Hill of Olligarth

Hill, Mountain in Shetland

Scotland

Hill of Olligarth

Papa Stour from Huxter, Sandness Credit: Mike Pennington

The Hill of Olligarth is a prominent landmark located in the Shetland Islands, off the northeast coast of Scotland. Rising to a height of 256 meters (840 feet), it is a notable hill that offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

Situated in the southern part of the Shetland Mainland, the Hill of Olligarth is characterized by its rugged and rocky terrain. The hill is covered in heather and grass, providing a diverse habitat for various plant and animal species. The area is also home to a variety of birdlife, making it a popular spot for birdwatching enthusiasts.

The hill is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and hikers, who are drawn to its stunning vistas and challenging trails. The ascent to the summit is relatively steep, but once at the top, visitors are rewarded with unobstructed views of the coastline, neighboring islands, and the vast expanse of the North Atlantic Ocean.

The Hill of Olligarth is steeped in history, with ancient burial cairns and ruins of a Viking settlement dating back centuries. These historical remnants add to the intrigue and allure of the hill, making it a fascinating destination for those interested in archaeology and cultural heritage.

Overall, the Hill of Olligarth is a must-visit attraction in the Shetland Islands, offering a unique blend of natural beauty, outdoor activities, and historical significance. Whether it's for a leisurely walk or a challenging hike, this iconic hill provides an unforgettable experience for all who venture to its summit.

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Hill of Olligarth Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 60.327239/-1.6896346 or Grid Reference HU1760. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Papa Stour from Huxter, Sandness

Mike Pennington

Kirstan's Hole

Actually, it isn't the Kirstan's Hole (or Christie's Hole) shown on the maps, but a second hole which opened suddenly a few years ago, where previously there had been a depression in the ground, into the same sea-cave system as the original Kirstan's Hole.

Anne Burgess

Plantiecrub near Flaes Point

A plantiecrub is a small walled enclosure in which cabbage seedlings are grown until they are big enough to plant out in croft gardens. They are usually built well away from the croft to protect the seedlings against the crofters' hens.

Anne Burgess

Ruined Meal Mills

Several traditional mills straddle this little burn. Inside the building was a fixed lower millstone, and a rotating upper millstone driven by the water falling on to the paddles below, which were mounted at 45º to the vertical drive shaft.

Anne Burgess

The Loch that Ebbs and Flows

The interior of Papa Stour is mainly moorland, though there are several lochans in the central part. This one's curious name reflects its closeness to the sea, from which it is cut off only by an ayre or shingle spit.

Anne Burgess

Hurdibrack

The last stretch of the footpath back from the west side of the island. In the middle distance is the wall which crosses the entire island, separating the arable land in the east from the pasture to the west.

Anne Burgess

The Wall

This is the wall which cuts across the whole island. The west side (left) has a steep face to prevent animals climbing over it. The east (right) side has a sloping face so that any animals which have managed to cross it can easily be driven back on to the pasture land.

Anne Burgess

Robie's Noust

This is a very dull shot of a square which would certainly have yielded a more interesting image if we had had time to explore it before the ferry left.

Anne Burgess

The Dales

As with the next-door square, HU1861 would certainly have yielded a more interesting shot if we had not had to rush to catch the ferry!

Anne Burgess

Papa Stour Pier and Ferry

The ferry runs regularly but infrequently, so that day trips to the island are only possible on Fridays or Saturdays.

Anne Burgess

Ruined House

Doug Lee

Ruined house

The number of ruined buildings on the island seem to far outnumber those still habitable or used.

Doug Lee

Road and ruins

This is the main road for the island. Even this close to the pier the ruins of abandoned crofts can be found just off the road.

Doug Lee

View towards Papa Stour Airstrip

The cleared and smoothed ground in the upper right of the image is the airstrip for Papa Stour which is located in HU1759.

Doug Lee

View from North Ness

The view here is from North Ness towards the highest point on the island. The ground shown in the foreground is typical of this rather barren area.

Doug Lee

The "New" Pier

The image here is taken from the old pier looking towards the new pier. The line of rusting fenceposts serves no useful purpose. The rocks along the shoreline are very popular with young seals - although they proved to be somewhat camera-shy.

Doug Lee

Unnamed Sea Stack Off Breigeo Head, Papa Stour (Big Isle of the Priests)

At less than 20 metres high this little stack is not as impressive as it's compatriots such as a little down the coast HU1461, but facing out onto the North Atlantic the situation is wild and imposing. As with most sea stacks, this has probably formed and survived through being constituted from rock that is more solid and stable than that washed out from around them. In many cases this results in providing ideal rock climbing routes in spectacular locations. In this case, the rock visible in this image is of a good solid nature but as can be seen more clearly in HU1560 : The problem with sea stacks... it is overhanging and in addition lacks much in the way of cracks in which to place rock climbing protection. Taken together these would make this an extremely difficult climb even if top roped. The side of the stack facing away to the right of the image is also overhanging, albeit to a lesser extent, but the rock is somewhat green and slimy making it an unattractive ascent route. Gaining access to the stack also presents some problems. The water foaming around the stack prevents easy access by boat and even on a comparatively calm day such as that pictured here would make swimming to the stack a highly dangerous exercise. The first visit to the top of the stack recorded by climbers is shown in the image HU1560 : The problem with sea stacks.... For this, the only viable route to the stack was by Tyrolean traverse.

Doug Lee

The problem with sea stacks...

The problem with sea stacks is how to get to them. The sea conditions at the base of this one pretty much eliminate the possibilities of swimming. One workable technique used here was to string a 100m abseil rope across the geo laying the rope on the top of the stack. The rope can then be used for a tyrolean traverse to get over to the stack and back from it.

Doug Lee

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Hill of Olligarth is located at Grid Ref: HU1760 (Lat: 60.327239, Lng: -1.6896346)

Unitary Authority: Shetland Islands

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands