Orkney - Hoy - Rackwick Beach to Moaness Walk

The Orkney - Hoy - Rackwick Beach to Moaness Walk is 16.4 km with 800 m of elevation gain, which puts it firmly in the medium category. On Hoy, that usually means a full day with sustained climbing, rougher hill terrain, and a route that feels more demanding than the distance alone suggests.

This route is in the same part of Hoy as the famous Old Man of Hoy walk, and Rackwick is the usual base for that coastal path. The classic out-and-back from Rackwick to the Old Man of Hoy is about 9.25 km return, so a 16.4 km Rackwick Beach to Moaness route is likely to cover a broader crossing of north Hoy rather than only the standard sea-stack viewpoint walk.

The route runs between Rackwick Beach and Moaness on the island of Hoy in Orkney. Rackwick is the remote bay on Hoy’s west side, while Moaness is the pier used by the passenger ferry from Stromness, so the walk links one of Hoy’s best-known beaches with one of its key arrival points.

Yes. Moaness is served by the passenger ferry from Stromness, and Orkney Ferries lists the Hoy (Moaness) service as passenger-only. Local walking information for Hoy also notes that foot passengers arriving at Moaness can walk through Rackwick Glen to reach Rackwick, which makes this point-to-point route practical without a car.

Yes. Rackwick has a small parking area near the bay, used by visitors heading to the beach and the Old Man of Hoy path. Space is limited because Rackwick is a tiny crofting settlement, so it is better treated as a small trailhead car park rather than a large formal parking lot.

Terrain around this route can be varied and rugged. The well-known paths near Rackwick include clear but stony sections, while longer Hoy hill routes are described locally as steep, exposed, often wet underfoot, and pathless in places, so a 16.4 km crossing with 800 m of ascent should be expected to include uneven ground and some boggier stretches.

The walk passes through one of Hoy’s most dramatic landscapes. Nearby landmarks include Rackwick Bay, the Old Man of Hoy sea stack, Rackwick Glen, Hoy Kirk near Moaness, and the Dwarfie Stane farther south in the glen system. The area is also known for high sandstone cliffs and views toward Hoy’s higher hills.