Hoy and West Mainland National Scenic Area

Hoy and West Mainland National Scenic Area is a protected coastal zone across the Orkney Islands covering more than 24,000 hectares of land and sea. The landscape features high sea cliffs, rolling hills, and a rugged shoreline that spans several islands.

This protected landscape gained official recognition in 1981, following recommendations from the 1945 Ramsay Committee for scenic area designations. This gradual institutional recognition reflects the enduring value placed on this Orkney coastal region.

The area contains several prehistoric monuments including Maeshowe passage grave and the Standing Stones of Stenness and Ring of Brodgar, which remain central to the landscape today. These ancient sites shape how people experience and understand this remote corner of Scotland.

Visitors reach the area by regular ferry services from mainland Scotland to the Orkney Islands. Multiple hiking trails and observation points are distributed across the protected zone, offering exploration options at different difficulty levels.

The distinctive Old Man of Hoy rock stack rises from the sea near St John's Head, where the cliffs reach about 350 meters vertically above the North Sea. This isolated stone column attracts climbers and tells the story of dramatic coastal erosion across these islands.

Location: Orkney Islands

GPS coordinates: 58.94000,-3.20000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:08