Orkney Islands - Hoy 2014

Mention Hoy and the first thing that comes into the minds of anyone spoken to in Orkney is, Did you go to the "Old Man Of Hoy"?  We, no we didn't, it was quite a long walk from the end of the road and there were a lot of other things to see in one day.  We did a one day trip crossing by ferry, with the car, for the one hour crossing from Houton to Lyness.
However here is the "Old Man of Hoy" taken from the ferry when we left Orkney a few days later.  Also note we had been near to such objects on the west coast of Orkney.

Hoy is probably most noted for its role in WW2 and there is a considerable museum at Lyness in the old oil pumping station for oil storage and ship refueling.

This photo inside the air raid shelter located nearby.

One of the fuel storage tanks remains, but only as a relic.  Inside the museum the pumping equipment appears to be complete and the building and various displays as kept up by volunteers.  Drinks and food is available and helps with the funding.

There is some limited farming with good looking pastures shown here and below.

It was on Hoy that we saw an example of wave electricity generation.

As well as wind turbine generation.

 Most of the island is largely natural grassland where some grazing has been practiced as evidenced here with a few sheep.

Whereas in other places it is difficult to see the effect of grazing.

This view of a large valley from Rackwick toward Ward Hill and Linksness.

 Sea cliffs on the northern shores of Hoy.

Shingle beach at Rackwick on the west coast.  A narrow gravel road crosses the island from near Linksness with the only other road of significance following the east coast.

Land dedicated to conservation central on the island.

On the west coast there is a remains of an old, what appears to have been a crofting settlement.  Some buildings have been or are being restored.  A quaint roofing has been the topping with sod and grass as seen below.

A good example of cutting peat for burning (may be other uses).

Peat stacked on pallets to dry before carting away from the extraction site.

But for what were these tools used. They were in this rack and did not appear to be associated with any other activity.

Not a pretty design nor in keeping with other structures.







Below the Martello Tower on Hoy in association with a gun battery at Longhope in the south east on Hoy constructed in 1813to be sold off by the Defence Dept in 1945.  If you would like the whole story please request an original high density photo.

 

The view from the gun battery soldiers compound back to the Martello Tower.

 Part of the living quarters inside the tower.

 The gun on top of the tower which had a 360 degree capability.

View back from the tower toward the soldiers compound.  The V shaped gun firing parapet mounted with 8 24 pound cannon was located just to the right of the buildings.  It has since been removed.

The view from on top of the embankment surrounding and overlooking the gun powder magazine.  In the background the quarters and beyond the straights the fortification were to protect.  Across the Hope Firth from this at Crockness was another Martella Tower and between the tow had an overlapping trajectory to cover entry to the firth and also the straight between Flotta, seen here in the background.

Just in case you may think Hoy is a bit behind the times this is the very modern hydraulic ramp for loading vehicles and machinery on the off the ferry.  Incidentally partly funded through the European Economic Community as were similar projects on the islands.

Arriving back to Thurso after a week on Orkney.  The view from the ferry.