If you visit for
a day you
will wish you
could stay
If you have
only one day to spend walking on Hoy and viewing its natural and
geological
highlights we would suggest that you plan to take the walk
through Rackwick Glen to Rackwick
itself. You are then ideally positioned
to strike northwards to view what is perhaps Hoy’s most recognized
landmark, The Old Man of Hoy. From there you may walk further
northwards
towards St.John's Head,the highest vertical
sea-cliff in the
UK. The final stage of your walk will
be directly
eastward to the Cuilags from which
you can not also enjoy an extensive vista of the entire Orkney Islands
but also Hoy
Sound and the historic natural harbour of Scapa
Flow too.
This
is the first of the walks described on this webpage
For those
fortunate enough to
be staying on Hoy for longer, any or all of these sights – and many
others
besides - can be enjoyed together or separately according to the time
at your
disposal.
Index
of Walks
|
Walk
Location
|
Page
|
|
|
|
|
Betty Corrigal’s Grave
|
9
|
|
Brims
|
19
|
|
Burn of Quoys
|
5
|
|
Cantick Head
|
18
|
|
Cuilags
|
4
|
|
Dwarfie Stane
|
5
|
|
Flotta
|
20
|
|
Graemsay
|
22
|
|
Hackness Martello Tower
|
18
|
|
Heldale Water
|
13
|
|
Lyness - Scapa Flow Centre
|
11
|
|
Lyness Naval Cemetery
|
11
|
|
Lyrawa Hill
|
9
|
|
Melsetter
|
13
|
|
Old Man of Hoy
|
3
|
|
Osmundwall
|
18
|
|
Rackwick
|
3
|
|
Scad Head
|
9
|
|
Snelsetter (Hills of White Hamars)
|
18
|
|
St. John’s Head
|
3
|
|
Tor Ness Lighthouse
|
13
|
|
Ward Hill (Around)
|
5
|
|
Ward Hill (Up)
|
7
|
|
Wee Fea (Lyness)
|
11
|
2
|
|
The Old Man
of Hoy (and St.John’s Head) via Rackwick
|
Rackwick Glen A rough
path through the hills to Rackwick. Length: 8¾ miles/14km (there and
back.
Old Man of Hoy A coastal
walk leading from Rackwick Glen to a
spectacular sea stack. Length: 6 miles/9.6km; Height Climbed:
550ft/165m.
3
Rackwick Glen and Old Man of Hoy combined: Length: 14¾
miles/23.6km
(there and back).
The
passenger
ferry from Stromness
lands at Moaness pier. (NB: Mini- buses and taxis are available to take
you
to/from Rackwick for the Rackwick Glen and Old Man of Hoy Walks.).
Follow
the
road from Moaness pier
uphill, ignoring all side turnings, until the road bends right below
steep-faced Ward Hill and Cuilags. (NB: If you have been driven this
far;
subtract 2¾ miles/ 4.4km from the walk lengths).
Keep
straight
ahead on a hard track
with a footpath sign for Rackwick. Cross the burn draining Sandy Loch
by
stepping across stone gabions downstream of the dam. Continue along the
sunken,
sandy path beside the loch, when a small
cairn is soon reached, marking a shallow col.
Beyond
the
cairn the rough path runs
downhill. mainly on one side or the other of the indented old track. Berriedale is the deeply- incised stream
valley across the glen. Its lower stretches contain a remnant of the
native
scrub woodland that once covered much of Orkney
Beyond a
bridge over Rackwick Burn,
join a tarmac road and turn right for Rackwick, an old crofting
settlement on a
dramatically beautiful bay. At a fork, branch left for the car park and
toilets
behind the beach or right for the Youth Hostel and Old Man of Hoy path
Onward to the Old Man of Hoy
If on
foot,
walk past the Youth
Hostel and follow a path signposted for the Old Man of Hoy. The first
building
on the left contains a folk history display. The path then weaves
uphill
between croft houses and forks right below a turf-roofed building — the
Crow’s
Nest Museum. If arriving by car, start from the car park near the beach
and
follow the hard track that is a continuation of the road then bend
right up a
green lane to meet the Old Man of Hoy path just below the Crow’s Nest
Museum.
The path passes a final cottage then goes through a kissing gate on to
the open
heather-covered hillside. It steadily climbs above the cliffs on the
west side
of Rackwick Bay. At the
crest there is
suddenly a view to the Old Man of Hoy. The path crosses stony ground,
keeping
its height above the lower ground to the left. then veers towards the
sea
stack. Take great care by the cliffs, especially on the natural
promontory that
juts out towards the Old Man — a great place for photographs if you
have a head
for heights. Return by the same route.
And, if you wish, on again to St.John’s Head
and the Cuilags
4
From the
cliffs
overlooking the Old Man there is a path going northeast.
Take this, keeping close to the cliffs and
climbing steeply as you approach St John’s Head. The route passes massive cliffs, amongst the
highest in Britain as you veer off to the east to gain the highest
point
of the
hill at 378m. The summit of
St.
John’s Head is
marked by a cairn
and an OS trig point, which is set about half a mile east from the
cliff edge.
From the
summit follow the
broad ridge to the southeast passing a pool and continuing along to a
col
between the broad corries of Back Saddles to the south and the rocky
cliffs
of Enegars to the north.
From the
col
turn to the
doutheast, climbing again to the wonderful corrie of Cuilages. The summit is again marked by a cairn, and is
at 453m.
The
easiest
route off the
Cuilags is down the long south ridge. It
is pathless for the most part but mainly heather and grass, so the
going is not
too difficult. As you descend you may
wish to bear off to the left slightly as there is a path running
through the
glen, which you should be able to see and that is easy to gain.
Once you
reach this path
you are, in fact on the old Post Road along
which
you began
your walk. Turn left, that is
northwards, to return to the car park or Moaness Pier.
|
|
Around Ward
Hill to Dwarfie Stane and tree reserve walk at the Burn of Quoys
|
The
passenger
ferry from
Stromness lands at Moaness pier. (NB: Mini- buses and taxis are
available to
take you to/from Rackwick for the Rackwick Glen and Old Man of Hoy
Walks.).
Follow
the
road from
Moaness pier uphill, ignoring all side turnings, until the road bends
right
below steep-faced Ward Hill and Cuilags. (NB: If you have been driven
this far;
subtract 2¾ miles/ 4.4km from the walk lengths).
5
Keep
straight
ahead on a
hard track with a footpath sign for Rackwick. Cross the burn draining
Sandy
Loch by stepping across stone gabions downstream of the dam. Continue
along the
sunken, sandy path beside the loch, when a small cairn is soon reached,
marking
a shallow col.
Beyond
the
cairn the rough
path runs downhill. mainly on one side or the other of the indented old
track. Berriedale is the deeply- incised
stream valley across the glen. Its lower stretches contain a remnant of
the
native scrub woodland that once covered much of Orkney
Beyond a
bridge over
Rackwick Burn, where the path joins a tarmac road, turn left to head
back
towards Moaness. Rich roadside
vegetation and evidence of extensive peat cutting are to be seen, as
well as
the deep glen cut into the side of Ward Hill (on your left). On the opposite side of the road from this
glen you will see another, called Trowie Glen and, to the east of it,
the other
(largely forgotten) stone of Hoy: the Partick Stane.
A little
further along the
road you will see the signs and car park for more famous Dwarfie Stane
(visible
to your right. There is a
footpath/boardwalk leading
all
the way to
this chambered tomb and signage which provides more information on the
stone.
6
After
this
brief diversion
continue on along the road (in a northerly direction) passing the White
Glen
tree plantation at Whaness. This was
once an experimental Forestry Commission plantation of conifer trees,
and
subsequently suffered quite badly from a moorland fire in 1984. It is now in the hands of the RSPB who are
replanting the area with native deciduous trees taken from stock which
has
grown naturally in the Berriedale area (which you passed earlier in
your walk).
To see
how
these trees
will progress you will need to walk just a little further to the
Woodland Trust
Burn of Quoy site.
Continue
on
up the Rackwick
Road until
you
meet the
crossroad. Turn sharp left up the B9047
towards the Outdoor Centre. A couple of
hundred metres up this road you will see a disused quarry to your left
and on
your right a kissing-gate: go through it into the reserve.
Here you will be able to see almost all of
Orkney’s native tree species: Downy Birch, Rowan, Hazel and various
Willows and
Roses (only the Aspen tree is
missing).
On the
other
(east) side
of the reserve are two exits a basic stile and a kissing gate. Exit through either of these and turn left
(on the B9049). Shortly you will see a
sign for the Post Office. You can either
follow this road down to the beach and from there back to Moaness Pier
or, if
you prefer continue north along the main road to the T-junction where
you
should turn to your right to get back to the pier.
|
|
Up Ward
Hill: to the highest point in Orkney
|
Length: 15.7km/9.8
miles
Duration: 5-6 hours
OS Explorer 462; or
OS
Landranger 6
or 7
Map and
compass skills required.
NOTE: The ferry from
Stromness
(Mainland) to Moaness (Hoy) is passenger only
A
superb hill
walk to the highest point of Hoy.
7
From the pier
at Moaness follow the lane out to a junction with the B9047. Ignore all
turns
to right and left and simply stay on the dead ahead, going just south
of west
towards the big glen between Ward Hill and Cuilags.
Follow this
lane as it climbs quite steeply uphill. Near the top of the hill, just
before
you reach Sandy Loch, the road turns sharply to the right. Ignore this
and take
the track going straight ahead.
The track
crosses a little stream on the right, iust beneath the dam of Sandy
Loch, then
turns left to run along the northwestern side of the loch itself.
Beyond the
Ioch the route climbs very slightly to a col, then begins to take you
down into
the Glens of Kinnaird overlooking Rackwick. As you go over the col you
will
notice an obvious heathery ridge coming down from the left, to the
right of a
broad corrie. Turn south off the path and aim for this ridge.
Once on the
ridge the climbing is steep, and the ridge itself curves around to the
southeast high above Red Glen. As you
gain height the gradient eases slightly, until you are on a broad ridge
to the
southwest of the summit of Ward Hill. Turn
first east along the ridge, then northeast, climbing
again now as
you make for the summit of Ward Hill. The
top has an OS trig pillar and it is at 479m. This
is the highest point in the whole of the
Northern Isles.
8
From the
summit head northwest down a steep ridge. As
you drop down, veer off to the left slightly, aiming
for Sandy
Loch. The going is easier this way, as
to continue down the ridge itself involves some loose rock. Once at Sandy Loch walk around it
anticlockwise to the dam at the northern end.
From this
point, pick up the track and then the road back to Moaness.
|
|
Lyrawa Hill, Scad Head and
Betty Corrigal’s Grave
A Circular Walk
|
Length:
4 km / 2½ miles
Duration:
1 - 1½ hours
OS Explorer 462; or
OS
Landranger 6
or 7
This ia
a
short but
vigorous walk from a hill viewpoint to a coastal defence battery,
returning via
the track of a cable-operated railway.
9
The
Lyrawa
Hill viewpoint,
halfway along the east coast of Hoy, is signed off the B9047 just north
of
Betty Corrigal’s grave. From the parking place, 400m up the track, you
can see
in an arc from Stromness to Flotta.
Walk
down to
the ruined
buildings on the left then continue diagonally downhill, staying above
the
steepest part of the hillside. Keep on to the old railway track, marked
by a
couple of posts, and follow it downhill. At the bottom, take a green
path that
swings right to the complex of WWII buildings on Scad Head.
The
southern
end of the Houton Boom
terminated at the bottom of the cliffs at Scad Head, and here a battery
of guns was installed to which would
provide
A.M.T.B (Motor Torpedo Boat) protection for the boom and Brings Deep’s.
Because
of
its position a light
railway operated by cables was laid down the cliff side, together with
a small
jetty to facilitate re-supply of the battery.
The gun
emplacement, director tower,
engione room and searchlight houses all survive. There
are also fragments of track and remains
of the winding gear from the
light-railway, and dumped on the foreshore are several railway trucks. Close by the old camp site one of the
12-pounder emplacements survives.
Return
to the
track and
follow it straight uphill, passing the rusted winch wheel. Go through a
gate at
the top and left along the road. Before taking the track to Lyrawa
Hill, go
150m further to leam the sad story of Betty Corrigal’s suicide.
10
|
|
Lyness Museum, Arctic
Convoy Memorial, Naval Cemetery and Wee Fea
A Circular Walk
|
Start /Finish
Park at Hoy Hotel
or Lyness Museum
Distance
5 km / 3 miles
Time
1
- 2 hours
Maps
OS
Explorer 462; OS Landranger 7
If
possible,
choose a calm, clear day
for this panorama of WWII structures from the viewpoint high above
Lyness.
The
vehicle
ferry to Hoy sails from
Houton on Mainland to Lyness. From Lyness pier head up the road to the
Scapa
Flow Visitors Centre (also known as the Lyness Museum.
Either,
before you start or, when you
have completed your walk, as top at the Centre should prove a
fascinating
interlude. Here you will be able to gain
a glimpse of what life was like on Hoy was like during the second World
War
when Scapa Flow became a major centre for naval operations in these
11
northern
waters both as a blockade to the German Grand Fleet and in
connection
with the Arctic Convoys to Russia, Admission is free.
You
can
also
indulge in a
“cuppa” tea or coffee and a snack at the caferia located within the
Centre.
Our
suggestion would be
that, from the Centre, you head north – following what is left of the
railway
track – in order to have a brief view of what remains of the naval
complex
here, including a trip into the air-raid shelter. The
road curves round until it meets the
island’s main north-south road.
A
few
steps
along this
road on the left hand side will be found the Naval Cemetery which
is the
final
resting place for nearly 600 dead from two world wars.
On
the
opposite side of
the cemetery from the main entrance is another gate.
Pass through this gate and along the access
path which brings you to a T-junction. By turning right the hard track
which
will leads up to Wea Fea the WW2 Naval Communication Centre and Signal
Station,
Climb
steeply
beside a
stunted pine plantation then turn left to the car park. There is a fine
view
over the South Isles, including Fara, Flotta and Switha. Walk back
above an old
military building then turn left, uphill, on a track. It bends left
past old
peat cuttings. Keep right at a fork and follow the track until it
levels out
and ends. Cut across the heather moorland to a line of concrete fence
posts and
follow them downhill to a little shed, avoiding a cave-like entrance to
a
bunker. Turn left below it on to a green track that contours back
around the
hillside to the picnic site.
If you
have
the time stop
here for a while to enjoy both a picnic at the tables located there
and,
especially, the view over Scapa
Flow.
|
Just prior to
reaching the Centre you will see on your left a memorial to the
merchant seamen who lost their lives during WW2 whilst
serving on the Arctic Convoys.
|
|
12
|
|
Heldale
Water, Tor Ness Lighthouse and Melsetter
A
Circular Walk
|
Start /Finish
Park slightly east
of the Heldale / B9047 T-junction
Distance
17.7 km / 11 miles
Time
6
– 7 hours
Maps
OS
Explorer 462; OS Landranger 7
Note
Map
and compass skills helpful
Start by
following the good track
northwestwards across the moor from the signposted access track to
Heldale
Water. The going is easy, and the gradient slight. Keep to the north
side of
the Bum of Heldale, and soon reach a building beside a junction. Ignore
the
track cutting up the hillside to the right, towards Binga Fea, but
instead go
straight ahead. dropping slightly to cross the burn‘
The
track
continues to the eastern
end ol Heldale Water. Your route takes you further westwards to the
coast, and
to get there you must walk alongside Heldale Water. I usually go along
the
south side of the loch, beneath the steep ground oi Skird Hill, but it
is
slightly easier, though longer, to walk along the north bank.
Either
way, you'll end up at the western end
of Heldale Water. Now cut across the open moor to the southwest, aiming
for the
rocky hills at Sweinn Geo. Cross a stream just before the cliff
tops, then turn southwards along the coast.
13
The
walking
here is marvelous, and
takes you into parts of the island little visited by other walkers: Continue beyond the Needle, a huge spike of
rock set in a narrow gulf at the base of the cliffs, then on southwards
towards
the bay at Ha Wick.
As you
approach Ha Wick the ground
drops away, and the cliffs on your right become much lower. You get a view of the lighthouse on Tor Ness
dead ahead, and a short walk will bring you up to its base,
The
headland
itself is a wonderful
spot, and just around it to the east big dunes have built up behind
Sheep
Skerry.
Walk:
eastwards across these dunes
and you'll pick up a track. Follow this northeastwards turning left at
the first
junction to take you to Melsetter.
Now
walk: out
along the driveway to
the farm, past Melsetter House*, to gain the B9047 overlooking a huge
beach on North Bay. Turn
left
along the road
and follow it around North Bay bad: to
your
car at
Heldale
*Note:
It is possible to tour Melsetter House.
However, this is only possible on Thursdays
and by prior appointment.
|
|
West
Coast Walk –
From
Rackwick to Melsetter
|
Start /Finish
This is NOT a circular walk.
Park at either Rackwick Bay or
Brims/Melsetter/Heldale and arrange a lift to
your chosen start or
/finish
point.
Distance
12 km / 7½ miles
Time
6 – 7 hours
Maps
OS Explorer 462; OS
Landranger 7
Note
Map
and compass skills essential.
14
The
really
energetic can try 0rkney’s
most spectacular walk, which goes south from Rackwick to Torness
(ND254884),
This walk takes in very magnificent cliff scenery:
with
very fine views across the Pemland Firth. It
will take a whole day due to the distance
involved (12km, 7½ miles)
and rough
terrain, With the many cliff views to admire. care must be taken to
leave
plenty of time.
This
picture of the Sneuk waterfall also demonstrates why
there is sometimes a need to detour
inland!
After
passing
"Willie
Young’s Cairn" below the summit of Mel Fea (324m). the route passes
several spectacular geos. including Lyrie Geo. where young men from
Rackwick
used to catch Manx Shearwaters, The Summer of Hoy Burn (ON Sunn-moerr), South March or Border) which, when full,
forms a spectacular waterfall next to the Sneuk (ON Snokr. Snout 165m).
Further
south
the Burn of Forse
(ND220948) has a large colony of Great Black- backed Gulls in summer. Little Rackwick is the first easily accessible
beach south of Rackwick This shingle storm beach is the final resting
place of
several wrecks and much flotsam. Fishermen
from Rackwick and Brims also used to pull up
their yoles (traditional
Orkney sailing dingies) here in fine weather
15
To the
south
there are a series of
geos. many with inaccessible storm beaches. caves and cliffs, before
Berry Head
(ND237909. 175m) is reached with us spectacular red cliffs. To the east
are the
Berry Lochs with Red-throated Divers in summer, while to the south
there are
several spectacular geos before the rough shores of Ha Wick with their
many
wrecks are reached The is a small sandy beach here..
There is
an
excellent sandy beach
below Melsetter (ON Moir Setr, Sand
Homestead) with sand dimes and a fine walk out to the point at Torness
(ND255885). where there is sometimes a large Arctic Tern colony in the
breeding
season The lighthouse here was installed in l937. Before the light was
installed this was a veritable graveyard for ships, especially trawlers
returning fiom lcelandic waters
In
attempting
to avoid the worst part
the ”Merry Men o’ Mey‘ or the "Auld Ebbs" of the Pentland Firth by skirting
the coastline
of South
Walls, it was all too easy to miss the low-lying shores of Ha Wick and
Tor Ness
and be carried ashore by tide and sea. The
installation of the light was itself the probable
cause of the loss
of the Johanna Torden on Swona in
1937 as the master was unaware of the new light mistaking it for the
south
Swona light
Walk
eastwards across these dunes and
you'll pick up a track. Follow this northeastwards turning left at the
first
junction to take you to Melsetter.
Now walk
out
along the driveway to
the farm, past Melsetter House, to gain the B9047 overlooking a huge
beach on North Bay.
|
|
South Walls
- still
almost
an island
|
Start /Finish
Car
parks: The Ayre, Snelsetter and at
Osumundwall
Distance
17.7 km / 11 miles
Time
6
– 7 hours
Maps
OS
Explorer 462; OS Landranger 7
16
Perhaps
some
of the
island’s most spectacular coastal and sea views are to be found at
Snelsetter
on the almost separate island of South
Walls. It is
less
than a
century since a causeway (The Ayre) was constructed to provide a
permanent
connection between South Walls and its larger neighbour of Hoy. Just
beyond The
Ayre on the South Walls side can be found the first of three car parks
from
which this walk – or a series of shorter walks – can be commenced:
simply look
for the “Footpath” sign. Any of the
paths in this area are readily identifiable
If
you
imagine the map to
be a clock face, the entire coastal edge from 9 o’clock, moving
in
an
anti-clockwise direction, through to 12 o’clock is
packed
with a vast
variety of attractions to be seen.
|
|
Nature
provides, according to the seasons, passing whales and dolphins, a
family of otters, the rare primula scotica (Scottish Primrose),
breeding seals and their pups, nesting birds, rabbits and a hedgehog or
two.
|
17
|
The geology
of the landscape offers some unusual rock formations, sea caves, a
waterfall, natural arches and two large (and clearly marked) gloups
(large openings in the ground where the roofs of caves have collapsed).
|
|
For the
archaeologist and
historian there is ample evidence to be seen by way of burial mounds,
barrows,
a “fortified” sea stack, a “Stevenson”
lighthouse, a Martello Tower and Battery, an ancient family mausoleum,
an
impressive lifeboat crew memorial and the site of a Viking Saga
conversion to
Christianity.
|
|
|
|
“The
Candle” at Snelsetter
|
Cantick
Head Lighthouse
|
|
|
|
|
R.N.L.I
Memorial, Osmundwall
|
Martello
Tower,
Hackness
|
Given
the
three car parks at the
Ayre, Snelsetter and Kirkhope Bay
(Osmundwall)
this walk
can be conveniently split into three
sections should you so desire. These
would be from the Ayre to Snelsetter, Snelsetter and Osmundwall, and
finally
the Cantick Head peninsula (from Kirkhope Bay)
18
|
|
Brims –
The Lifeboat Museum and walk
|
Start
/Finish
Brims Lifeboat Museum
Distance
8
km / 5 miles
Time
2½ - 3
hours
Maps
OS
Explorer 462; OS Landranger 7
Brims is
the
southernmost point on
the island of Hoy and is
the
home of the Lifeboat Museum as well
as a
treasure
trove of sites of archaeological
interest.
There is
no
readily identifiable
path. It is rather a question of choosing
the most manageable route around the coastline from the Lifeboat Museum
in a clockwise direction until the Melberry
sand dunes are reached.
The
walk can be shortened should you so wish. In
this case you will miss the natural arch and the Old
Head but still
have the opportunity to see the
19
Chapel Ruins and Burial Ground and evidence of the possible brock at
The Skeo.
|
|
Flotta –
The flatter
island
(from Old Norse)
|
Start
/Finish
Flotta Ferry Terminal
Distance
Short: 8 km / 5 miles
Long: 12 km / 7½
miles :
Time
2½ - 4
hours
Maps
OS
Explorer 462; OS Landranger 7
|
Flotta
can be
reached by ferry from both Houton on the mainland and from Lyness in
Hoy. But beware not all ferry sailing go
directly to Flotta from their departure point; so please check the
timetables and the crew if you are in anyway unsure!
A
circuit of
Flotta’s moorland and wartime defences and a climb to the island’s
highest point for a fine view. For more
energetic walkers (and depending upon the departure time of your return
ferry from Lyness or Houton) the extended route to the islands most
south-easterly point, the wartime port signal station and gunnery
position at Stanger Head, is also included.
|
|
On
arrival, the gates of Flotta’s oil terminal lie straight ahead and its
flare
can be seen from many parts of Orkney.
20
From the
pier
go right
along the road and turn first right to walk below a ruined cinema
(built to
entertain the thousands of military personnel based here during WWII).
Keep to
the shore where the road divides and pass a second pier. The only
building on
the west coast is by the airstrip which was built to transport workers
during
the construction of the oil terminal. Look out for two mock guns and a
cannon
near the road. Where the road bends left along the south coast, there
are
several wartime structures — a pump house, lookouts and gun batteries —
with
views to little Switha and larger South
Ronaldsay.
If you
are
taking the short circular tour you should now
continue through a gateway and pass Balaclava Farm then follow a minor
road
uphill to the staggered crossroads in the centre of the island. On the
way, the
road bends alternately right, left, right and then left again to reach
the
crossroads. (NB: lf, whilst taking the short walk, you have time to
spare, you
may wish to make a 3km detour from the crossroads to the small visitor
centre
by the post office: to reach it head east then take the signed left
turn in
half a mile. The longer walk passes the
road as a part of its itinerary.)
At
this
point
the longer
and short tours will rejoin each other.
21
The longer circular walk does not take the final left hand
turn but,
instead turns right and follows the road south and then east past the
church
and towards Castlewell. From there join
the track which heads southeast to Stanger Head. After
viewing the tower, gun emplacements and
appreciating its position as a defensive command centre for the entire
southern
limits of Scapa
Flow take
the
other track, going northwards past Hillside and
back to
the main road
(B9046). At the road turn left passing
signed the turnoff on your right, for the Post Office and adjacent
Visitors
Centre. Continue until you reach the
crossroads.
At
the
crossroads, turn
left past a phone box and head uphill
Near
the
top
of West Hill,
fork right on a hard track to reach the summit. Flotta
is the only place in Orkney where you can see Kirkwall and
Stromness
simultaneously. After enjoying the 360° view from the trig point, go
almost
straight ahead to a narrow gap between two fences. Walk downhill over
heather
for a quarter of a mile then go right through a gate. Follow a hard
track to
the road then turn left back to the pier.
|
|
Graemsay
with its two
lighthouses
A Circular Walk
|
Start
/Finish
Graemsay Pier
Distance
9.6 km / 6 miles
Time
3 – 4 hours
Maps
OS Explorer 462; OS
Landranger 7
To
get to Graemsay it is necessary to catch the ferry from either
Stromness or
from Moaness Pier, Hoy. But beware the
sailings are circular so you need to be certain that the vessel is
sailing in
the direction you wish to take.
On
the
passenger ferry from
Stromness you can see Graemsay’s two lighthouses, called Hoy Low and
Hoy High.
Alan Stevenson, uncle of author Robert Louis Stevenson, built them in
1851 as
leading lights for ships entering the harbour of Stromness from
Hoy
Sound
22
