Orkney day 7: a ferry to Hoy

Another day of island hopping. An early start and off we went to Hoy. Such a contrast to the mainland as Hoy is dominated by two large mountains and the landscape is highland - swathes of heather and bog, looming and magnificent. We walked through the central valley, 9 miles there and back, but what a fantastic walk. Overhead skuas wheeled and chattered, and underfoot were a mass of bog plants - louseworts, sundews, bog cotton. At the end of the valley is a most beautiful bouldered strand. By this time the sun was out, the sea was turquoise, and two sets of hearty climbing teams were off to climb the Old Man. We didn't have time to do that extra bit of walking but had a picnic down by the sea (including a rather novel Orkney specialty - macaroni cheese tarts) and did a spot of bimbling. Rackwick was once a thriving little community but now many of the old crofts are derelict. I could move in here tomorrow.

Seriously glowing, we returned on the ferry and had chips down by the seafront in Stromness. The Folk Festival was kicking off and decided on the spur of the moment to try and get into a concert that was just starting. It was a local musician's birthday celebration and he invited many other musicians to join him. Best of all were Saltfishforty 

Orkney day 5
Orkney day 6