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The Island of Hoy is noted for its archaeology, botany, geology, history, ornithology, wildlife and an impressive Naval history from the Vikings to World War II. At 57 square miles, Hoy is the second largest of the Orkney archipelago of 70 islands and takes its name from the Old Norse "Haey" meaning high; the island is hilly in the north and west where Upper Old Red Sandstone has weathered into craggy uplands
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Ward Hill, 1570 feet [479m], is the highest hill in the Orkney Islands and together with the Cuilags can be seen for miles |
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Hoy's rugged sandstone
cliffs and coastline include the famous sea stack The Old Man of Hoy rising from
the Atlantic to 450 feet (137m) and St
John's Head the highest vertical cliff in the UK Alongside the Old Man standing
firm against the mighty Atlantic Ocean is Rackwick Bay, considered by many to be the most
beautiful place in Orkney |
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Overlooked by
the Dwarfie Hamars stands a large block of red sandstone known as the
Dwarfie Stane; thought to be the UK's only example of a rock-cut
chamber tomb of the Neolithic or Early Bronze Age |
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The RSPB's 9,700 acre North Hoy Nature Reserve is home to many birds including Raptors, colonies of Arctic and Great Skuas as well as the only mountain hares in Orkney
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Betty Corrigall's
grave is reputed to be the loneliest in the British Isles and yet one of the
most visited in Orkney |
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The Naval Cemetery at Lyness honours and remembers those who gave their lives during two World Wars. The Scapa Flow Visitor Centre & Naval Museum houses many artefacts from World War 1 & 11 |
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Longhope Lifeboat Station has a record for
daring rescues and has been awarded 16 RNLI medals for gallantry; a museum now
stands on the site of the original boathouse |
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A colony of seals have made their home in the bay at Longhope; Dolphins, Orcas, Porpoise & Whales have been sighted on several occasions in recent years |
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Sea
angling is a common pastime from the cliffs and Trout fishing is available
at a small loch nearby ~ licenses or permits are not required |
