Hoy Hills
Hoy Hills
The hills of Hoy dominate the western views from Stromness. The biggest hills in Orkney. The inspiration, as in the image, for the picture actual came at the end of my families walk back from the Old Man of Hoy. But my memories of these hills that are linked here in this picture, for me, come from another day.
Not many people walk up Ward Hill, certainly there were no others on the day we went. The main reason must be the Skuas, as the view of Orkney mainland from the top was well worth the climb. The Skua nest on the hillside in the heather and quite rightly they protect their nests making the ascent and descent so much more interesting for anyone attempting this walk. Respect of these nests is crucial and the Skua will give you fair warning if you get too close. I will forever have a memory of my middle daughter who had insisted that she go ahead from the rest of us, cowering under her rucksack as she was dived bombed by an angry parent Skua, thankfully she could see the funny side, even now it makes me laugh to think about it.
Sadly recently these large birds have been infected on a large scale by bird flu. So much so that there is a genuine worry that they become extinct. Lets hope that will not be the case and that many more people experience the threat of the Skua whilst walking these hills.