Top 10 Things to Do When Visiting and Touring Isle of Hoy

Hoy is Orkney’s dramatic island of high red sandstone cliffs, the remarkable Old Man sea stack, unusual prehistoric archaeology and important stories from both world wars. The ten best things to do on Hoy include Rackwick Bay, the Old Man viewpoint, Dwarfie Stane, Scapa Flow Museum, the Longhope rescue story and wildlife walks through a landscape quite unlike much of Mainland Orkney.

If you are wondering how to visit Hoy from Stromness or Kirkwall, whether the Old Man of Hoy is an easy walk or how long you need for the island, start by choosing the correct ferry. Houton to Lyness is the vehicle route, while Stromness to Moaness serves foot passengers on a different timetable. Your arrival point determines which activities fit comfortably into the day.

One particularly important October 2026 update: Hackness Martello Tower and Battery are closed under their conservation and seasonal arrangements, while Scapa Flow Museum lists Tuesday-to-Saturday opening in October and November. Orkney Ferries’ winter schedule began on 28 September. Use current operator and attraction notices rather than a summer-only guide.

Hoy at a glance: choose the right experience

For dramatic landscapes: Rackwick Bay, Old Man of Hoy and appropriate cliff viewpoints.
For archaeology: Dwarfie Stane.
For twentieth-century history: Scapa Flow Museum and the Lyness wartime landscape.
For sea rescue heritage: Longhope Lifeboat Museum.
For earlier coastal defence: Hackness, with current conservation closures respected.
For wildlife and crofting: RSPB Hoy and Cra’as Nest Museum.
Critical rule: check the correct ferry and don’t underestimate exposed walking routes.

Contents: the ten Hoy experiences

1. Walk down to Rackwick Bay and take in the immense red cliffs
2. Take the celebrated walk toward the Old Man of Hoy
3. Visit Dwarfie Stane, a remarkable rock-cut tomb
4. Explore Scapa Flow Museum at Lyness
5. Follow the Lyness wartime landscape and Lyrawa viewpoint
6. Visit Longhope Lifeboat Museum and reflect on sea rescue
7. Learn about Hackness Martello Tower and Battery without entering closed areas
8. Walk an appropriate part of RSPB Hoy Nature Reserve and Berriedale Wood
9. Discover Cra’as Nest Museum and Rackwick crofting history
10. Respect St John’s Head and Hoy’s high cliff scenery
One, two and three-day plans
Best season
Ferries and safety
Frequently asked questions

1. Walk down to Rackwick Bay and take in the immense red cliffs

Rackwick is one of Hoy’s most memorable places even if you never attempt the walk to the Old Man. A dramatic valley opens toward a boulder-strewn beach beneath high sandstone cliffs, with only a small crofting settlement scattered across the landscape. The scale can surprise visitors coming from Mainland Orkney’s gentler fields. This is a place to sit, watch waves and understand why Hoy’s name is associated with height and dramatic terrain.

From the parking area an appropriate path passes through the valley toward the beach. The ground can be uneven, including large stones and the Rackwick burn, so an apparently simple beach stop may not suit every traveller. The bay faces powerful waters, and an attractive stretch of sand does not make swimming safe. Strong wind and incoming weather matter as much as the view.

Rackwick has a heritage story too. Traditional crofting meant combining small-scale farming, animals and maritime knowledge under demanding conditions. Look at the buildings and field boundaries and ask how families kept food and supplies moving through this remote valley. Do not enter occupied houses or former farm buildings unless they are genuinely open to visitors.

Some descriptions of the public bothy and campsite are outdated: Orkney.com reported restoration-related closures in 2026, while older local information described normal opening. Confirm the latest status with the relevant operator rather than assuming you can shelter or stay overnight there. A well-prepared day visitor should carry appropriate clothing, water and an independent return plan.

2. Take the celebrated walk toward the Old Man of Hoy

The Old Man of Hoy is a spectacular sandstone sea stack rising about 137 metres from the Atlantic. It is one of Scotland’s most recognisable coastal landmarks, and a walk to an appropriate viewpoint offers an unforgettable sense of the ocean’s scale. The route begins at Rackwick and climbs before following the coast toward the stack. Seeing it from a safe distance is the purpose of most visits, not attempting the rock itself.

The RSPB’s Hoy reserve information suggests allowing around three hours for the round trip. The path includes a steep initial ascent, rough sections and stone steps, and weather can change quickly. Leave plenty of time to return before dusk or your onward ferry. Sturdy footwear, layers, water and a route plan are essential even if the path looks straightforward in a photograph.

Do not confuse the normal viewpoint walk with technical climbing of the sea stack. The latter is a serious specialist undertaking on potentially fragile rock; a visitor without advanced expertise should never attempt it. Stay well back from cliff edges and any rock overhangs. If fog or wind makes the coastline unsafe, choose a different activity rather than insisting on a famous image.

Take a moment to connect the rock to the wider geology. Hoy’s red sandstone has been shaped by waves, weathering and erosion, leaving the stack detached from the cliffs. It is a changing landform, not a permanent monument. That fact gives an added poignancy to the view and a good reason to enjoy it responsibly.

3. Visit Dwarfie Stane, a remarkable rock-cut tomb

Near the road through Hoy lies the Dwarfie Stane, a huge block of sandstone with a small chamber carved into it. Historic Environment Scotland describes it as a possible Neolithic tomb and an unusual example of a wholly rock-cut prehistoric chamber in Britain. Unlike most chambered cairns, this monument was made by hollowing into a single natural block rather than building a room from many stones.

Inside are low spaces that require visitors to crouch or crawl. The official visitor page says the site is free and open year-round, but it is not accessible to everybody: strong footwear is recommended, and the approach crosses moorland. People with limited mobility or concerns about confined spaces can enjoy the exterior and landscape without entering.

Ask how people might have carved such a chamber before metal tools became widespread. What methods could they have used, and why choose this particular boulder? Historic Environment Scotland also notes that the prehistoric dating is based on the monument’s form rather than datable bones or artefacts found inside. That uncertainty is a useful lesson in how archaeology works.

Look at the historical inscriptions on the exterior, including a nineteenth-century Persian-script carving. These show that people have found the stone intriguing over many centuries. Do not add graffiti or touch delicate surfaces. A short visit is most rewarding when paired with interpretation rather than squeezing into the chamber for a photograph.

4. Explore Scapa Flow Museum at Lyness

At Lyness, Scapa Flow Museum tells the story of Orkney’s enormous naval anchorage and its role during the First and Second World Wars. The restored former naval infrastructure and displays include objects, photographs and personal experiences that make large historical events understandable. It is one of Hoy’s strongest indoor attractions and an excellent alternative when strong wind makes a cliff walk unsuitable.

The museum’s current official schedule lists free entry with donations welcomed. In October and November 2026, it is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30am to 4:15pm. It is closed during January and February, and other months have different weekday patterns. The café runs a more limited service outside the main season, so confirm food arrangements separately from museum admission.

Give yourself time to understand the variety of people and systems involved: naval crews, civilian workers, defensive infrastructure and the postwar efforts to recover ships or repurpose materials. The history includes significant loss of life and should be approached with respect rather than as an exciting collection of weaponry.

Scapa Flow Museum is near the Lyness ferry side of Hoy, making it a sensible stop for people arriving on the Houton–Lyness vehicle route. Plan the return boarding time before entering; an absorbing exhibition can easily take longer than a rushed itinerary allows.

5. Follow the Lyness wartime landscape and Lyrawa viewpoint

Much of Hoy’s wartime story lies outdoors. The Lyness area contains surviving remnants of naval work and defences that once protected Scapa Flow. A self-guided wartime trail connects suitable historical features, while the Lyrawa viewpoint offers a broad view across the famous anchorage. From high ground, the relationships between islands, water channels and defensive installations become clear.

Begin with the Scapa Flow Museum’s official trail information so you know which sites can be viewed safely. Orkney’s wartime structures are not all stable or open to enter. In particular, the local destination guide warns that the old Scad Head battery is a fragile ruin and should not be explored inside. Enjoy the landscape from appropriate public paths and viewpoints.

Ask why the naval authorities chose Scapa Flow and how protecting a huge sheltered anchorage required a network of batteries, communications and logistical facilities. The view makes geography part of the historical explanation. A map from the museum can help visitors compare the present coastline with the wartime arrangement.

This is an accessible concept even for people who do not normally visit military museums: large operations depend on safe water, supplies, workers and transport. Leave enough time to read signs and remember the human experience, and do not turn memorial or military sites into places for reckless scrambling.

6. Visit Longhope Lifeboat Museum and reflect on sea rescue

Longhope, on South Walls, is a maritime community with an important rescue-service history. Its Lifeboat Museum at Brims houses the vintage lifeboat Thomas McCunn and interpretation of local volunteers and the hazardous waters around Orkney. It is a different form of seafaring history from Scapa Flow’s naval story, centred on the difficult work of saving people in danger.

The museum particularly remembers the 1969 Longhope lifeboat disaster, in which all eight crew members were lost. Approach that history with quiet respect. Learn about the families, the crew’s responsibilities and the limitations of technology during severe weather. The lives behind a memorial are more important than the dramatic reputation of a storm.

Orkney.com lists the museum as generally open Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm, from April through October, with other arrangements sometimes possible for advance groups. Its own website describes spring and summer opening. Confirm directly before travelling, particularly in the shoulder season. The small collection depends on community effort and donations.

Combine the museum with a thoughtful visit to Longhope’s public waterfront and, if appropriate, an official memorial site. Do not obstruct the working lifeboat station or expect crews on duty to offer unscheduled tours. The experience is most meaningful when it deepens respect for the people who continue to protect coastal communities.

7. Learn about Hackness Martello Tower and Battery without entering closed areas

The fortifications at Hackness on South Walls were built in the early nineteenth century to protect shipping during the Napoleonic Wars. The Martello Tower and adjacent battery make an excellent case study in how strategic waterways influenced coastal engineering. Their shapes, positions and fields of view tell a story about a period before radar and modern missiles.

Historic Environment Scotland currently restricts access due to conservation work. Its official plan-your-visit page describes guided summer tours on Mondays at specific times from April through September, with the attraction closed from 1 October to 31 March. For an October 2026 visitor, an ordinary interior tour is not available. Do not rely on old tourism listings promising daily access.

If exterior viewing is legitimately permitted, observe only from public, safe positions and heed all barriers. The site is historical evidence, but incomplete conservation and unstable materials can make entry hazardous. No visitor should jump fences or cross work areas to replicate an online photo.

Even without an interior visit, reading the site’s official history is rewarding. Consider the people who designed, staffed and supplied these defences, and why a quiet coastal place once justified such investment. Pair the historical explanation with a visit to the more accessible museum at Lyness when it is open.

8. Walk an appropriate part of RSPB Hoy Nature Reserve and Berriedale Wood

Hoy Nature Reserve protects a wide range of habitats, from heath and blanket bog to dramatic maritime cliffs. Its wildlife includes breeding seabirds, birds of prey and delicate upland plants. Berriedale Wood adds a surprising pocket of native woodland in a northern landscape often associated with open moor. For travellers who enjoy nature, this contrast is one of Hoy’s great attractions.

The RSPB describes several routes of different difficulty, including the Post Road, around 4km and about two hours in appropriate conditions. Paths can be rough, muddy and exposed. It also warns that moving away from established paths requires map and compass skills. Choose the route based on the group’s experience rather than on the promise of seeing a particular bird.

Ground-nesting birds, including great skuas, may defend their territory during breeding season. Give them plenty of space, control dogs and move away rather than approaching nests for photographs. Seabirds and mountain hares are wild, and sightings are never guaranteed. Conservation is successful when animals can continue their ordinary behaviour.

Bring waterproof layers, water, suitable boots and a safe return plan. Do not light fires on the moor or take shortcuts through sensitive peat. A quiet woodland or moorland day can be deeply rewarding without walking to the island’s most exposed cliff.

9. Discover Cra’as Nest Museum and Rackwick crofting history

Rackwick’s landscape is dramatic, but its human history is best encountered at Cra’as Nest Museum, a small restored croft house and farm building. The local Hoy visitor information describes features such as box beds, a dresser, byre and a kiln once used for drying oats. These details make eighteenth-century and later domestic life understandable in a way that a distant cliff panorama cannot.

Spend time asking how people obtained food, maintained houses and cared for animals in a valley subject to strong weather. Small-scale farming and fishing required extensive skills, and isolated households depended on practical cooperation. The museum’s importance lies in those everyday systems, not in a large collection of famous objects.

Check whether the museum is actually open during your visit. Some community-run rural attractions operate seasonally, depend on volunteers or close for maintenance. Never treat a closed historic building as permission to enter an empty croft. The village remains home to people who deserve privacy.

This is a particularly good pairing with Rackwick Bay if you have family members who prefer culture to a demanding coastal hike. Even a short encounter with traditional tools can help everyone see the surrounding land differently.

10. Respect St John’s Head and Hoy’s high cliff scenery

St John’s Head forms part of Hoy’s spectacular western coastline and is associated with some of the highest vertical sea cliffs in Britain. For confident, appropriately equipped walkers, the views can be extraordinary. The rock faces and scale of the Atlantic create a memorable sense of how wind and water shape an island over long periods.

However, this is not a viewpoint to attempt merely because it appears close to the Old Man on a map. The RSPB notes that the rough coastal track between the Old Man and St John’s Head requires careful route-finding and is not recommended without map and compass. Weather, fog, steep slopes and loose edges can turn an already challenging outing dangerous.

For the majority of visitors, the normal Old Man viewpoint or a safer public panorama is the better choice. Do not step close to a sheer drop or walk an exposed ridge in high winds. A mountain leader or qualified guide may be sensible if you have the experience but are unfamiliar with Hoy’s terrain.

The reward is understanding the landscape, not proving you can reach an edge. Enjoy the sandstone colours, seabirds at a distance and shifting light from appropriate locations. Leave wildlife habitats and fragile cliff vegetation undisturbed, and return with plenty of daylight.

Plan a Hoy itinerary that fits the ferry and your walking ability

The distances across Hoy and South Walls are deceptive because roads are limited, the western cliffs demand slow walking and museums can be absorbing. Choose either a heritage-focused day around Lyness and Longhope or a scenic day in the Rackwick area. A longer stay can combine them without making every hour a race.

One day with a car from Houton

Take the appropriate vehicle ferry to Lyness, having reserved your space when needed. Visit Scapa Flow Museum if open and choose one supplementary wartime viewpoint or a Longhope heritage stop. Do not assume you can also walk the Old Man route, Dwarfie Stane and an exposed reserve trail before the return sailing. If history is your goal, let the day remain about history.

A one-day walking trip from Stromness

Arrive at Moaness using the actual passenger timetable. Depending on your route and fitness, consider Dwarfie Stane or a suitable RSPB walk, with an organised return or an overnight stay if distances are excessive. Moaness is not the same landing point as Lyness, and public transport on Hoy is limited. Do not begin a long cliff hike without a clear return plan.

Two days for landscape and naval heritage

Use the first day for Rackwick and the Old Man viewpoint if the weather is right, allowing a separate slower look at the bay and Cra’as Nest when accessible. Spend the second on Scapa Flow Museum, Longhope and an appropriate wartime outdoor route. This itinerary gives space for the island’s two contrasting stories without sacrificing safety.

Three days or longer

A longer stay may include a nature walk through Berriedale or a guided outing near South Walls. Experienced walkers can consider a carefully prepared high-cliff itinerary, but should treat St John’s Head as a serious route rather than an obligatory attraction. Keep flexible time for ferry disruption, bad weather or a museum you discover after arrival.

When should you visit Hoy?

Late spring and summer offer longer days for difficult walking and nesting seabird activity. Spring and autumn can be appealing for photography and quieter heritage visits, but weather and site openings become more variable. Winter brings short daylight, strong winds and reduced attractions. The Dwarfie Stane remains listed as an outdoor year-round site, while Hackness and museums follow distinct schedules.

For October and November, Scapa Flow Museum remains an excellent option on its published Tuesday-to-Saturday schedule. This does not mean a winter cliff walk will be easy or that the last ferry fits your preferred finish. Always plan the full day around both weather and transport.

Ferry, hiking and heritage safety checklist

Check Orkney Ferries for the Houton–Lyness vehicle route and Stromness–Moaness passenger route; they are not interchangeable.
Book vehicle ferry space early and allow for the published 2026–27 winter schedule and service notices.
For the Old Man of Hoy, prepare for a steep, rough walk and allocate approximately three hours for the return.
Stay back from St John’s Head and all cliff edges in wind, fog or rain.
Treat Dwarfie Stane’s narrow entry as optional; the exterior is worth seeing if entering is unsuitable.
Respect wartime ruins, museum memorials and conservation closures such as those at Hackness.
Keep dogs controlled around grazing animals and nesting birds on the RSPB reserve.
Carry waterproof layers, water, maps and a backup plan if a remote road or ferry is disrupted.

Hoy is part of Scotland and the United Kingdom, with pound sterling and UK entry conditions. In emergencies call 999 or 112. Rural rescue can be difficult, so safe choices are essential for the island’s most exposed routes.

Frequently asked questions about Hoy

Is Hoy one of the Orkney Islands? Yes. Hoy is one of Orkney’s larger islands, known for much higher hills and cliffs than much of the archipelago.

How do I take a car to Hoy? Orkney Ferries operates the Houton–Lyness vehicle route; reserve vehicle space in advance when appropriate.

Can foot passengers arrive from Stromness? Yes. A separate service connects Stromness with Moaness, sometimes via Graemsay. Check the actual route and schedule.

When does the 2026–27 winter ferry timetable begin? Orkney Ferries lists its winter timetable from 28 September 2026 to 1 May 2027.

How long is the Old Man of Hoy walk? RSPB suggests allowing approximately three hours for the return from Rackwick, with steep and rough sections.

Can anyone climb the Old Man sea stack? No. Technical climbing is a serious specialist activity. Ordinary tourists should enjoy authorised viewpoints instead.

Can you enter the Dwarfie Stane? The narrow chamber can be entered by people who can crouch or crawl, but the route and interior are not suitable for everyone.

Is Scapa Flow Museum open in October? Yes, under its published October–November schedule of Tuesday to Saturday, 9:30am to 4:15pm, subject to changes.

Is Hackness Martello Tower open in October 2026? No. The official site lists a conservation-restricted summer guided-tour programme and closure from October through March.

Are there toilets at Rackwick? Local visitor descriptions list facilities, but the bothy and campsite have undergone restoration. Check the precise current availability.

Where can I learn about Longhope lifeboats? Longhope Lifeboat Museum at Brims interprets its crews and vessels, including the 1969 disaster.

Can I see puffins throughout the year? No. Puffins visit nesting areas during their breeding season; bird sightings depend on time and conditions.

Official Hoy travel resources

Check official access hours, ongoing conservation works, ferry reservations and walking conditions before travelling. Historical listings may still describe attractions or buildings that are currently closed.

Hoy is most memorable when you give its contrasts time: a giant sandstone cliff, a prehistoric stone chamber, a quiet croft and a naval museum. With sensible planning, the island’s extraordinary landscape and human stories become parts of one rich journey.