Hoy and West Mainland National Scenic Area

The national scenic area spans 24,407 hectares across Hoy and West Mainland, featuring high sea cliffs, rolling hills, and marine territories along the Scottish coast.

The designation of this protected landscape emerged from the 1945 Ramsay Committee recommendations, leading to its official establishment as a National Scenic Area in 1981.

The region contains the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site, including Maeshowe passage grave, Standing Stones of Stenness, and Ring of Brodgar stone circle.

Visitors access the area through regular ferry services from mainland Scotland, with numerous hiking trails and observation points distributed across the protected zone.

The Old Man of Hoy sea stack stands near St John's Head, where coastal cliffs reach heights of 350 meters above the North Sea waters.

Location: Orkney Islands

GPS coordinates: 58.94000,-3.20000

Latest update: March 5, 2025 18:33