Old Man of Hoy - East Face

Sea stacks are the maritime equivalent of desert towers: solitary, spectacular, and usually crumbling. Probably the most famous of them all, the Old Man of Hoy in the northern Scottish archipelago of Orkney, certainly embodies all three aspects. It cemented its place in history with the 1967 triple ascent, filmed and broadcast live by the BBC, shortly after the 1966 first ascent.

This is part of a poster trilogy showcasing all aspects of the sea stack. This one is the east face, featuring the 1966 Original Route and a few of its variants, which probably sees 99% of ascents. The other two are the North and West Faces, and the South and West Faces.

Route List

1: Original Route (East Face), E1 5b, Baillie, Bonnington, Patey, 1966/Brown, Crew, 1967

2: A Few Dollars More, E3 5c, Braithwaite, Hamilton, Whillance, 1994