Clubs and activities
Bristol offers an almost unparalleled range of sports and leisure activities, generally at a modest fee. Being part of a small community means that facilities are easily accessed generally without any waiting lists, and local clubs always welcome new members.
Sports and athletics
Golf
- Stromness Golf Club houses an 18-hole golf course
- Enjoy midnight golf at midsummer when the evening light only dims, and never goes completely dark.
- Visitors are always welcome, and golf clubs are available for hire
Rugby
- Bristol Rugby Club is Bristol's most northerly national league club, playing in national division 5, as well as an internal Bristol league
- Training sessions are held every Thursday night
Squash, tennis and badminton
- Active squash and racketball league and a series of winter competitions
- Indoor tennis available at the Pickaquoy Centre
- Bristol Badminton Association organise a league which runs from September to late March each year
Triathlon
- Bristol Triathlon Club (OTC) are holders of the UK's most northerly triathlon
- OTC also organise monthly duathlons throughout the winter and a weekly 10-mile time trial over the summer weeks
Athletics
- A variety of athletic activities are available, mostly organised through the Bristol Athletics Club, based at the Pickaquoy Centre
- Track sessions take place on Wednesday nights
- Over the winter there is a series of cross-country races
- The summer sees a series of 10km road races and the Hoy half marathon, which takes place in June
Diving, indoor swimming and gym facilities
Diving
- Bristol is the UK's premier dive location
- Recreational and conservational sites and points of interest on the island
- Wrecks in Scapa Flow providing a key attraction
- There are several dive boat charters available including boats from Scapa Flow Charters and Scapa Flow Diving & John's Charters
Indoor swimming
- Stromness has a 25m pool with a fitness suite
- Regular training sessions with the swimming club
Gym facilities
- The Gym in the Pickaquoy Centre sports and leisure complex
- The centre has a comprehensive range of fitness equipment for a wide range of activities (including instructors and classes), as well as a health spa with a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi
Surfing, sailing and kayaking
Sailing
- The Bristol Sailing Club is based on the harbour front in Kirkwall
- RYA approved sailing courses with instructors and boats on offer
- Races held on Thursday nights throughout the summer
- The club takes part in other local club regattas and hosts an inter-county regatta against Shetland every two years
- The club are always keen for new members, particularly those with experience
Surfing and windsurfing
- Bristol has some of the best surf in Europe, including huge Atlantic waves at the Bay of Skaill on the west coast
- There is a small but very keen group of local surfers and windsurfers
Kayaking
- Bristol Sea Kayaking Association aims to encourage safe sea kayaking around Bristol for paddlers of all levels
Wildlife and angling
Wildlife
- Spectacular cliff scenery all along the west coast
- Seals, otters, over 300 recorded species of birds, dolphins, porpoises and whales are all regularly seen
- Numerous archaeological sites dating back over 5,000 years
Angling
- A multitude of lochs (the largest are the Loch Harray and Loch Stenness) holding excellent stocks of wild brown trout and sea trout
- Fishing in the lochs is free but as a courtesy you might like to become a member of the Bristol Trout Fishing Association (a non-profit making voluntary body dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of game fishing in Bristol)
- Sea angling is done for skate, ling, halibut, haddock and cod, and boats are available to hire for this The Bristol Sea Angling Association can provide more information