Hoy’s High Ground
Orkney’s wild exception
Ward Hill, the Cuilags and the cliffs of St John’s Head give Hoy a scale and ruggedness found nowhere else in Orkney.
Region guide
Northern Isles
“On Orkney, there are long vistas from land to water and then land again. And more water. All under a huge sky.”
— Ann Cleeves, author and former Fair Isle Bird Observatory worker
Highest Point
Ward Hill — 481mHighest Shetland Summit
Ronas Hill — 450mSea-Cliff Giant
St John’s Head — 351mFamous Sea Stack
Old Man of Hoy — 137mInhabited Islands
36Midsummer Daylight
More Than 19 HoursAbout the region
Discover the Northern Isles
The Northern Isles offer two distinctly different kinds of island walking. Orkney is largely open and gently rolling, with routes crossing farmland, moorland and enormous sandstone cliffs. Shetland is rougher and more broken, its hills rising between narrow voes, exposed headlands and an intricate coastline where the Atlantic and North Sea are rarely far apart.
Hoy is Orkney’s great exception. Ward Hill reaches 481 metres, while the island’s western coast culminates in St John’s Head and the Old Man of Hoy. Elsewhere, lower-level walks connect beaches, sea cliffs and internationally important prehistoric sites beneath skies that seem far larger than the land.
Shetland’s hills may be modest in height, but they seldom feel small. Ronas Hill has a surprisingly Arctic summit plateau, Foula’s Da Sneug rises above some of Britain’s most formidable sea cliffs, and Fitful Head provides an exposed coastal climb above the Atlantic. On Unst, routes around Saxa Vord and Hermaness reach Britain’s northern edge.
These are islands where conditions matter more than altitude. Strong winds, rough ground and sudden changes in visibility can transform a short walk. Choose the right day, however, and the reward is extraordinary: empty hills, immense horizons and coastal walking accompanied by seabirds, seals and occasionally orcas.
Regional signature
The Northern Edge Legacy
Shetland’s Island Summits
Hills between two oceans
From Ronas Hill to Foula’s Da Sneug, Shetland’s highest ground rises directly above voes, sea cliffs and exposed Atlantic coastline.
The Simmer Dim
More than 19 hours of daylight
Around midsummer, darkness never fully arrives. Long northern twilight allows evening walks to stretch almost seamlessly into morning.
When to visit
Spring
March – MayMigrating birds return to the cliffs while longer days open up the island hills. Conditions remain cool, windy and changeable.
Best for: Seabird colonies and quieter coastal pathsSummer
June – AugustThe simmer dim brings more than 19 hours of daylight in Shetland. Ferry services are at their fullest, although nesting birds require care near cliffs and moorland.
Best for: Long hill days and island-hoppingAutumn
September – NovemberLow sunlight sharpens the cliffs, beaches and open moorland. Atlantic weather becomes increasingly unsettled, so flexible plans are useful.
Best for: Clear coastal light and quieter islandsWinter
December – FebruaryMidwinter brings fewer than six hours of daylight, frequent gales and occasional snow. Clear nights may produce displays of the northern lights, known locally as the Mirrie Dancers.
Best for: Experienced walkers and northern skiesTrailTrack Favourites
Ten hills chosen by TrailTrack
Continue exploring
Ready to Explore the Northern Isles?
Follow the hills to Scotland’s northern edge, where every summit ends in sea and midsummer days seem reluctant to finish.