Island in Orkney Islands, Scotland
| Coordinates: | 58.847, -3.246 |
|---|---|
| OS grid ref: | ND 28 96 |
| Dialling code: | 01856 (Orkney) |
Hoy is the rugged, hilly island at the southern end of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, best known for the spectacular sea stack of the Old Man of Hoy, the wind‑swept bay of Rackwick and the towering cliffs of St John's Head. Its landscape is dominated by moor and heather and by Ward Hill, the island’s highest summit, giving dramatic coastal scenery that attracts climbers, walkers and birdwatchers-there are important seabird colonies and a real sense of remoteness compared with Orkney’s more populated islands.
Hoy also has striking historical layers: the mysterious carved tomb of the Dwarfie Stane, Norse place‑names reflecting long Viking influence, and 20th‑century naval history around Lyness and neighbouring Scapa Flow, where the First World War scuttling left a maritime legacy. The economy is small and mixed-crofting and sheep farming alongside tourism-and life is shaped by close‑knit, sparsely scattered communities and a culture that balances traditional island living with visitors drawn to its scenery and history.