Scotland
White Grunafirth
173M
568FT
About White Grunafirth
Rising as the highest point on the island of Vaila, this modest but prominent Shetland hill offers a rugged, maritime character. Its peat and heather slopes overlook the sheltered waters of Vaila Sound, providing a vantage point to survey the Atlantic horizon and the distant, jagged profile of Foula.
Key Statistics
Rank
54th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Data coming soon
Prominence
?
155
Nearest Town
Hillswick
Geology
You are walking on Ronas Hill Granite, a crystalline rock formed from cooling magma. This durable stone provides the solid foundation of the fell beneath your feet.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
HU275807
Latitude
60.5094°N
Longitude
1.4999°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is rooted in Old Norse, likely derived from grunnr (shallow) and fjörðr (firth). This refers to the shallow coastal waters of Vaila Sound which separate the hill from the West Shetland Mainland.
- •From the summit, the view west across the Atlantic is dominated by the dramatic, lonely shape of Foula, while to the north, the intricate coastline of the Walls peninsula and the island of Papa Stour are clearly visible.
- •Despite standing at just 173 metres, it qualifies as a Marilyn because it drops steeply to sea level on almost all sides, ensuring its topographic prominence exceeds the 150-metre threshold.
- •The hill is located on a privately owned island; hikers visiting the summit typically pass near Vaila Hall, a 17th-century castellated mansion that was significantly restored in the late 1890s.
- •Given its island location, the most challenging part of the ascent is often not the walk itself, but the maritime logistics of arranging a crossing from the mainland pier at Walls.