Holm of Faray Island
Tidal islet in Orkney, Scotland
A small Orkney islet, Holm of Faray is visited by birdwatchers and sea kayakers; the island's coastal shelves and nearby channels support seabird colonies and seal sightings.
Holm of Faray at a Glance#
About Holm of Faray#
Holm of Faray is a small, uninhabited islet in the Orkney archipelago off northern Scotland. It is one of several ‘holms’ clustered near the island of Faray.
The shoreline is rocky with short grass and coastal habitat typical of small Orkney islets. It is visited mainly by boaters and naturalists for shoreline exploration and seabird observation.
There are no known permanent structures on the islet and no recorded modern settlement. Like many small Orkney holms it has no infrastructure and has remained largely unchanged by development.
The islet sits immediately adjacent to the island of Faray in the northern part of the Orkney group, north of Mainland Orkney. Approaches are from nearby harbours on surrounding islands by private craft.
- Access: No facilities or services are available on the islet; visits require a privately chartered boat and basic landing gear for rocky shores.
How to Get to Holm of Faray#
Holm of Faray is reached only by private boat. The nearest inhabited islands with regular ferry links are Westray and Eday; from there, local boat operators and wildlife tour skippers can arrange trips when weather permits.
Best Time to Visit Holm of Faray#
A small, uninhabited skerry off the Orkney archipelago best visited on calm summer days.
Weather & Climate near Holm of Faray#
Continental climate with cool summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from 3°C to 15°C. Abundant rainfall (1076 mm/year), wettest in November.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 3° - 7° | 1° | 112 mm | overcast | 83% | 8.2 m/s | 0.0 low | 6.7h |
| February | Poor | 3° - 7° | 0° | 87 mm | overcast | 83% | 7.9 m/s | 0.1 low | 9.0h |
| March | Poor | 3° - 7° | 0° | 99 mm | overcast | 83% | 7.6 m/s | 0.2 low | 11.6h |
| April | Poor | 4° - 8° | 2° | 66 mm | overcast | 84% | 6.6 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 14.3h |
| May | Acceptable | 6° - 10° | 5° | 51 mm | overcast | 84% | 5.8 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 16.8h |
| June | Acceptable | 8° - 12° | 10° | 54 mm | overcast | 85% | 5.4 m/s | 1.2 high | 18.2h |
| July | Acceptable | 10° - 14° | 12° | 60 mm | overcast | 86% | 5.1 m/s | 1.1 high | 17.5h |
| August | Acceptable | 10° - 15° | 12° | 73 mm | overcast | 86% | 5.1 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 15.3h |
| September | Poor | 9° - 13° | 11° | 103 mm | overcast | 85% | 6.3 m/s | 0.4 low | 12.6h |
| October | Poor | 7° - 11° | 6° | 120 mm | overcast | 84% | 7.2 m/s | 0.1 low | 10.0h |
| November | Poor | 5° - 9° | 3° | 131 mm | overcast | 84% | 7.5 m/s | 0.0 low | 7.4h |
| December | Poor | 4° - 8° | 2° | 120 mm | overcast | 83% | 7.7 m/s | 0.0 low | 5.9h |
