Day 19 - Hoy (South) and South Walls

I started the day with a run around Finstown.  It was a lovely sunny morning.  The main road in front of the lodge is extremely busy and there is not much pavement.  I managed just under 5km on the pavements available.  It would not be safe to run on the side of the road.

 

View taken on my run, from other side of the bay to where we are staying

The lodges are on the shore to the left.  We are in the leftmost one, upstairs

 

We took the ferry from Houton, on the south coast of Mainland to Lyness in the south of Hoy and cycled to Longhope on the island of South Walls.  The roads were good and most of the ride was by the coast, so not too hilly.  Hoy and South Walls are separated by a causeway.  Both Lyness and Longhope are served by the same ferry.  They are not far apart but separated by a stretch of water so you have to drive about 13km to get between them on the roads.  

 

Hoy Head ferry from Houton to Lyness

 

St Johns Kirk - more of a heritage centre now

 

Inside St Johns Kirk - more of a heritage centre now 

 

Derelict cottage that is cared for outside.  

Grass cut and a seat with inscription "Jeannie Laird's Cottage"

 

Derelict cottage that is cared for outside.  

Grass cut has recently been cut and plants are well tended.

 

Baa Baa Black Sheep

 

The Causeway between Hoy and South Walls

This is probably the most unpretty and rundown part of the islands that we have seen.  There are a lot of deserted or derelict houses or buildings about.  We passed a few car scrap yards but there was no-one about.  The houses that are occupied are usually well maintained with nice gardens.  There are no shops in either village.  There is a hotel in Longhope but that was not open although someone was cutting the grass in the grounds.  We used their picnic tables for our lunch.  We have seen a lot of pubs, hotels and restaurants around the islands that are closed and wondered it they are only open from June onwards.

 

Old Custom House at Longhope

 

Harbour and RNLI lifeboat station at Longhope

 

Uninhabited buildings on South Walls

 

Art Deco building on Hoy - former Garrison Theatre, build in 1942 to entertain war personnel

Now privately owned, it has nice garden with pond and japanese bridge

 

 

Turkey in farmyard

This is probably the most unpretty and rundown part of the islands that we have seen.  There are a lot of deserted or derelict houses or buildings about.  We passed a few car scrap yards but there was no-one about.  The houses that are occupied are usually well maintained with nice gardens.  There are no shops in either village.  There is a hotel in Longhope but that was not open although someone was cutting the grass in the grounds.  We used their picnic tables for our lunch.  We have seen a lot of pubs, hotels and restaurants around the islands that are closed and wondered it they are only open from June onwards.

The ferry back stopped at the Island of Flotta which is mainly used for the Oil Industry and where the Oil is stored before being transferred to the tankers that visit each day.

 

 

Paul on Ferry

 

Approaching Flotta Island with Oil Storage Tanks

 

 

Some type of dredging work attracting hundreds of gulls

 

We drove to a couple of places along the south coast, one being the Earls Bu and the other alongside a hill where there were some Hen Harriers hunting.

 

Remains of The Earls Bu  

Former drinking hall referenced in the Orkneyinga Saga

 

Graveyard in the grounds of The Earls Bu

 

Waulkmill Bay

 

Hare in the long grass