VisitShetland

Northmavine

Northmavine - the Spectacular Peninsula

The parish of Northmavine has some of the finest views and best hill and coastal walking in Shetland, although you can reach many of its most beautiful corners by car. Tucked in between the rugged coastline and wild hills are dozens of small crofting settlements, making this one of the most picturesque corners of the islands.

Dore Holm with Rough Sea in Foreground

Almost but not quite a separate island, Northmavine is joined to the rest of the Shetland Mainland at Mavis Grind ('The Gate on the Narrow Isthmus') where the Atlantic Ocean has nearly cut through to the North Sea.

From Mavis Grind you enter a vast and magical landscape dominated by Shetland's highest hill, Ronas Hill (1475ft/450m), topped by a prehistoric chambered burial cairn. The summit has an Arctic climate, with stony soils and rare Arctic/Alpine plants.

The view from Ronas Hill is on an epic scale, showing all of Shetland and in exceptionally clear weather even the top of Fair Isle. To the north lies an ice-carved wilderness of low hills and dozens of freshwater lochs - including some of the best trout fishing in Shetland.

To the north-east are the jagged rocks of the Ramna Stacks, with background silhouettes of the Gloup Holm in North Yell and the Muckle Flugga rocks north of Unst.

Aerial View of The Drongs

An entirely different landscape opens to south-east over the scattered islands and bays of Yell Sound and Shetland's largest sea loch, Sullom Voe. Further south are Out Skerries, Whalsay, Noss and Bressay, while in clear weather the noble outline of Fitful Head is visible, 43 miles (70km) to the south.

Foula's mysterious outline rears out of the ocean to the south-west, while just across St. Magnus Bay are Papa Stour and the Ve Skerries reef. Immediately below Ronas Hill is the fjord-like inlet of Ronas Voe, fringed by stupendous cliffs, offlying stacks and magnificent beaches such as Da Lang Ayre.

Leave plenty of time for your Ronas Hill walk - for even local folk tend to linger for a long, long while on the summit, just taking in this world-class panorama.

The Power of the Ocean
The Atlantic has carved an astounding display of cliffs, stacks, coves (geos in Shetland dialect), blowholes (gloups), natural arches and caves along the rock-bound coast from the Ness of Hillswick north to the uninhabited isle of Uyea and the Ramna Stacks.

Aerial View of Eshaness Lighthouse

If the coastal walk seems a bit strenuous, one of the best places to enjoy the cliff scenery by road is Eshaness lighthouse, perched above a precipice of volcanic lava. A short walk away is an impressive collapsed cave, Da Hols o' Scraada ('the Devil's Caves'). Nearby is Da Grind o' da Navir ('Gate of the Borer'), a huge gateway in the cliffs where the sea has ripped out a huge chunk of rock and hurled it inland, and the Loch of Houlland, where the ruin of a one of the parish's many brochs provides an excellent example of Iron Age architecture.

A Walker's Paradise
Other scenic walks with a wide range of wildlife, rock features and archaeological remains, include:

The Ness of Hillswick - beautiful displays of wild flowers in midsummer;
Hillswick and Braewick - for secluded beaches, seabird cliffs and superb views of the offlying stacks of Da Drongs;
North Roe to Fethaland - where you can see the ruins of summer bothies once used by 19th century fishermen who rowed and sailed open boats up to 40 miles from land;
Sand Voe to Uyea - a grand walk with plenty of seabirds and seals;
Heylor out to the mouth of Ronas Voe - for some of the most beautiful cliffs in Shetland and fine view of the pink granite massif of Ronas Hill;
Nibon to Stenness - a Shetland landscape in miniature, ending in the great shingle beach of Stenness, another 19th century haaf fishing station with remains of fishermen's bothies;
Mangaster - a pretty bay with a lovely view of the isle of Egilsay and one of Shetland's best-preserved, prehistoric heel-shaped cairns;
Gluss Isle and Bardister, near Ollaberry - a sheltered spot on a windy day and a good place for shorebirds, seals and Otters.
Northmavine today is a thriving community with a lively social life based around its community halls and three small local primary schools. The history of the area is told in displays at the Tangwick Ha' heritage centre - where you can also get a lovely cup of tea!

Hillswick has a vegetarian restaurant (The Booth) and a wildlife rescue centre that welcomes visitors. On the way out to Eshaness is the popular new Breiwick Cafe, offering a variety of foods and stunning views of the coastline. A Caravan Park has also been set up next to the cafe providing electric supply and all other neccessary amenities. There are also some excellent Bed & Breakfast houses and self-catering cottages - full details from Visit Shetland.

Advertising Feature

2008 Wildlife Holidays In Shetland

Shetland offers the best wildlife-watching in Scotland - FACT.

Over a million breeding seabirds, the highest density of Otters in Europe, regular sightings of Killer Whales and superb displays of rare sub-arctic flora. Our award-winning holidays offer everything from fully guided wildlife weeks and long weekends, dedicated birdwatching holidays plus photographic, walking and insight holidays.

Visit our extensive website www.shetlandwildlife.co.uk or call Shetland Wildlife on 01950 422483 for a choice of over 30 holidays!

Feature

Swan Trips 2008

Enjoy a trip on the Swan this summer and experience the world of a resilient vessel restored to glory. Join a crew who love the sea, and be part of a learning experience!

Find out more

Sunday Times article

Feature

Focus on Wildlife - Spring 2008

Fair Isle is famous in spring for its huge seabird colonies and rare migrants. Shetland birder Hugh Harrop is your expert guide on the ‘Mecca’ of British birding…

Read more

Feature

White Nights

'White Nights', Ann Cleeves' sequel to her award-winning 'Raven Black', has now been published.  Don't miss a reading and signing from Ann in the Lerwick tourist office, Market Cross at 11.30am on Saturday 17th May.

Feature

21st Century Shetland Travelogue

'Between Weathers', the new Shetland Travelogue will be launched in Lerwick on 6th June 2008... 

 

 

Read more

News

Shetland's First Ever Festival of Nature

Organisers of Shetland’s first ever Festival of Nature, to be piloted from 4th to 12th July 2008, are calling on local businesses...

Read full Press Release (pdf)

More information

View all news stories