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Isthmus
Mavis Grind
Isthmus just over 90 metres wide at its narrowest, joining the Northmavine peninsula to the rest of the Mainland.
A mini guide to
Northmavine, Yell & Unst
Esha Ness cliffs, Ronas Hill, the islands of Yell and Unst, and Britain's most northerly sights
Photos
1 / 10Welcome to the area
Esha Ness cliffs, Ronas Hill, the islands of Yell and Unst, and Britain's most northerly sights
North of Mavis Grind, an isthmus just over 90 metres wide, the Northmavine peninsula has the volcanic cliffs of Esha Ness, Hillswick and Ronas Hill, at 450 metres the highest point in Shetland. Further east, short council ferries cross to Yell, the second-largest island, and on to Unst, the most northerly inhabited island in the British Isles.
Unst has Muness Castle, the most northerly castle in the British Isles, the Unst Heritage Centre and Boat Haven at Haroldswick, Bobby's Bus Shelter and the Hermaness National Nature Reserve, which looks out to Muckle Flugga lighthouse. On Yell, the Old Haa Museum at Burravoe is in a merchant's house built in 1672.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Coastal cliffs
Esha Ness cliffs
Black volcanic cliffs on the west coast of Northmavine, with sea caves, geos and boulder fields thrown up by storms.
Lighthouse
Esha Ness Lighthouse
Clifftop lighthouse designed by David Alan Stevenson and commissioned in 1929, just south of Calder's Geo.
Sea arch
Dore Holm
Small islet with a natural arch off the south coast of Esha Ness.
Museum
Tangwick Haa Museum
Former laird's house of the Cheyne family at Tangwick, run as a museum since 1987.
Hill
Ronas Hill
At 450 metres the highest point in Shetland, with a Neolithic chambered cairn near the summit.
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Northmavine, Yell & Unst and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Book the ferries
Shetland Islands Council strongly recommends booking vehicle space on the Yell and Unst routes, which are often busy.
2
Fares are paid on board
Fares on the council ferries are collected during the crossing; for Yell, you pay on the way out from the Mainland only.
3
Plan fuel and food
Shetland.org says Yell and Unst have fuel pumps but Fetlar and Bressay do not, and some island shops keep short hours.
4
Keep away from cliff edges
The cliffs at Esha Ness and Hermaness are high and exposed. Stay on paths, keep back from the edge and avoid them in strong wind.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Explore this guide
Everything for Northmavine, Yell & Unst
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Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Northmavine, Yell & Unst (area photo): Unukorno, CC BY 4.0, source
- Mavis Grind: Anne Burgess, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Esha Ness cliffs: ThoWi, Public domain, source
- Esha Ness Lighthouse: Unukorno, CC BY 4.0, source
- Dore Holm: ThoWi, Public domain, source
- Tangwick Haa Museum: Coldupnorth, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Ronas Hill: James Allan, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Fethaland: Steve Lucas, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Old Haa Museum: Anne Burgess, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Brough Lodge: Mike Pennington, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Muness Castle: Van de Beek, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Unst Bus Shelter: Anne Burgess, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Keen of Hamar: Anne Burgess, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Unst Heritage Centre: Mike Pennington, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Unst Boat Haven: James Allan, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Haroldswick: Mike Pennington, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Hermaness National Nature Reserve: Bob Embleton, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Lerwick & Bressay: Florent Abel, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- South Mainland: Sumburgh, Jarlshof & Mousa: swifant, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Scalloway & the West Mainland: Robert W Watt, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring Shetland