Overview
Available languages
8 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Join us for a full-day tour to the spectacular island of Hoy — the second largest island in Orkney and unlike anywhere else in the archipelago. With sweeping moorlands and rugged beauty, Hoy is great for nature lovers, history enthusiasts, and curious travellers alike.
Led by our passionate local guides, this tour combines stunning scenery with local stories, Neolithic wonders, and wartime history. Highlights include the mysterious Dwarfie Stane, the wild beauty of Rackwick , the moving memorial of Betty Corrigall’s grave and many more hidden gems along the way.
Our small group format creates a relaxed and personal experience. Our guides don’t just follow a script — they share their own connection to the island, bringing it to life. And throughout the day, we keep a lookout for Hoy’s rich wildlife, from soaring birds of prey to seals and more.
Hoy is a truly special place — let us take you there in comfort, so you can sit back, relax, and fully take in the experience.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Please note: The seats in our vehicle are between 48cm and 51cm wide. While there is generous legroom, the seat width may feel restrictive for some guests. If you think this may affect your comfort, you're welcome to purchase an additional seat. Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns – we're happy to help.
What To Expect
Betty Corrigall’s Grave
Visit one of the loneliest graves in the UK, here the sad story of Betty Corrigall.
Dwarfie Stane
Visit the ancient tomb of the Dwarfie Stane, carved out of a massive block of solid sandstone, this tomb is unique to the British Isles.
Options
Island of Hoy Day Trip
What‘s Included
Transportation in a comfortable 8 seater vehicle.
We provide a hot drink at lunchtime
Ferry fare to Hoy included
Please bring a packed lunch as food outlets on the island are remote
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
8 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Excellent tour of Hoy by Orkney Travel
AndyFinkel,Jun 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our tour guide Garry, proprietor of Orkney Travel, collected the 6 participants promptly at 09.15 in Kirkwall, drove us to Houton where we took the ferry to Lyness on Hoy, drove us round Hot and delivered us back to Kirkwall at 17.45. Garry was an excellent guide, sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with the group but without being intrusive. The itinerary on Hoy included various viewpoints, a walk to the Dwarfie Staine neolithic burial site, and a picnic lunch on Rackwick beach, where Garry supplied us with tea, coffee and Tunnocks caramel wafers. My wife and I wanted to spend time at the Scapa Flow museum, and Garry dropped us off there before taking the rest of the group for a nature walk on the south of the island. He informed us that if the weather had been bad, he could have changed the itinerary to suit, thereby demonstrating flexibility to suit the guests. The trip does not include a visit to the Old Man of Hoy, because that would require a 6 mile hike over difficult terrain. However, the schoolhouse at Rackwick which was included in the tour contains an exhibit with many good photos of the Old Man of Hoy, so we got a good idea of what it looks like. Overall, it was an excellent day.
Hoy adventure
Fairport77,May 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Another great day trip with excellent tour guide Ron We explored the island of Hoy and learnt many things The highlight for me was a wonderful story told so eloquently about the Lifeboat station and the tragedy to befall the crew although those years ago
Getting the most out of Hoy
TravelLovingGurl,Apr 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was the second trip I did with Garry. I would highly recommend it as Garry is so amenable, knowledgeable and pleasant to spend time with. His tours are hugely informative whilst having a way of making you feel relaxed. He even brough tea and a snack for our lunch stop - talk about going above and beyond! I wanted to travel to Hoy but it's not easy to get around alone so this day trip was an excellent way of seeing it - Garry covered the entire island. I would never have seen these things alone, even with a car. His knowledge is incredible - knowing myself and the other client were interested in nature, he made sure to stop at the nature reserve. Would definitely recommend for anyone.
Amazing
F5459FYcolinb,Sep 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour was the highlight of my Scotland vacation, Ron the tour guide was easy going, professional, informative, welcoming and with a great sense of humour. Every stop we made was excellent and Ron let us have as much time as we wanted. * I believe I was wth the same group that Linda S had previously discussed. I totally agree - an amazing group that added greatly to my experience. I will never forgot Dwarfie Stane! Thank you Ron (and our group) !!!
A Great Way to See Hoy
H5152PVrobertd,Sep 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I highly recommend the full day tour to the island of Hoy in the Orkneys. We had a full van, with 8 passengers and an excellent driver/guide named Doogie. We drove to the ferry terminal at Houton, where we drove onto the "Hoy Head" ferry boat. After a pleasant 30-minute ferry ride, we arrived on the island of Hoy. We headed north to Lyrawa Hill. From atop Lyrawa Hill, you can see a salmon Farm in Scapa Flow, with Stromness (on the mainland) in the background. This was followed by a short hike to see the Dwarfie Stane, the only known rock-cut tomb in Great Britain. It was hollowed out 5000 years ago to honour the dead. We continued to Rackwick. This once thriving community is now nearly a ghost town. Three of the old buildings are now small museums. We went inside the house called Craa Nest (Crow's Nest). The view from Craa Nest is spectacular. Rackwick Bay has tall cliffs on both sides. Nearby is the Old Rackwick School, in use from 1718-1953, with a traditional Orkney slate roof. In the afternoon we visited the Longhope Lifeboat Museum. There we saw the Thomas McCunn Lifeboat, which was inaugurated in 1933. Afterwards, we drove to see a more modern lifeboat. The RNLB Helen Comrie was the first electronic lifeboat in the RNLI. Our last stop was the highlight for me. Near the ferry terminal in Lyness is the Scapa Flow Museum. I wrote a separate review for the Scapa Flow Museum. After our tour of Hoy, we once again boarded the ferry to go back to the mainland. We arrived back in Kirkwall at 5:45 p.m.
Windy Hoy
lindasK4721QW,Sep 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Despite the wind we seen everything and more A great small group of 5 that bonded really well made it a more personal experience shared with friends. Dwarfie Stane well worth the walk.
A perfect day led by Dougie
sophiesox2015,Jun 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a fantastic day trip to the island of Hoy yesterday with Dougie from Orkney Travel. The entire day was beautifully planned and ran smoothly from start to finish. The itinerary struck a great balance—informative, engaging and never rushed. Dougie’s knowledge of the island’s history, landscape and wildlife was absolutely top-notch. He has a real gift for storytelling and made the island come alive for us. The minibus was comfortable, which made the journey in the heat, more enjoyable. One of the real highlights was the picnic lunch on the beach, lovely food and lovely scenery! Overall, a brilliant experience. We’d highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Orkney!
Stunning Hoy
connaughtm,Jun 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This trip went ahead even though I was the only person on it. Great guiding from local resident Ron. This is a well run company that I recommend using and would use again.
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Operated by Orkney Travel