Scotland
Conostom
256M
840FT
About Conostom
Rising above the northern reaches of Unst, this Shetland Marilyn offers a rugged, windswept ascent through peat and heather. Its position provides a commanding perspective over the dramatic coastal cliffs of Hermaness and the lighthouse at Muckle Flugga, capturing the raw, isolated character of Britain's most northerly inhabited island.
Key Statistics
Rank
141st Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Northern Isles
Prominence
?
212m
Nearest Town
Lundal
Geology
You are trekking across the Lewisian Complex, a foundation of tough, layered rock called gneiss. This durable stone forms the solid ground beneath your boots.
Nearby Fells
Cleit na Speireig
Griosamol
Cleite na Cloich Ard
Beinn Fuathabhal
Cleite na Beiste
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NB166299
Latitude
58.1674°N
Longitude
6.8203°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is rooted in Old Norse, likely deriving from 'Kona-stofa', meaning 'the woman’s room' or 'dwelling', a name often associated in local folklore with the giantesses who were said to inhabit the Shetland hills.
- •The summit provides an exceptional vantage point for Muckle Flugga and the Out Stack, the most northerly points of the British Isles, which appear as jagged teeth rising from the North Atlantic.
- •As the highest point on the northern mass of Unst, the hill is separated from the southern heights by the Loch of Cliff, making it a prominent landmark for those navigating the approach to the Hermaness National Nature Reserve.
- •A successful summit bid in early summer often depends less on your navigational skills and more on your ability to look unimpressed while a 'bonxie'—the territorial great skua—dive-bombs your head at forty miles per hour.