Hoy and West Mainland
341 places worth going to (216 in the area, the rest just outside), ranked across 13 interests. For most trips the best base is Stromness. National Scenic Area, 244 km².
Ready-made plans: A weekend · 3 days · A week · A weekend with kids
Pick a base
Ranked by the best places within a 30-minute drive, and by trains, buses and boats.- No. 1Stromness4 bus stops within 400 m; boats from Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminal246 places within a 30-minute drive
- No. 2Finstown3 bus stops within 400 m251 places within a 30-minute drive
- No. 3Houtonboats from Houton Orkney Ferry Terminal180 places within a 30-minute drive
- No. 4Harray1 bus stops within 400 m249 places within a 30-minute drive
- No. 5Stenness2 bus stops within 400 m257 places within a 30-minute drive
- No. 6Orphir1 bus stops within 400 m179 places within a 30-minute drive
- No. 7RackwickNo train, bus or boat stops recorded nearby12 places within a 30-minute drive
Things to do
Ranked for any trip.- Motorbike roads2
- History225
- Views86
- Hikes56
- Food and pubs22
- Family14
- Rainy day14
- Art8
- Film and TV2
- Markets2
- Adventure1
- Bothies1
- Camping1
- Unusual stays1
No. 1
No. 2
No. 3
No. 4
No. 5
No. 6
No. 7
No. 8
No. 9
No. 10
No. 11
No. 12
No. 13No. 14
The Bayleaf DelicatessenFood and pubs
No. 15
No. 16No. 17
Skara Brae CafeFood and pubsNo. 18
Orkney Brewery CafeFood and pubsNo. 19
Ring of BookanHistory and heritageNo. 20
Maeshowe Visitor CentreHistory and heritageNo. 21
Waterfront GalleryArt and galleriesNo. 22
Chambered CairnHistory and heritageNo. 23
Old Man of HoyHikes and fellsNo. 24
Orkney Cycle HireClimbing and adventureNo. 25
South KnoweHistory and heritageNo. 26
Stromness Swimming Pool and Fitness CentreRainy dayNo. 27
FloriFood and pubsNo. 28
Vintage Paper Co caféFood and pubs
No. 29No. 30
Adams PlaceFood and pubsNo. 31
Smithfield Hotel and RestaurantFood and pubs
No. 32
No. 33No. 34
Ballarat House,burnt moundHistory and heritageNo. 35
Beneth'ill CafeFood and pubsNo. 36
Big Howe, BrochHistory and heritageNo. 37
Billia Fiold, enclosures, platforms and banksHistory and heritageNo. 38
Boardhouse,mound 225m SSE of,BimbisterHistory and heritageNo. 39
Breckness, Chapel and Burial-groundHistory and heritageNo. 40
Bridge of Scuan, bridge, 350m NNE of ScuanHistory and heritageNo. 41
Brockan, burnt mound 300m S ofHistory and heritageNo. 42
Brough of Bigging promontory fortHistory and heritageNo. 43
Bu of Orphir, burnt mound and mill dam 250m NW of Bu FarmHistory and heritage
No. 44No. 45
Burn of Selta, farmsteads, field system and associated remainsHistory and heritageNo. 46
Burnt mounds (prehistoric)History and heritageNo. 47
Burrian BrochHistory and heritageNo. 48
Burrian BrochHistory and heritageNo. 49
Burrian BrochHistory and heritageNo. 50
Cumbla Newgarth, mounds, 200m NNE of QueanHistory and heritageNo. 51
Cummi Howe BrochHistory and heritageNo. 52
Diamond Cottage,defended promontory N ofHistory and heritageNo. 53
East Bigging, burnt mound 390m S ofHistory and heritageNo. 54
Easthouse, burnt mound 100m SSW ofHistory and heritageNo. 55
Fan Knowe, burnt mound 210m W of Hyval CottageHistory and heritage
No. 56No. 57
Groundwater, burial mounds 500m ENE ofHistory and heritageNo. 58
Groundwater, mound 200m NNW of, Loch of KirbisterHistory and heritageNo. 59
Hall of Ireland, cairns 320m NW ofHistory and heritageNo. 60
Handest, settlement, DounbyHistory and heritageNo. 61
Hillock of Breakna BrochHistory and heritageNo. 62
Houton Head, battery 325m W of SunnybraesHistory and heritage
No. 63No. 64
Howaback, mound, HourstonHistory and heritageNo. 65
Howe Harper,cairn 300m NW of Binscarth,FinstownHistory and heritageNo. 66
Howen BroughHistory and heritageNo. 67
Kingshouse, mounds 390m NE of and 470m NNE ofHistory and heritageNo. 68
Knowe of AngerowHistory and heritageNo. 69
Knowe of Burrian BrochHistory and heritageNo. 70
Knowe of Esgar (burnt mounds Prehistoric)History and heritageNo. 71
Knowe Of Gullow BrochHistory and heritageNo. 72
Knowe of Makerhouse (Burnt Stones - Prehistoric)History and heritageNo. 73
Knowe of Yesko (Prehistoric barrows)History and heritageNo. 74
Knowes of Trinnawin, mounds 830m and 560m SE of Upper BiggingHistory and heritageNo. 75
Knowes of TrottyHistory and heritageNo. 76
Lavacroon, settlement W of Bu of OrphirHistory and heritageNo. 77
Leafea, standing stones 535m SSW of Broadshore HouseHistory and heritageNo. 78
Linga Fiolds, mounds 220m NW of Upper Lyking CottageHistory and heritageNo. 79
Little Barnhouse, mound, 160m NE ofHistory and heritageNo. 80
Loch Of Clumly BrochHistory and heritageNo. 81
Loch of Harray,broch on W shore ofHistory and heritageNo. 82
Loch of Kirbister,enclosures on Holm of GroundwaterHistory and heritage
No. 83No. 84
Midhouse, burial mounds 450m S ofHistory and heritageNo. 85
Ness Battery, coast defence battery, StromnessHistory and heritageNo. 86
Ness Battery, gun emplacements 300m SSE of, StromnessHistory and heritageNo. 87
Ness, mound 140m NW of, GrimestonHistory and heritageNo. 88
Nether Benzieclett, farmstead, SkeabraeHistory and heritageNo. 89
Nettletar, broch 250m SW ofHistory and heritageNo. 90
Newhouse, cairn 35m SE ofHistory and heritageNo. 91
North Bigging BrochHistory and heritageNo. 92
Overbigging, enclosure 160m W ofHistory and heritageNo. 93
Quoyer,mound 480m NNW ofHistory and heritageNo. 94
Ring of Brogar, stone circle, henge and nearby remainsHistory and heritageNo. 95
Rosemount & Easthouse, mounds 150m SW of & 350m WSW of EasthouseHistory and heritageNo. 96
Sandola, mound 20m SE ofHistory and heritageNo. 97
Scad Head, coast artillery battery, camp and railway, HoyHistory and heritageNo. 98
Setter,two moundsHistory and heritageNo. 99
Skae FrueHistory and heritageNo. 100
Skara Brae, settlement, mounds and other remainsHistory and heritageNo. 101
Skerry batteryHistory and heritageNo. 102
Slack, square barrow cemetery 360m S and 550m SE of, Braebuster, HoyHistory and heritageNo. 103
Smithfield Hotel CafeFood and pubsNo. 104
South Seatter, mound 220m NNE of, YesnabyHistory and heritageNo. 105
South Unigarth, souterrainHistory and heritageNo. 106
St Nicholas's Church (ruins) aka Orkney Round Church C12History and heritageNo. 107
Stackrue, broch and chapel 350m W of Lyking, WasbisterHistory and heritageNo. 108
Staney Hill HengeHistory and heritageNo. 109
Staney Hill,standing stone 400m NNE of FeolquoyHistory and heritageNo. 110
Stones of Via, enclosure and stone setting, Loch of ClumlyHistory and heritageNo. 111
Syra Dale,two cairns 380m NNE of SetterHistory and heritageNo. 112
The Ferry InnFood and pubsNo. 113
The Hillock Broch, FinstownHistory and heritageNo. 114
Upper Cairn,souterrain,BraebusterHistory and heritageNo. 115
Upper Sower, coastal battery N of, ClestrainHistory and heritageNo. 116
Verron, broch, platform and cultivation rigs, N of Bay of SkaillHistory and heritageNo. 117
Vestra Fiold, enclosure, quarry and cairn 430m W of HillcrestHistory and heritageNo. 118
Vetquoy, mounds N of LochsideHistory and heritageNo. 119
Wasbister, burial mounds and settlement 650m SE of Buckan CottageHistory and heritageNo. 120
Wasbister, mounds SSE of The BrecksHistory and heritageTop 10s in Hoy and West Mainland
Top 10 hikes and fells
- Old Man of Hoy2.6 km from Rackwick
- Cuilags4.2 km from Rackwick
- Keelylang Hill4.0 km from Finstown, just outside the area
- Knap of Trowieglen4.3 km from Rackwick, just outside the area
- Ward Hill2.1 km from Orphir
- Hill of Heddle1.0 km from Finstown, just outside the area
- Hill of Lynedardy3.0 km from Stromness
- Hill of Midland1.4 km from Houton
- Hill of Miffia4.7 km from Stromness
- Kame of Corrigall3.7 km from Harray, just outside the area
Top 10 pubs and places to eat
- The Bayleaf Delicatessenin Stromness
- Skara Brae Cafe10 km from Stromness, just outside the area
- Orkney Brewery Cafe12 km from Stromness, just outside the area
- Floriin Stromness
- Vintage Paper Co caféin Stromness
- Adams Placein Stromness
- Smithfield Hotel and Restaurant4.3 km from Harray, just outside the area
- Beneth'ill Cafe5.2 km from Stromness
- Smithfield Hotel Cafe4.3 km from Harray, just outside the area
- The Ferry Innin Stromness
Top 10 with kids
- Moaness Pier5.1 km from Stromness
- Firth Parkin Finstown, just outside the area
- Haven inside the Bay - memorial parkin Stromness
- Linburns Pierin Stromness
- Manse Parkin Stromness
- Market Green1.0 km from Stromness
- North Pierin Stromness
- Pole Star Pierin Stromness
- Skaill Falconry9.9 km from Stromness, just outside the area
- South Pierin Stromness
Top 10 views and photo spots
- Ring of Brodgar2.0 km from Stenness
- Old Man of Hoy2.6 km from Rackwick
- Hoy High Lighthouse3.2 km from Stromness
- Hoy Low2.4 km from Stromness
- Tormiston Mill1.7 km from Stenness
- Cuilags4.2 km from Rackwick
- Keelylang Hill4.0 km from Finstown, just outside the area
- Knap of Trowieglen4.3 km from Rackwick, just outside the area
- Ward Hill2.1 km from Orphir
- Bay of Creekland4.7 km from Stromness
Top 10 castles and history
- Maes HoweScheduled monument, 1.8 km from Stenness
- Stones of StennessScheduled monument, in Stenness
- Skaill HouseCategory A listed, 9.8 km from Stromness, just outside the area
- Ring of Brodgar2.0 km from Stenness
- Dwarfie StaneScheduled monument, 8.6 km from Stromness
- Unstan CairnScheduled monument, 2.2 km from Stenness
- Cuween HillScheduled monument, 1.1 km from Finstown, just outside the area
- Stromness Museumin Stromness
- Ness of Brodgar1.3 km from Stenness
- Barnhouse SettlementScheduled monument, 1.1 km from Stenness
Top 10 for a rainy day
- Stromness Museumin Stromness
- Pier Arts Centrein Stromness
- Waterfront Galleryin Stromness
- Stromness Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre1.1 km from Stromness
- Craa Nestin Rackwick
- The Old Schoolin Rackwick
- Gallery + Studioin Stromness
- Glen Housein Rackwick
- North Light Galleryin Stromness
- Heddle Hill Circuit1.1 km from Finstown, just outside the area
Festivals in reach
1 in or within 25 km of Hoy and West Mainland- St Magnus FestivalOrkney Islands · 8.2 km awayDate not announced
Where to stay
2 stays ranked. Prices are not shown: we have no open price data yet.Getting here
Stops counted from NaPTAN, the national public transport list.No base has a train station within 1.5 km.
Base towns are compared by 30-minute drive and walk areas from Valhalla routing over OpenStreetMap. Times from your own home town come next.