Blogs from Hoy Island, Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

Advertisement

Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Orkney Islands » Hoy Island September 22nd 2010

Our next adventure is Orkney. The Orkney Islands sit off the North coast of mainland Scotland, so we´re off at dawn on the train headed for Thurso. Its a beautiful journey passing more castles and lochs, seals lounging on beaches right next to the train, potential surf spots for Keith and finally the barren windswept plains of Northern Scotland. Thurso is the end of the line, so we catch a bus the last few miles to Scrabster then its onto the ferry for the 1.5 hour trip to Orkney. From the boat we spot a range of sea birds including guillemots, skuas and gannets, as well as some porpoises and even a submarine cruising along on the surface. Now thats not something you see every day in New Zealand. As we reach Orkney we pass by ... read more
The Bothy, Rackwick
Hiking Hoy
The crew and turf rooves

Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Orkney Islands » Hoy Island July 17th 2010

Stromness to Hoy day trip There is only one ferry each way to north Hoy so I was on it in plenty of time in the morning. A nice half hour trip with good views of Tysties, Bonxies, Eider duck and Guillemots as well as Kittiwakes and other gulls. After a dry trip over arrived to a heavy squall!! . Heading up the hill I arrived at the road end to the path through the hills and a sign saying no cycling. I decided to push the bike and had a very enjoyable walk. Stopping at the loch to watch the hundred or so bonxies bathing in the water. Carrying on over the water shed the path then descended through thick heather towards Rathwick Bay. To the right of the path was the visually unimpressive ... read more
Stromness
Stromness from Hoy ferry
approaching Hoy in the rain




Tot: 0.09s; Tpl: 0.003s; cc: 8; qc: 27; dbt: 0.0327s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1mb