ORKNEY ADVENTURES :: DAY THREE
ISLE OF HOY
Today I planned to visit the Isle of Hoy, early start, out of B&B and cycled from Kirkwall across to Houton for the ferry to Lyness. Houton ferry terminal appears as you reach the top of a big hill, and I could see the boat and a group of cars waiting to board. I screamed down the hill, rode to the front of the cars and people waiting, to find the check-in man. He just said, keep going. Perfect timing, last there, first on the boat.
Interesting talk, during crossing, with a woman who was going over to act as a weekend relief manager at the Scapa Flow Visitor Centre. I had a look round it and it is a very interesting place to visit. Up behind the main building, they have an old war time oil storage bunker, this has been cleaned out and now houses more exhibits. Quite weird walking into a large old oil tank.
Headed south, past the old tractor, parked up outside a house, and down as far as Osmondwall, to the Longhope Lifeboat Memorial, in honour of the eight-man crew lost with all hands on 17th March 1969, en-route to a rescue.
Looped back to the cafe in visitor centre, and then headed north over the 400 foot high hill that was in the way on the way up to Moaness for the ferry off.
Along the way, I stopped to get a drink, and just happened to be in the right place to watch FIVE Red Throated Divers calling and doing some kind of courtship display, fabulous.
North Hoy is much hilly than the south, more like the Highlands, did not have time to visit the famous Old Man of Hoy Sea Stack, maybe next time.
Found a great cafe while waiting for the ferry over to Stromness and then the 20 mile ride back to Kirkwall, grabbed some fish and chips and got back to the B&B about 10. Long day but very good.
Another shot from Hoy in my other album.
http://365project.org/markp/Alternatively/10-05-2014
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