Marilyn · Orkney & Shetland
Wideford Hill
Wideford Hill rises directly above Kirkwall and is the most accessible of all the Orkney Marilyns. The 225m summit carries a transmitter mast, an Iron Age chambered cairn lies on its flank, and the view encompasses Scapa Flow, the East Mainland and the lochs of Stenness.
Quick facts
- Height
- 225m/ 738ft
- Prominence
- 169 m
- Grid ref
- HY 41148 11609
- 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
grass moorland 70% · heather patches 20% · rocky summit 10%
A surfaced service road leads almost to the summit from the A965, making this one of Orkney's easiest tops. Walkers can also approach on foot from Kirkwall via the chambered cairn for a richer experience.
Terrain
Short grass and heather over flagstone with a tarmac service road to the mast. The hillside above Kirkwall is grazed and well drained — boots are useful but not essential.
In winter
The summit road can be icy in cold spells but the hill itself stays largely snow-free. With Kirkwall five minutes below, this is one of the few Orkney tops manageable in a short winter day.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow9h 41m
- Edinburgh8h 52m
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: Reliable up top; EE behaves well. Fine Kirkwall and Scapa Flow views.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:55
- Sunset
- 21:43
- Civil dawn
- 03:56
- Civil dusk
- 22:41
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Wideford 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
52km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Highland Park
Kirkwall, Orkney — heather-infused peat; northernmost Scotch distillery proper
5km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Wideford Hill — common questions
- How difficult is Wideford Hill?
- Wideford Hill carries a 1/5 (easy) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Ground conditions: Short grass and heather over flagstone with a tarmac service road to the mast.
- How much drop does Wideford Hill have?
- The drop is 169m: measured from the summit of Wideford 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 Wideford Hill?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Wideford 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 Wideford 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 Wideford Hill?
- Reliable up top; EE behaves well. Fine Kirkwall and Scapa Flow views.
- How do I get the ferry to Wideford 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 Wideford Hill safe in winter?
- The summit road can be icy in cold spells but the hill itself stays largely snow-free. With Kirkwall five minutes below, this is one of the few Orkney tops manageable in a short winter day.
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