Page 165 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland

THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS  163

Hoy Centre contains a fascinating VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Orkney’s second-largest island exhibition on this huge deep-
takes its name from the Norse water naval haven. It recounts Practical Information
word for “high island”, which the events of 16 June 1919, Orkney. * 21,000.
refers to its spectacular cliff- when the captured German n Kirkwall (01856) 872856.
lined terrain. Hoy is very fleet was scuttled on the orders ∑ visitorkney.com
different from the rest of the of its commanding officer to Transport
archipelago, and its northern prevent handover: 74 ships ~ g from Scrabster or Gill’s Bay
hills make excellent walking and were sunk. Many of these have (Caithness), Aberdeen, Lerwick
birdwatching country. The Old since been salvaged; others (Shetland), and John O’ Groats
Man of Hoy, a 137-m (450-ft) provide one of the world’s great (May–Sep only).
vertical stack off the western wreck-diving sites. Tours from
coast, is the island’s best-known Houton Pier, using a remote-
landmark, a pop ular challenge controlled vehicle fitted with towered church dedicated to
to keen rock climbers. Near an underwater camera, give his memory is a rare example of
Rackwick, the 5,000-year-old a glimpse of this eerie sub- Irish-Viking design. Sanday is
Dwarfie Stane is a unique aquatic graveyard. the largest of the northern isles,
chambered cairn cut from its fertile farm land fringed by
a single block of stone. n Scapa Flow Visitor Centre sandy beaches. North Ronaldsay,
At Lyness, on the eastern side Tel (01856) 791300. Open Apr & Oct: the northern most of the Orkney
of Hoy, the Scapa Flow Visitor Mon–Fri; May–Sep: daily. 7 Islands, is noted for its hardy,
∑ orkney.gov.uk seaweed-eat ing sheep and
rare migrant birds.
The Northern Isles
Orkney’s outlying islands are Day Trips to Remote Islands
sparsely populated and mostly There are flights from Kirkwall to
the preserve of seals and sea birds. a dozen outlying islands several
They include Rousay, known as times a week, as well as daily
the “Egypt of the North” for ferries. The two-minute hop
its many archaeo logical sites, between Westray and Papa
and Egilsay, the scene of Westray is the world’s shortest
St Magnus’s grisly murder in scheduled air route. Inter-island
1115. The 12th-century round- transport is weather-dependent.

The Old Man of Hoy, a majestic stone
column off the coast of Hoy North
Papa Ronaldsay Hollandstoun
Westray
Pierowall The North
Key Sound
Westray
Major road Start Point
Sanday
Minor road Westray
Firth Braeswick
Summit Rousay Eday
Wasbister
Brinyan Egilsay Whitehall
Marwick Head Redland Gairsay Stronsay Stronsay
Firth
Mainland Twatt Rothiesholm
Skara Brae Balfour Shapinsay Auskerry
Ring of Brodgar Finstown Sandgarth
Standing Stones of Stenness Maeshowe Kirkwall
Stromness
Gritley
Ward Hill St Mary's
481m Scapa Flow
Old Man of Hoy Copinsay
Flotta Burray
Hoy Lyness Orkney
Islands
St Margaret's Hope
0 kilometres 10 Melsetter
South Ronaldsay
0 miles 10 P e n t l a n d F i r t h Aberdeen
Burwick
Island of Stroma
Edinburgh
Dunnet Head Duncansby Head Glasgow
Dunnet John O'Groats
Thurso
For additional map symbols see back flap
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