Marilyn · Orkney & Shetland
Keelylang Hill
Keelylang Hill is the high point of the central spine of Orkney Mainland, rising as a treeless heather dome between Kirkwall and Stromness. At 221m it is modest, but the 360-degree panorama takes in Scapa Flow, Hoy, the north isles and the mass of the Mainland itself.
Quick facts
- Height
- 221m/ 725ft
- Prominence
- 161 m
- Grid ref
- HY 37805 10250
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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Standard route
heather moorland 60% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 15%
Short ascents start from the A965 or from minor roads around Wideford, climbing pathless heather and grass for around 1km to the trig pillar. Most parties summit in 1-2 hours including a wander to the subsidiary cairns and old radio masts on the ridge.
Terrain
Heather, rough grass and exposed sandstone underfoot, with peat hags in damper hollows. Old mast tracks help on the upper slopes. Strong winds funnel across the open Orkney landscape with nothing to break them.
In winter
Snow rarely lies for long but horizontal rain and gales are routine November to March. Daylight is exceptionally short in December, and the open moor offers no shelter; pick a settled day.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow9h 36m
- Edinburgh8h 50m
Ferry access
Scrabster → Stromness (Orkney)
- Crossing time90 min
- Summer sailings3 sailings daily (Apr–Oct)
- Winter sailings2 sailings daily (Nov–Mar)
- Book ahead7 days
- Last ferry backCheck NorthLink timetable — last sailing back varies seasonally
Alternative: Pentland Ferries from Gills Bay → St Margaret's Hope (1h, more frequent) or Aberdeen → Kirkwall overnight. Hoy hills are a further short inter-island ferry hop from Stromness.
Book on ferry operator ↗OS maps: OS Landranger 6, OS Explorer 463
Mobile signal: Patchy. EE only occasional here; better in Rousay sound.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:55
- Sunset
- 21:43
- Civil dawn
- 03:57
- Civil dusk
- 22:41
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Keelylang Hill on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Thurso station
End of the Far North Line — Dunnet Head, Pentland Firth, Orkney ferry
49km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Highland Park
Kirkwall, Orkney — heather-infused peat; northernmost Scotch distillery proper
8km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Keelylang Hill — common questions
- How difficult is Keelylang Hill?
- Keelylang Hill carries a 1/5 (easy) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Ground conditions: Heather, rough grass and exposed sandstone underfoot, with peat hags in damper hollows.
- How much drop does Keelylang Hill have?
- The drop is 161m: measured from the summit of Keelylang Hill down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain. Passing the 150m-drop threshold on all sides is exactly what makes it a Marilyn.
- What's the best month to climb Keelylang Hill?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Keelylang Hill. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.
- Can dogs go up Keelylang Hill?
- Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.
- Will I get phone signal on Keelylang Hill?
- Patchy. EE only occasional here; better in Rousay sound.
- How do I get the ferry to Keelylang Hill?
- Scrabster → Stromness (Orkney). 3 sailings daily (Apr–Oct) in summer; 2 sailings daily (Nov–Mar) in winter. Book at least 7 days ahead. Alternative: Pentland Ferries from Gills Bay → St Margaret's Hope (1h, more frequent) or Aberdeen → Kirkwall overnight. Hoy hills are a further short inter-island ferry hop from Stromness.
- Is Keelylang Hill safe in winter?
- Snow rarely lies for long but horizontal rain and gales are routine November to March. Daylight is exceptionally short in December, and the open moor offers no shelter; pick a settled day.
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