Ronas Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ronas Hill |
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The chambered cairn on the summit of Ronas Hill
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 450 m (1,480 ft) |
| Prominence | 450 m (1,480 ft) |
| Listing | Marilyn |
| Naming | |
| English translation | stony ground or scree |
| Language of name | Norse |
| Geography | |
 Ronas Hill
Location in Shetland
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| OS grid | HU305835 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 3 |
| Official name: Ronas Hill - North Roe & Tingon | |
| Designated: | 11 August 1997 |
| Reference #: | 916 |
Ronas Hill is a special place in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. It's the highest point in all of Shetland, standing tall at 450 meters (about 1,476 feet). Because of its height, it's known as a Marilyn, which is a type of hill in Britain. Near the very top of Ronas Hill, you can find an ancient stone structure called a Neolithic chambered cairn.
Where is Ronas Hill?
Ronas Hill is located on the Northmavine peninsula, which is part of Mainland, Shetland. Its name comes from an old Norse word, rön, meaning "stony ground" or "scree". This name fits perfectly, as the hilltop is quite rocky! The hill also gives its name to Ronas Voe, a nearby sea inlet.
From the top of Ronas Hill, you can see amazing views on a clear day. You can look out over Yell Sound, the vast North Sea, and even parts of the Atlantic Ocean. You might even spot the highest points of Fair Isle in the distance!
Plants and Fungi
Ronas Hill is a very important natural area. It's recognized as a Ramsar site, which means it's a wetland of international importance. This is because it's home to many rare plants that usually grow in Arctic regions.
What's really interesting is that you can find several types of woodland fungi here. These include well-known ones like ceps and chanterelles. Usually, these fungi grow on the roots of big trees. But on Ronas Hill, there aren't many trees! Instead, they grow with a plant called creeping willow, which spreads widely across the hill.
The Ancient Stone Cairn
Right at the top of Ronas Hill, there's a very old structure called a Neolithic chambered cairn. This cairn is a type of ancient tomb made of stones. It's quite unusual to find such a cairn on top of a tall hill like Ronas Hill. Most other ancient cairns in Britain are found in important spots, but not usually on the highest peaks.
Local farmers used to say that before the Sullom Voe Terminal was built in the 1970s, the cairn held various "special items." These included old coins and other objects that people had left there. Back then, Ronas Hill was a very remote place, far from busy areas.
The cairn on Ronas Hill looks like it has been rebuilt or changed over time, especially its upper part. The stones at the very top are pink granite and look newer because they don't have much lichen growing on them. It's thought that the cairn might have been made taller in the past to act as a "landmark" or a guide for fishing boats at sea. In the 1960s, soldiers even changed the cairn during a military exercise. They built a wall around its entrance to turn it into a small, dug-out shelter called a "foxhole."
