Rackwick is a special place. Situated on the west coast of Hoy, one of the westernmost islands in Orkney, it takes the full force of Atlantic gales and has a microclimate of warmth in the summer. Rackwick is rich in history and folklore; stories often relate to very specific places. For Orcadians it is a place of escape, inspiration, childhood memories and adventure; many camped there or went on Sunday picnics during childhood.  For the visitor it has become a ‘must see’ place on the Orkney tourist trail for the walk along the cliffs to the Old Man of Hoy, a huge 137m high sea stack. For the climber, it is a resting place after an ascent of the Old Man, staying in the bothy at Burnmouth.

Reaching a point of near abandonment in the 1970s, Rackwick is once again home to a small but resilient community. The reinvention of…