We took the 10am passenger ferry to Hoy with Jane Ellis. We walked across to Rackwick and then on to the Old Man of Hoy. The weather was good, although threatening rain; and we were able to have a picnic by the 'Old Man'. The first part of the track to Rackwick crosses a moor between two big hills. It passes a loch and there is heather as well as a few trees. Rackwick is a small hamlet with a little museum in an old croft house as well as a hostel. The second part of the track goes up the cliff above Rackwick Bay and then along the top to the N.W. corner of the island where the 'Old Man' is sited - it is a 450 foot stack standing in the sea beside the high cliffs. There are large numbers of sea birds about and some wild flowers (dark and light pink orchids and tiny blue gentians(?) as well as campians. We manage to walk back in time for the 5pm ferry and think we must have done about 15 miles. We had a meal in the Hamnavoe restaurant, collected our bags and took the10 pm ferry to Aberdeen.

Click on a photo to see an enlargement

View from Hoy ferry	Hoy croft
Moors on Hoy	Rackwick Bay
Pink orchid	Cliffs by Old Man
Old Man of Hoy	Old Man of Hoy

Total miles in Orkney 67. Total for trip = 392+67 = 459 miles

Back to the index