The Old Man of Hoy

Trip to the Old Man of Hoy

First glimpse of the Old Man of Hoy

Our trip to the Old Man of Hoy was one that was long anticipated by the 3 of us (me, my dad and Dan Bradley). The idea of trying to climb this famous sea stack had come about around 2 years before the actual event.  The first date we set was unfortunately cancelled due to Dan inconsiderately dislocating his ankle and braking his Talus bone - how selfish! After that the trip was put to one side as we knew it would not be possible for a long time. Fortunately a year later an opportunity arose where we were all able to make the long journey up to the remote Orkney Islands to attempt our goal. The weather did not look fantastic but it was our only chance to try and we had to give it a go.

Finally the time came and on Thursday 21st June we set off on the 9 hour car journey up to Scrabster. The trip did not seem to be as long as it actually was with a good book and an entertaining "mooing" sound on the sat nav, the time passed relatively quickly. Once we had reached the top of the scottish mainland, it was an hour and a half ferry to Stromness which would be our stopping point for the night. Unsurprisingly the weather was pretty poor with a strong cold wind, miserable clouds and a hint of rain, as we passed the ominous site of the great sea stack on the ferry.  It was not the most inviting prospect that the next day we would be trying to climb the thing. Finally we reached the fishing town of Stromness and we had a welcome stay in a very pleasant hotel.

 

As we woke the next morning, the sun poked through the clouds and gave us hope that the weather would subdue long enough for us to complete our climb. But after a hearty breakfast it was not such a bright prospect. As we boarded the ferry to the Isle of Hoy, the clouds and wind once again set upon us and it was seeming more and more unlikely that we would be able to climb. We reached the island and we had a short taxi drive to the start of the walk across the island to the sea stack. Unsurprisingly we didn't see a single other car on the journey, as Hoy has a booming population of approximately 272 people. The taxi dropped us off and we changed in to some more weather resilient clothing before setting off on what was supposedly a 15 minute walk.

An hour later we arrived at the top of the cliff by the Old Man after walking through pounding winds and such low fog that our view was depleted to just about 50 metres. The rain picked up and teamed with the vapour in the fog, by the time we reached the end of the walk, we were soaked to the skin. As we stood on the cliff looking out at the ominous sight of the great sea stack, we couldn't help but be intimidated by the fog that gripped the top couple of pitches of the climb. It was then that we had to make the decision that we would be unable to climb it that
day because we new that if we sat on a belay towards the top of the climb, no matter what clothing we were wearing, the gale force oceon wind and the water vapour from the fog lingering in the air, hyperthermia would be a very real possibility and none of us were to keen to risk it. Nevertheless we made the short trek down to the base of the old man. The huge sea stack towered above us still bathed in fog with Fulmars - a kind of seagull that vomits on you if you get too close - circling around. I climbed a grand total of 2  metres up, not a particularly impressive ascent but evidence that I have climbed on the rock nonetheless. Sadly, we returned to the top of the cliff and enjoyed some fruit pastilles, the only food we brought with us - some great planning there! From there we made the 4 mile walk back to the populated part of Hoy, we were slower than the walk in with no excitement of a climb to come to drive us on, just the fact that for now we had been defeated.

From the end of the walk we again got the taxi and went to a place called "The Hoy Hotel". This had been a bit of a gamble to stay on Hoy so that we could try again to climb the next day. However the hotel was... i'll say.... 'interesting' to say the least. We were waited on by, and I quote, "Probably the best chef in the whole of Orkney"! After having some fanastic food the day before, we had a huge menu to choose from - scampi and chips or fish and chips - as the chef would have to go to the local shop to make anything else. Despite this, we ate hungrily because of the lack of food, other than fruit pastilles, that we had eaten that day. We then played darts for a while, which I can safely say I have a natural talent for, no wait I mean i'm terrible at! We reflected on our day's failier and debated what our next plan of attack was for the next day, and then retired to bed.

Sadly, on the Saturday we stood by the plaque warning of the lack of rescue for anyone stuck on the Old Man, we yet again made the decision to give up as we knew it was not worth making the walk in only to say the conditions were too poor again. And so, fully defeated we returned to the ferry and left Hoy for good but determined to return to conquer what had beaten us. We quickly made the switch to the ferry back to the scottish mainland, and then yet again faced the long drive home, with new found determination that we would return and succeed.