challenging and we’re continuing to have issues with abandoned vehicles. If you’ve had to abandon your vehicle and it is blocking the road please call 101.

👉Recycling and waste collections are unlikely to go ahead tomorrow - we’ll provide a definite update on this soon. Hatston and Garson civic amenity sites are closed today

👉Kirkwall Airport is closed and there is some disruption across the ferry services too. Please check in with your operator before travelling and also try and keep abreast of road conditions further sooth if you can.

Thank you to everyone who is hard at work dealing with the situation on the roads and in looking after vulnerable folk.

Thank you too for all the kind comments - and for those being a bit more negative on our page and elsewhere, maybe take a minute to consider the impact you’re having on folk who’ve been out working very long hours in some very tough circumstances - be kind.

03/01/2026

CUSTOMER ANNOUNCEMENT

Due to the continuing poor weather conditions for the safety of both customers and staff, we will be closed tomorrow Sunday 4th January.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Further updates will be posted should the facilities continue to be closed into Monday.

29/12/2025

Due to technical issue in the plant room the swimming pool will be closed this morning and tonight.

The gym and health suite remain open as normal.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Update the pool will remain closed tonight, apologies to the children looking forward to the inflatable session.

27/12/2025

Festive Inflatable Session

Monday 29th December 6pm - 7:15pm

Deependers on Inflatable and non/weak swimmers in shallow end.

Collect a Christmas pencil or snap band on your way out

20/12/2025

Festive Inflatable Session

Monday 22nd December 6pm - 7:15pm

Deependers on Inflatable and non/weak swimmers in shallow end.

Collect a Christmas pencil or snap band on your way out

16/12/2025

🎅 🎄 NEW FESTIVE SEASON TIMETABLE 🎄 🎅

Lots of fun sessions to get the kids out the house!

05/12/2025

The Health Suite at Stromness Swimming Pool & Fitness Centre is now fully open from 5pm today following the replacement of wood within the sauna.

23/11/2025

CUSTOMER ANNOUNCEMENT

Please note the Sauna, Steam room & shower area will be closed from Monday 1st December - Friday 5th December inclusive while we have the carpenters in to replace the wood in the sauna.

The spa will remain open as normal.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused

17/11/2025

⚠️FINAL CALL FOR SIGN-UPS! ⚠️

⚠️ If we do not manage to meet the minimum numbers required to this course by tomorrow (Tuesday) at 1pm, the course will unfortunately have to be cancelled. So if you or your club is able to attend please sign up with the details below! ⚠️

Scottish Disability Sports are visiting Orkney on Monday the 24th of November and are delivering a 2-hour UK Disability Inclusion Training. Which is a practical course with an E learning module before attending.
Scottish Disability Sport, in conjunction with Home Country Disability Organisations, has developed a UK Disability Inclusion Training (UKDIT) course aimed at those interested in becoming involved in sport for people with a disability. This workshop includes a mixture of theory and practical delivery to enable volunteers, coaches, teachers and significant others to positively include people with a disability in physical activity and sport.
Any Queries please email- leisure.culture@orkney.gov.uk
The course info and sign-up information are below-

10/11/2025

The pool will be closed this Sunday 16th November for a private booking.

The Gym and Health suite will be open as normal.

Apologies for any disappointment caused.