Ward of Bressay

Rising as a prominent coastal Marilyn, this peat-covered hill offers a straightforward climb with a distinctly maritime character. The ascent provides an expansive perspective over the surrounding waters and rugged coastline, where the summit serves as a vital navigational landmark and a rewarding high point for those collecting Scottish Humps.

• •The name 'Ward' is derived from the Old Norse word varda, meaning a beacon or a cairn. Historically, these high points were used for signal fires to communicate across the archipelago or to warn of approaching vessels.
• •The summit offers an exceptional vantage point over the busy harbour of Lerwick to the west, while the spectacular, sheer sandstone cliffs of the neighbouring Isle of Noss are clearly visible to the east.
• •As the highest point on the island, the hill is topped by a large telecommunications mast, which serves as a useful, if somewhat unromantic, navigational aid for walkers ascending in misty conditions.
• •Despite the presence of modern infrastructure, the summit still retains a traditional cairn, marking its status as a Marilyn—a peak with at least 150 metres of relative height.