Marilyn · Orkney & Shetland
Mid Hill
Mid Hill is the central summit of the ridge that runs through West Mainland Orkney, between Wideford and Milldoe. At 275m it gives a clean panorama of Scapa Flow, the Pentland Firth and the lochs of Stenness and Harray.
Quick facts
- Height
- 275m/ 902ft
- Prominence
- 275 m
- Grid ref
- HY 33531 08701
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
No GPX track yet
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Standard route
heather moorland 60% · grass slopes 30% · rocky summit 10%
Approach from the minor road below Rendall or from the track that runs past Wideford, then a short pull onto the broad summit. Gentle gradients and firm tracks make it well suited to a half day.
Terrain
Short Orkney heather and bog cotton across smooth flagstone country. Underfoot stays firmer than in Shetland — Orkney has more grass and less deep peat.
In winter
Wind, not snow, is the main winter problem; the Mainland is too low-lying to hold much white stuff for long. Days are short and the wind funnels strongly between the lochs.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow9h 30m
- Edinburgh8h 47m
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 Landranger 7, OS Explorer 462, OS Explorer 463
Mobile signal: Moderate. EE coverage on Orkney Mainland is reasonable near Kirkwall.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 06:39
- Sunset
- 19:38
- Civil dawn
- 05:58
- Civil dusk
- 20:19
NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 September 2026
Around Mid 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
46km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Highland Park
Kirkwall, Orkney — heather-infused peat; northernmost Scotch distillery proper
12km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Mid Hill — common questions
- What difficulty is Mid Hill?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Mid Hill comes in at 1/5 — easy. Ground conditions: Short Orkney heather and bog cotton across smooth flagstone country.
- How much drop does Mid Hill have?
- Mid Hill's prominence is its full height — 275m — because it is the highest point of its landmass, with no higher ground connected to it. Passing the 150m-drop threshold on all sides is exactly what makes it a Marilyn.
- What's the best month to climb Mid Hill?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Mid 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 Mid 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 Mid Hill?
- Moderate. EE coverage on Orkney Mainland is reasonable near Kirkwall.
- How do I get the ferry to Mid 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 Mid Hill safe in winter?
- Wind, not snow, is the main winter problem; the Mainland is too low-lying to hold much white stuff for long. Days are short and the wind funnels strongly between the lochs.
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