Scotland
Carnan
273M
896FT
About Carnan
Occupying the southern stretch of Unst, this modest Marilyn offers a straightforward climb through typical Shetland heather and peat. Reaching the trig pillar rewards walkers with a comprehensive panorama over the Bluemull Sound towards the neighbouring islands of Yell and Fetlar, showcasing the rugged character of Britain’s northernmost inhabited island.
Key Statistics
Rank
126th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Northern Isles
Prominence
?
273m
Nearest Town
Baile Bhatarsaigh
Geology
You are walking on the Lewisian Complex, a foundation of tough, banded rock. This sturdy layer forms the rugged base of the fell.
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NL552828
Latitude
56.8085°N
Longitude
7.6505°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Gaelic 'Càrnan', meaning a small cairn or heap of stones, a descriptive title that persists even in this landscape where Old Norse place-names usually dominate.
- •On a clear day, the summit provides an exceptional vantage point over the island of Fetlar to the south-east and the sprawling coastline of Yell across the Bluemull Sound.
- •The hill is most easily approached from the road near Uyeasound to the south, passing through an area rich in history including the nearby 16th-century Muness Castle and the Uyea Breck standing stone.
- •The summit is home to a trig pillar that provides a rare vertical straight line in a landscape otherwise composed entirely of rolling peat hags and horizontal rain.