Scotland
Rapaire
453M
1486FT
About Rapaire
Rising above the central spine of the Shetland Mainland, this prominent Hump offers a wild, peat-covered ascent within the Lang Kames. The terrain is characteristically rugged and exposed, rewarding those who navigate its heather slopes with specific views across Weisdale Voe and the distant silhouette of Foula to the west.
Key Statistics
Rank
52nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Northern Isles
Prominence
?
125m
Nearest Town
Bogha Glas
Geology
Your path crosses a rugged foundation of striped gneiss and solid granite, which form the tough, rocky heart of this fell.
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NB134136
Latitude
58.0190°N
Longitude
6.8542°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely stems from the Gaelic rapaire, meaning a noisy or boisterous fellow; a curious linguistic outlier in the Northern Isles that probably refers to the sound of the wind across the exposed ridge.
- •It forms part of the Lang Kames, a series of striking north-south ridges that create a high-altitude backbone through the centre of the Shetland Mainland.
- •The summit offers a commanding view of the long, deep inlet of Weisdale Voe to the south-west and, in clear conditions, the isolated peaks of Foula on the western horizon.
- •While 453 metres is modest by Highland standards, its status as a Hump highlights its significant prominence within the relatively low-lying landscape of the archipelago.
- •Attaining the summit is a notable achievement in Shetland, though the primary challenge is often less about the gradient and more about successfully navigating the vengeful peat hags.