Old Man of Hoy, Sea stack near Rackwick Bay, Orkney Islands, Scotland
The 137-meter red sandstone column rises from a basalt foundation, standing separate from the mainland by a 60-meter gap filled with fallen rocks.
The formation dates to after 1750, when sea erosion carved it from the cliffs, as evidenced by its absence in historical records from 1230.
Three mountaineers completed the first ascent in 1966, leading to a televised climb in 1967 that attracted 23 million BBC viewers.
Visitors can observe the formation from the Scrabster to Stromness ferry or take a three-hour walking trail from Rackwick to the viewing point.
The stack appears different from its 1819 sketch by William Daniell, which depicted it with two legs, before storms removed one in the early 1800s.
Location: Orkney Islands
Elevation above the sea: 137 m
GPS coordinates: 58.88615,-3.43214
Latest update: May 26, 2025 21:43
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