Hoy Orkney Islands

Northern Hoy Tourist Guide Old Man of Hoy Orkney

Most of the northern part of Hoy is uninhabited. Hoy is the only village here opposite Stromness. Otherwise the island is largely unpopulated and covered in open moorland where mountain hares, great skuas, merlins, kestrels and peregrine falcons are the main inhabitants. The sandstone cliffs along the coast are spectacular and include the world famous landmark - The Old Man of Hoy. The sea cliffs are home to thousands of nesting birds including guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes.

Berriedale Wood is the most northerly semi-natural woodland in Britain in the northern part of Hoy. Pollen analysis has shown that much of Orkney would once have been much more wooded than it is now.

If you're arriving by ferry from Stromness walking is really the only option. A minibus meets the ferry and goes to Rackwick; otherwise there is a well marked footpath past Sandy Loch and along the valley. The sandy beach at Rackwich is stunning with a mountainous backdrop. The western side of the valley has Britain's most northerly native woodland made up of birch and hazel. The northern part of the island is actually a RSPB Reserve where you might be lucky enough to see red throated divers and bonxies - great skuas.

On the western side of Hoy the village of Rackwick, an old crofting and fishing village. There's a small museum in a farm building near the hostel. A lot of people pass through here on their way to The Old Man of Hoy either for walking or climbing.

Lyness World War II Village

The flatter southern part of Hoy is where most of the settlement is. Lyness is the main town is something of a museum in itself. It was used by the Royal Navy during both World Wars and several of the concrete buildings are left around the harbour and hills. There's a large naval cemetery at Lyness where victims of the Royal Oak disaster are buried along with others who lost their lives in the Battle of Jutland and when HMS Hampshire was sunk by a mine just off Birsay.

The Lyness Naval Base and Interpretation Centre is housed in the old pump house at Lyness naval base and tells the eventful history of the base.

There are all sorts of reminders on the island of the role it played during the World Wars as well as earlier defensive structures including two 19th century Martello Towers at Hackness and Longhope Battery in thw south east of the island, open for visitors.

Orkney Ferries Inter-Island Ferry from Stromness to Hoy

A small passenger-only ferry, run by Orkney Ferries, connects Hoy to Stromness. The trip takes you to the north end of Hoy to Moness and takes around 25 minutes. It also stops at Graemsay on the way, a small island between Mainland and Hoy.

Check Orkney Ferries website for timetables and prices. All enquires for the Graemsay/Hoy ferry must be made through Stevie Mowat on tel: 01856 850 624.

Orkney Ferries, Shore Street, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1LG. Tel: 01856 872044. Fax: 01856 872921. Email: info@orkneyferries.co.uk