The Old man of Hoy in Scotland

The Old Man of Hoy

Orkney is made up of about 70 islands off the north coast of Scotland, of which fewer than 20 are inhibited. Hoy is the second largest of the islands after Mainland. It is the only island that is not flat, and the views from its hills are of moorland, vivid green turf and vertical cliffs reaching down to white sandy beaches and turquoise bays. The Old Man of Hoy is a rock stack 137 meters (450 feet) tall on a promontory in the sea, and it is a favorite of rock climbers from around the world. The first successful recorded climb was made in 1966 by Chris Bonnington's team. if you walk from the pier along the road through the lovely Rackwick Glen, you will pass the Dwarfie Stone, an unusual rock cut tomb, and thought to be 5,000 years old.

The remoteness of the Orkneys and their untamed landscape make them a haven for wildlife. The northern part of Hoy has been a Royal Society for the Preservation of Birds reserve for more than 20 years. At the right time of year, visitors can see seal colonies, porpoises and even otters, if they are fortunate, but they will surely see some of the millions of seabirds including puffins that thrive on the cliffs and shores. Botanists will find rare and beautiful wildflowers, and fishermen can fish for free - the brown trout are supposed to be the best in Britain.

To get to The Old Man of Hoy, travel by air to Kirkwall, then take a ferry. There is also a car ferry service that runs from Aberdeen and Lerwick.