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Rackwick Bay To The Old Man Of Hoy,Orkney

**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 WALK**

Bring your car or bicycle on the Ferry that way you will be able to visit places of interest
and do the 2 Walks all in one day

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

the museum is on the shores of Scapa Flow which has been designated a national war grave
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 Church and 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 walk out to Rackwick Bay beach there is a Bothy
here you can stay for free

REMEMBER 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 with no harbour,in rough weather the womenfolk had to wade out into
the cold sea to help pull the boats in

Disabled & 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 TO THE OLD MAN