Ronas Hill

The highest point on Shetland is Ronas Hill at 450 metres and it was the focus of our day today.  The guide book promised Arctic tundra and majestic 360 degree views in fine weather, which thankfully it was today.  The start of the walk is a mile and a bit service road up to the radio masts which was supposedly accessible by car but when we arrived at the turning a sign warned us it was suitable for off road vehicles only.  As we are in a hire car we decided not to risk it and donned our rucksacks and set off on foot from the parking spot.  It was a steepish uphill slog until a car stopped next to us and Ruth and Campbell offered a lift to the masts which we gratefully took.  They were also in a hire car but had decided to go for it and actually the road was in better nick than many back home!

At the top we gave our thanks and set off from Collafirth Hill upwards towards Mid Field and Ronas Hill.  There were plovers to blip and several tiny alpine flowers, some of which Tony could name and others unknown.  At this point Ruth and Campbell caught us up and we ascended together, Ruth and Tony flower spotting along the way.

The views from the top were indeed vast and wide, from Sullom Voe oil terminal in the east to the island of Yell, across to Hillswick where we are staying and out to the north eastern course of Mainland.  However, Ronas Hill is convex so the views seemed a long way off and were not easily blipped.  We explored the chambered cairn on the summit plateau which went a surprisingly long way in and was lined with large flat rocks, bid farewell to Ruth and Campbell and wrote in the visitor book in a metal box in the summit cairn then, after a snack, began our descent.

We are relaxing now in our comfortable hotel room with a sunny view across the bay, awaiting dinner and thinking ahead to the next stage of our holiday which begins tomorrow with the ferry to Orkney late afternoon.  Shetland has been everything I expected it to be with some surprises.  I reckon the only thing we have found tough is the lack of cafes!  Like the rest of the UK, Shetland suffers with workforce issues.