The Hole of the Horses opens through Devonian cliffs, where waves rush beneath a dramatic coastal arch.
Walk the shoreline and experience one of Rousay’s most striking natural formations.
Devonian geological formation, formed over 375–400 million years ago.
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Hole of the Horses
The Hole of the Horses is a coastal geological feature located on the island of Rousay, along the rugged northern coastline near Scabra Head. It is a dramatic natural sea arch and coastal chasm, where the sea passes through a narrow opening carved into the cliffs. The site lies within a wild shoreline shaped by continuous wave erosion, with steep rock faces, grassy headlands and wide views across the North Atlantic and neighbouring islands. Nearby, visitors can also explore important archaeological sites such as Midhowe Broch and Midhowe Chambered Cairn on Rousay’s south coast, creating a landscape where natural processes and human history come together within the same small island.
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