Old Man of Hoy

First ascent: Tom Patey, Rusty Baillie, Chris Bonnington 1966.
Original Route on the East Face (460 feet) (E1 or 5b)

This is one of the most famous sea stacks in Britain and it is composed of rather decaying Orcadian sandstone standing on a granite plinth and features five climbs ranging from an acceptable El right up to E6. The stack is found just to the north of Rora Head which is east of Rackwick on the small island of Hoy which can be seen from John O’Groats.

The plan is for a small group of friends to travel up sometime at the beginning of the summer; in time for the good weather. We shall most likely wild camp somewhere on the cliffs. I read about this climb years ago and promised myself that I would one day give it a go! It looks like a wonderful challenge…