Hoy Island Tour: Discover Orkney's Hidden Gem

Explore Hoy’s rugged beauty, Neolithic wonders, and wartime history with passionate local guides. Discover hidden gems and wildlife on this unforgettable day trip.

Duration: 8 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Betty Corrigall’s Grave - Discover one of the most secluded graves in the UK and learn about the poignant tale of Betty Corrigall.
  • Dwarfie Stane - Explore the ancient tomb of the Dwarfie Stane, uniquely carved from a massive sandstone block, a one-of-a-kind site in the British Isles.
  • Rackwick - Visit the remote settlement in the…
What's Included
  • Private transportation
  • Public transportation (bus, subway, cable car, etc.)
  • Tea and coffee
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Join us for an exciting full-day tour to the breathtaking island of Hoy — the second largest island in Orkney, offering a unique experience unlike any other in the archipelago. With its expansive moorlands and rugged charm, Hoy is perfect for nature enthusiasts, history buffs, and adventurous travelers alike.
Guided by our enthusiastic local experts,…

Location
Travel centre
Meet at stand 5 at the Kirkwall Bus Station
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(5 Ratings)
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F5459fycolinb
Sep 26, 2025
Amazing - This 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) !!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
H5152pvrobertd
Sep 26, 2025
A Great Way to See Hoy - I 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.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lindask4721qw
Sep 14, 2025
Windy Hoy - Despite 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.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sophiesox2015
Jun 20, 2025
A perfect day led by Dougie - We 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!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Connaughtm
Jun 6, 2025
Stunning Hoy - This 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.
Review provided by Tripadvisor