Ronas Hill, Northmavine

Summary

Ronas Hill is the highest summit in Shetland, rising as a broad dome of stony, granite tundra above the great plateau of North Roe. This is a wild and windswept place but the views are superb, and the track up to the masts on Collafirth Hill makes for a high level start.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Bare, stony tundra; slightly boggy initially. No paths and few landmarks so good navigation skills needed.

Getting there

Start

Parking by masts at summit of Collafirth Hill or start from where the Collafirth Hill track leaves the A970.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start Grid Ref

HU334835

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 6.5km / 4 miles
Time: 2 - 3 hours
Ascent: 284m (Profile)

Summits Climbed

Sub 2000: Ronas Hill

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Explorer 469 - Shetland - Mainland North West

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Walk Description

User reports (6)

Stage 1

A car can be taken with care to a small parking area at the telecommunications masts on the summit of Collafirth Hill; the road is unmarked but tarmac. Alternatively if you don't want to drive up, start the walk from where the track for Collafirth Hill leaves the A970 and walk up to the masts. From Collafirth hill the route to Ronas Hill covers bare, largely stony terrain - arctic tundra. It is completely pathless and navigation would be difficult if mists come down.

Stage 2

The roughest section is across the initial lowpoint of Uyea Scord. After passing a cairn the going becomes excellent in good conditions as you head up to Roga Field, which has another prominent cairn.

Stage 3

The ground levels off for a time before the ascent to the wide open summit of Mid Field. From here descend slightly to pass just north of the lochan at the bealach - Shurgie Scords.

Stage 4

The steady final climb up the massive stony dome of Ronas Hill itself then begins. Superb views open up northwards over the wild interior of Northmavine, extending out to the tidal island of Uyea.

Stage 5

The summit of Ronas Hill - and the highest point of all Shetland - is a stone-built trig point inside a windshelter cairn. The views are extremely extensive, although the flat summit means you need to wander a little to the southwest to bring the Esha Ness peninsula into view. Much more prominent than the summit cairn in distant views is the chambered cairn just a stone's throw southeast - this is almost hidden under the more modern cairn built atop it. Walkers are asked not to disturb the stones here as it is an ancient monument.

Stage 6

From the summit retrace your steps to return to the start at the top of Collafirth Hill. Out of sight to the northwest from Ronas Hill is the Lang Ayre - reckoned by some to be the UK's remotest large beach. Reaching it involves a serious walk from here, with a very steep descent close by the burn at the southern end of the beach. More serious still is that you would need to climb most of the way back over Ronas Hill to return to civilisation, so any walk to Lang Ayre is not one to be undertaken lightly.

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