📌 Isle of Hoy, Orkney
★★★★
Probably Orkney’s most famous natural landmark and visible from the Scottish mainland, the Old Man of Hoy sea stack is 137 metres high, and took three days to climb on its first ascent in 1966. Getting there by the route described below involves climbing the formidably steep Cuilags – one of Orkney’s higher hills – en route to the UK’s highest vertical sea cliff, St John’s Head. As well as the danger of falling off a cliff on this section, there’s an unexpected risk on the moorland part – overhead attacks by arctic skua (local name: bonxies) defending their nests during breeding season. The return route is much easier, suing clear paths through Rackwick Glen back to the ferry terminal at Moaness. If on a day trip from Orkney Mainland, consult sailing times in advance to avoid being stranded!
📷 Chronological photo guide
Ward Hill, Hoy’s highest summit, from near the ferry terminal 
Start of the ascent to Cuilags 
Sandy Loch 
Ward Hill & Sandy Loch from Cuilags 
Looking towards Rackwick 
View back to the ferry terminal 
Mainland Orkney & Stromness 
Cuilags summit 
Lounders Fea 
Summit area 
Mountain hare 
Black-throated divers 
Blowhole at St John’s Head 
Early view of the Old Man of Hoy 
Cliffs north of the Old Man of Hoy 
Old Man of Hoy 
Looking back towards St John’s Head 
Path to Rackwick 
Ward Hill from the path to Rackwick 
Rack Wick 
Sandy Loch from the return 
Rockpooling at the finish 
Rockpooling at the finish
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Moaness ferry terminal, Isle of Hoy
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: HY 246040
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 58.916276,-3.312951
🚌 Ferry to Moaness | 🚢 Infrequent buses from elsewhere on Hoy
🚗 Limited parking at ferry terminal, but unless travelling elsewhere on Hoy you should leave the car in Stromness on Orkney Mainland – the local ferry is for foot passengers only
📝 Key info
▶ 20 km / 12 mi | ▲ 680 m | ⌛ 6.5-7.5 hr
Features: 💧 Sandy Loch; △ Cuilags (435 m, sub-2000′ Marilyn), △ Sui Fea (378 m); 🌊 St John’s Head; 🌊 Old Man of Hoy
⬤ Tough | Minor road to Sandy Loch, then steep, pathless ascent of Cuilags. Slightly wet, pathless moorland to St John’s Head, before joining boggy coastal path which soon improves. Good paths from Old Man of Hoy to finish.
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise lollipop circuit: start – Sandy Loch – Cuilags – Sui Fea – St John’s Head – Old Man of Hoy – Rackwick – Sandy Loch – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Mountain hares and arctic skuas and divers on upland moorland; fulmars on the coastal section. Good rockpooling near the ferry terminal, with a seal playing in the shallows.
Weather: Dry, but mainly overcast with some brighter spells. Cool for July.
July 2015
