Old Man of Hoy Group Walks | Join a Walk
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Elevation
137m
449 ft
Prominence
118m
Coordinates
58.8865, -3.4308
HY176007
OS Map
7
Explorer: 462
At the summit, you will find the iconic sea stack with a stunning view down to the sea, along with some impressive rock formations worthy of a photograph or two.
The Old Man of Hoy is primarily composed of Old Red Sandstone, showcasing dramatic sea cliffs and stunning features shaped by thousands of years of erosion.
The Orkney archipelago, the North Sea, and the mainland of Scotland on a clear day. Look out for seabirds swooping below!
The name 'Hoy' is derived from the Norse word 'Hoy', meaning 'hill', while 'Old Man' refers to its stature and prominence.
The Old Man of Hoy is not only a remarkable natural feature but also a significant point of interest in Orkney's maritime history and geology.
Starting from Rackwick Bay, this is the most popular route to the Old Man of Hoy. The route begins at the car park near the beach and follows a well-maintained path. The walk takes you through moorland with stunning views of the sea cliffs, leading to the viewing platform overlooking the iconic sea stack.
From the ferry landing at Moaness, this longer route takes in the Old Man of Hoy en route to Rackwick Bay. The path leads across moorland and valleys, offering panoramic views of Hoy’s rugged landscape. It is a more challenging day hike due to its length, but it is well worth it for the dramatic scenery.
This circular route starts and ends at Rackwick Bay, taking in the Old Man of Hoy and looping back via the nearby cliffs. This route allows walkers to explore more of the surrounding area while still enjoying the iconic sea stack as the highlight of the hike.
This alternative route starts from Moaness but takes a higher and less traveled path across the hills of Hoy. This route is ideal for experienced hikers looking for solitude and dramatic views. The path eventually descends to the Old Man of Hoy before returning by a lower route to Rackwick or Moaness.
This extended route starts at Rackwick Bay and leads to the Old Man of Hoy, with an optional exploration of the surrounding cliffs. This variation is perfect for those who want to spend extra time soaking in the views and exploring the dramatic coastline.
Car park at Rackwick Bay, with facilities available and a short walk to the start of the paths.
Limited bus services operate from Stromness to Rackwick, but services are infrequent.
There are no facilities directly on the mountain but cafes and shops can be found in Stromness.
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Some common questions about the hills answered
Many walkers use Walkmates to join or organise walks with others. You can check for group walks around Old Man of Hoy through the maps
Activity varies by location and time, but Walkmates lets you see whether others have shared walks or shown interest in this area. Find other people through the walking friends search walking friends for Old Man of Hoy search or of course create your own walk for Old Man of Hoy
Yes. If there aren’t any walks listed already, you can create a walk and make it available for others to join.
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There are often multiple ways to walk this hill, depending on experience and route preference. Walkmates helps you explore walks and routes that others have shared.
Yes. You can suggest or create routes to share with others. Walkmates focuses on the social side of walking, so routes are used to help people organise walks and explore areas together, rather than as detailed navigation tools or route libraries.
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Grid Ref: HY176007
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