Scotland
Mid Hill
275M
902FT
About Mid Hill
Rising above the village of Bigswell, this heather-clad Marilyn forms part of the central moorland spine of Mainland Orkney. Though modest in height, its position offers an unimpeded perspective across the Loch of Stenness toward the Atlantic, providing a quiet, peat-rutted alternative to the more frequented coastal viewpoints.
Key Statistics
Rank
10th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Data coming soon
Prominence
?
275m
Nearest Town
Bigswell
Geology
You are walking on the Upper Stromness Flagstone Formation, a sturdy base of layered sandstone and hardened mud that forms the solid foundation of Mid Hill.
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
HY335087
Latitude
58.9604°N
Longitude
3.1573°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is a literal English description of its central position within the range of hills stretching across the Orphir and Stenness parishes, likely replacing an earlier Old Norse equivalent.
- •The summit provides a clear, elevated view of the 'Heart of Neolithic Orkney' UNESCO World Heritage site, specifically looking down on the Ring of Brodgar and the Standing Stones of Stenness nestled between the lochs.
- •At 275 metres, Mid Hill is the highest point of this local moorland ridge, topping its more famously named neighbour, Ward Hill, by eight metres.
- •The terrain is largely comprised of blanket bog and heather, a landscape that provided essential fuel for Orcadian hearths for centuries through traditional peat cutting.
- •While it lacks the dramatic cliffs of Hoy, the hill offers a perfect vantage point to watch unpredictable weather fronts rolling in from the Atlantic toward the sheltered waters of Scapa Flow.