Hotels in Hackness

Hackness and its military history

Hackness Battery and Hackness Martello Tower give Hackness a clear focus for travellers interested in military history. The Battery was built between 1813 and 1815 to protect the anchorage in Longhope Sound from attacks by American privateers. The site is a well-preserved example of the military fortifications of its time. Its history can be divided into periods: after its construction to protect the anchorage came a change to its armament; later, it was also used during the First World War.

Construction history and armament

Hackness Battery was originally equipped with eight 24-pounder guns. In 1866, it was modified to accommodate four 68-pounder guns. The comparison makes the change clear: the number of guns fell from eight to four, while their designation changed from 24-pounders to 68-pounders. The figures refer to different points in time, not to a single, simultaneous configuration. The original task of protecting the anchorage from attacks should also be distinguished from the later uses during the First World War. The history therefore encompasses both a change in armament and different periods and roles.

Naval service and Scapa Flow

During the First World War, Hackness Martello Tower was used as a naval signal station. Naval personnel operated the boom defences at Hackness Battery to protect an entrance to Scapa Flow. The roles are distinct: the tower served as a signal station, while the boom defences were operated at the Battery. Scapa Flow appears in two different contexts here: as a view from the tower and as the point of reference for the boom defences at one of its entrances.

The Martello Tower in its Scottish context

Hackness Martello Tower is about 10 metres high and one of only three surviving Martello towers in Scotland. It also offers views across Scapa Flow. The structure’s rarity across Scotland puts the local site in a wider Scottish context, while the view opens up a landscape perspective on Scapa Flow.

Visiting and getting your bearings

Visitors can explore the exterior of Hackness Martello Tower on foot through a pedestrian access gate. Hackness Martello Tower and Battery cannot be reached by vehicle. As conservation work may change access arrangements, check current local conditions before your visit. On the Lyness to Longhope Cycle, the road branching off to the right after a further 1.5 kilometres serves as a landmark for Hackness Martello Tower and Battery.

Include Hackness in your hotel search

If you are interested in military architecture and maritime uses, consider whether Hackness suits your trip. You can weigh up whether to include the Battery’s different periods and the tower’s role in your plans; then focus your hotel search on Hackness.

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