Hoy

Hoy is the second largest of the Orkney Islands, but with a population of only 419 in 2011. The name means "high" and it's hilly and sparsely populated; its hills draw the clouds, drizzle and midges, and Hoy feels much more like the bleak Hebrides than the green, pastoral Orkneys. Its northern part is an important breeding ground for birds, and RSPB reserve. Together with nearby Mainland, Hoy encloses Scapa Flow, a wartime naval anchorage. Hoy is joined by a causeway to South Walls, so for practical purposes these constitute a single island.

Visitor information

 * Hoy visitor and local information

Get in
There is no air service to Hoy. There are two ferry routes from Mainland Orkney, both operated by Orkney Ferries. The ferry from Stromness to, in the north of Hoy, is for foot passengers & bicycles only. May-Sep it runs 4 or 5 times a day M-F, twice on Saturday and Sunsay, taking 20 min. This ferry also calls at Graemsay.

To take a car to Hoy, use the ro-ro ferry from Houton to near the south end of the island. It runs 5-6 times a day M-F, 2-3 times on Saturday and Sunday, taking 35-65 min. The ferry passes by the uninhabited little islands of Holm of Houton, Cava and Fara. Some trips call at Sailing before coming into Lyness. The first and last ferry of the day serves on South Walls, which is connected to Hoy by a roadway. The one-way fare from Houton to Lyness is ₤2.80 for an adult, and ₤9 for a car (2022).

Get around
You need your own wheels, cycling is good (until the rain comes on). There's a community bus along the B-road, hourly M-F between Lyness and Longhope. Between Lyness and Moaness it only runs twice a day, to connect islanders to the Stromness ferry.

See

 * Longhope Lifeboat Station: a lifeboat has been stationed here since 1874. You can visit M-F 10AM-1PM. In March 1969 tragedy befell this village when the lifeboat put out in a raging sea to help a drifting freighter. It was lost with all eight men aboard, a quarter of the village population, while the freighter drifted onto rocks at South Ronaldsay and the crew scrambled to safety. Free, donations welcome.
 * Hackness Martello Tower stands on the coast a mile east of Lyness ferry pier. It's open Apr-Sep: daily 9:30AM-5:30PM, adult £6.
 * Betty Corrigan's Grave is midway up the island road by the Water of Hoy. In the 1770s a sailor done her wrong. She took her own life and so wasn't allowed a church burial, so here in this lonely spot she lies.
 * Betty Corrigan's Grave is midway up the island road by the Water of Hoy. In the 1770s a sailor done her wrong. She took her own life and so wasn't allowed a church burial, so here in this lonely spot she lies.

Do

 * Cycle or walk around, the little farm island midway between Stromness and north Hoy. No visitor amenities or sights here, just make a quiet leisurely circuit of the island lane. Keep orbiting until the next ferry hoves into view.
 * You can likewise cycle across, the little island east of Longhope, served by the ferry from Houton. The north end around the pier is industrial with a big oil terminal. Follow the lane south to escape into pleasant farmland.
 * Cycle or walk around, the little farm island midway between Stromness and north Hoy. No visitor amenities or sights here, just make a quiet leisurely circuit of the island lane. Keep orbiting until the next ferry hoves into view.
 * You can likewise cycle across, the little island east of Longhope, served by the ferry from Houton. The north end around the pier is industrial with a big oil terminal. Follow the lane south to escape into pleasant farmland.

Buy

 * Wild Heather Crafts is open in the summer M-Sa 9:30AM-4:30PM. Emily's ice-cream parlour is next door. They're half a mile north of Lyness.

Eat

 * Beneth'ill Cafe near Moaness ferry pier is open in summer, daily 10AM-6PM.

Drink

 * Royal Hotel is next to the ferry pier at Longhope. There's a bar with decent pub grub; they may have accommodation.

Sleep

 * A few self-catering cottages on Longhope, including Cantick Head Lighthouse. The 19th-century lighthouse is still active and you can't normally go in. The keeper's cottage sleeps 4 or 5, minimum stay 3 nights, Oct-Mar £120 per night and Apr-Sept £150.
 * The Hoy Hotel is closed for building work. It may re-open in 2022.
 * A few self-catering cottages on Longhope, including Cantick Head Lighthouse. The 19th-century lighthouse is still active and you can't normally go in. The keeper's cottage sleeps 4 or 5, minimum stay 3 nights, Oct-Mar £120 per night and Apr-Sept £150.
 * The Hoy Hotel is closed for building work. It may re-open in 2022.

Connect
As of July 2024, there is no mobile signal from any UK carrier on Hoy, South Walls, Flotta or Graemsay. So for all the telecom companies' boasts about their infrastructure, they might as well stick their new transmitter masts up, hmm ahem, they might as well advise you to send a postcard from the Post Office north end of the island, near the hostel.

Go next
Back to Orkney Mainland either to Stromness or Houton.