The hills of Hoy look across the choppy waters of Scapa Flow.
These hills are not high as Scottish hills -Ward Hill,the highest, only reaches 1,570ft,

but there is areal wilderness feel here on Hoy that is in keeping with the rest of
Orkney's prehistoric past.

The wildlife is superb,we were dive- bombed by great skuas as we walked to the old man

We went to Rackwick, on the west coast of Hoy, and one of the most beautiful spots in the Orkneys.
the Hoy Trust have renovated the bothy at Burnmouth, and put in toilets and drinking water,

close to the pebble and sand beach below Rackwick's guardian cliffs,
curiously named The Sneuk and The Too,

the island of Hoy in the Orkney Islands.is where you will find the Old Man of Hoy,
at 450 ft/137m the largest sea stack in the British Isles

**Directions To Get Here**

From Mainland Orkney the main link is the car ferry which can carry up to 125 passengers and 18 cars.
and runs from Houton in Orphir, some miles south east of Stromness, to Lyness on Hoy
Get An Early Ferry If Possible To Give Yourself Plenty Of Time To Explore the island

**THE 2 WALKS**

Dont Get Lost   PRINT-VERSION-HERE    Take A Copy With You

Bring your car or bicycle on the Ferry that way you will be able to visit places of interest
and do the Walks all in one day

At the lyness pier is the Lyness War Museum,although we personally dont condone war
a visit here really bring home the grim realities of war,

the museum is on the shores of Scapa Flow
you can see and touch bits of German & British Warships that sank here

Drive on from this sad place,follow the signs for Rackwick you will come to a lay by and a sign for
the Dwarfie Stane

The 5,000-year-old monument known as the Dwarfie Stane lies in a steep sided valley between
Quoys and Rackwick

A huge block of hollowed-out red sandstone measuring about 8.5 metres (28 feet) long,
the Dwarfie Stane is thought to be Britain’s only example of a rock-cut tomb.

we crawled inside and lay down that was one creepy experience
especially knowing that a neolithic corpse had lain here for thousands of years

Drive on enjoy the super scenery,lookout for a grave with a white headstone next to the road
 This is the grave of Betty Corrigall, whose suicide prevented her from being buried in the graveyard.

we beleive this young lady got herself pregnant and was hounded out of the village almost drowned
and beaten eventually taking her own life by hanging to escape the disgrace and wrougth of
the Churchand Family (1770's)

You will eventually come to RACKWICK a small scattered hamlet perched on a hill there are toilets
at the car park from here the walk splits into 2,take food & drink with you,it's not a long difficult walk

its just a special experience to sit on or near the edge of shear 450 foot (137m) high cliffs to have a picnic

The walk is signposted from the car park climb up the hill stopping to look back to the beach of Rackwick Bay
that is the 2nd walk,continue along the cliff tops with spectacular views

when you arrive at the Old Man you will stand and gaze in amazment at this 450 ft high
column of rock coming out of the sea if you are lucky as we were you may see climbers on it

allow 2 hours there and back with time for a picnic
dont forget your camera,

depending on the time of year you may be dive bombed by one of our more agressive
feathered friends the Great Skua we were they didnt actually touch us but scarey
if you are not expacting it

Back at the car park continue out to Rackwick Bay beach there is a Bothy here you can stay for free
REMEMBER ALWAYS LEAVE IT CLEANER THAN IT WAS WHEN YOU ARRIVED
there is also space for 6 tents in the compound

The beginning of the beach is pebbles changing to white sand at the far end,this used
to be a thriving fishing community,but no harbour,in rough weather the womenfolk had to wade
out into the sea to pull the boats in

**For Disabled Or Less Adgile Ramblers**

The War Museum,The Dwarfie Stane & Betty Corrigalls Grave & Rackwick are all accessable
The walk to the Old Man is over steep rough ground and may not be accessable to all,
access to the beach is reasonably flat,

you wont want to leave here,
but dont forget the time for the last ferry

We have walked the Length and Breadth of the UK over the last 40+years
if we are ever asked what our Favourite Walk is without hesitation we always say
Rackwick Bay - the Old Man of Hoy