The Old Man of Hoy, arguable Orkneys most famous landmark.  Towering to 137m high sandstone sea stack. The first successful ascent was televised in 1966 and featured Sir Chris Bonington, along with Tom Patey and Rusty Baillie. A short walk from the cliff tops overlooking the Old Man of Hoy is St John’s Head which at 384m are amongst the highest vertical cliffs in the UK.

The Dwarfie Stane, the only Neolithic rock-cut tomb in Britain.

Rackwick, a former crofting township. Set amongst towering sea cliffs and steep heathery hills and boasting a fine sandy beach.  Many pleasant walks start from Rackwick, including the main path to the Old Man of Hoy.

Berridale, tucked away in the Rackwick Valley is one of the best remaining examples, and the most northerly, of woodland in Great Britain.

Rackwick Folk Museum, a short walk from Rackwick Hostel.  Converted from a school founded in 1718.

Crows Nest Museum, a short walk from Rackwick Hostel.  The oldest house in Rackwick showing rural life in a bygone age.

RSPB Reserve, Hoy, Much of North Hoy is owned and managed by the RSPB. The reserve comprises 3,500ha of upland heath and cliffs where a large variety of birds live and breed.  Around 175 species of birds have been recorded on the reserve.  Of particular interest are the five species of breeding birds of prey, the Hen Harrier, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine and Merlin.  On the hill tops there are large numbers of breeding Great Skuas (called Bonxies locally).  Off the west coast of the reserve towers The Old Man of Hoy, a great place to see puffins. Details of sighting throughout the season are posted at the Centre by the RSPB warden.

Hoy Kirk currently being refurbished to include a visitors centre.  The pulpit is made from wood from the Spanish Armada.

Betty Corrigall’s Grave, one of Britain’s loneliest graves.  Betty, a young girl from Lyness, fell pregnant by a visiting sailor last century.  She took her own life and was buried away from hallowed ground on the boundary of the parishes of Hoy and Walls.

Scad Head and Lyrawa viewpoint.  The site of a wartime anti aircraft battery.  From both of these viewpoints you experience the wonderful panorama of Scapa Flow, Orkney mainland and the North Orkney islands, beyond.

Lyness was an important naval base during both world wars. One of the temporary buildings constructed in the Second World War still remain and these have been converted into a museum and interpretative centre. Nearby is the Naval Cemetery, the final resting place of many heros of the Battle of Jutland (1916), as well as victims of the several attacks and disasters in Scapa Flow during both World Wars indlucding HMS Vanguard, HMS Hampshire and HMS Royal Oak.

Wee Fea viewpoint.  An important strategic communications centre during world war two.  Several of the original buildings remain.  From this point there are more panoramic views of Scapa Flow and distant views of the north coast of Scotland and the mountains of the Western Islands, Scotland.

The Martello Towers at Hackness and Crockness are ten metres high and were built between 1813 and 1815 of stone from Bring Head at the north of the island. The Battery at Hackness provided a further eight 24-pounder guns together with barracks and stores.  Hackness Tower is owned by Historic Scotland and is open to the public at certain times. 

Melsetter House, constructed in 1898 by the architect WR Lethaby and part of the Arts and Crafts movement.  A private house with visits by appointment on Thurs, Sat and Sun.  Tel 01856 791352.

Longhope Lifeboat Station, established in 1874.  Alongside the pier you will find the lifeboat “The Helen Comrie” a Tamar  class lifeboat.  During the summer months a shop run by the Longhope Lifeboat Guild is open on Sundays 11am till 3pm.

The Longhope Lifeboat Museum This Lifeboat Station and Slipway was built in 1906 at a cost of £2,975-1-9d. The Lifeboat shed accommodated lifeboats for 93 years, from the days of the Anne Miles (1906- 1926) up to the modern Lifeboat Lord Saltoun (1988- 1999). On the 11th of September 1999 the Lord Saltoun was launched for the last time, with a special ceremony to mark the end of an era which spanned 125 years of Lifeboats being launched from Brims into Aith Hope. This shed now houses the old Longhope Lifeboat ‘Thomas McCunn’ and is being run as a museum by the Longhope Lifeboat Museum Trust. It can be visited by prior arrangement.  Tel 701332.

Longhope Lifeboat memorial.  The Kirkhope burial ground is dominated by the bronze figure of a lifeboat man.  Erected in honour of the eight-man crew of the T.G.B, which was lost with all hands on 17 March 1969, en route to a rescue.

Hill of White Hamars. A Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve which comprises spectacular coastal walks, overlooking the Pentland Firth.  The reserve is one of the few places where you will find the rare Scottish Primrose.

Cantick Head Lighthouse built by David Stevenson and was completed in 1858.  The coast near to the lighthouse is a good place to see several different species of birds.  There have also been occasional sightings of marine wildlife off Cantick Head.