Lang Ayre
The Lang Ayre is a beach on the west side of Ronas Hill, in the Northmavine part of Shetland's Mainland. It is a thousand yards long, three-fifths of a mile, which makes it the longest beach in Shetland.[1][2] It is accessed either by a long walk from the top of Collafirth Hill and going down the Burn of Monius, or by sea.
The beach's sand is red,[3] on account of the eroding red granite cliffs that it sits below, which are 700 feet high in parts.[4]
The name Lang Ayre comes from the Shetland dialect word ayre, meaning 'shingle beach'.[5][6]
Access
- Location map: 60°33’16"N, 1°28’12"W
- Streetmap: HU291857
The Lang Ayre is located north of the mouth of Ronas Voe, and is about three miles from the nearest road, so is considered quite remote, even by Shetland standards.[5] Many walkers visiting the beach also undertake a walk to the summit of Ronas Hill, therefore a walk taking in both points necessarily takes an elevation change of 1,480 feet – the full height of the summit of Ronas Hill, as the Lang Ayre is at sea level. The beach is most easily accessed on land by following the Burn of Monius, which is in a steep-sided ravine east of Ketligill Head. The final descent down to the beach is aided by a rope for public use which is left at the site.[7] The route most commonly taken to reach the Lang Ayre over Ronas Hill is prone to low-lying mist,[8] so walkers are advised to be familiar with the usage of a map and a compass to be able to navigate back with poor visibility.[9]
The beach can also be accessed by sea. It is often reached by means of canoe or kayak, and those who do so travel using the most sheltered route which leaves from the Blade, Ronas Voe. The beach is directly exposed to the Atlantic Ocean, so westerly and north-westerly winds can cause issues for those visiting using these small craft.[10]
References
- ↑ Fraser, Allen and Hall, Adrien: Lang Ayre on landforms.eu]
- ↑ Ports and Harbours - Yachting: Shetland Islands Council
- ↑ Smith & Jex 2007, p. 189.
- ↑ Manson 1933.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Uney 2016, p. 179.
- ↑ Jakobsen 1897, p. 89.
- ↑ Goodlad 2017.
- ↑ Dunn 1831, p. 39.
- ↑ Uney 2016, p. 175.
- ↑ Smith & Jex 2007, p. 193.
- Goodlad, Laurie (2019-07-12). "A guide to walking to the Lang Ayre, Northmavine" (in en). http://www.shetlandwithlaurie.com/1/post/2019/07/a-guide-to-walking-to-the-lang-ayre-northmavine.html. Retrieved 2019-10-06.
- Jakobsen, Jakob (1897). "The old Shetland place-names". The dialect and place names of Shetland; two popular lectures (Lecture). Cornell University Library. Lerwick: Lerwick, T. & J. Manson. p. 89. https://archive.org/details/cu31924026356406/page/n103. Retrieved 2019-10-06.
- Manson, Thomas Mortimer Yule (1933) (in en). Mansons' Guide to Shetland (3rd ed.). Lerwick: T. & J. Manson. OCLC 1007883604. https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Mansons_Guide_to_Shetland.html?id=Z4nfngEACAAJ&redir_esc=y.
- Uney, Graham (2016). Walking on the Orkney and Shetland Isles: 80 Walks in the Northern Isles (2 ed.). Cicerone Press. pp. 175–179. ISBN 1783623357. OCLC 942842573. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=u6inCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA175&lpg=PA175&dq=ronas+hill+walk+%22compass%22&source=bl&ots=bFt8iMN3SG&sig=ACfU3U1w0Bv7pD9j4l1thIBbITQiqYyveQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiUmfO7_InlAhVKa8AKHWXcDokQ6AEwBHoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=ronas%20hill%20walk%20%22compass%22&f=false.
- Smith, Tom; Jex, Chris (2007). The Northern Isles: Orkney and Shetland Sea Kayaking. Caernarfon, Wales: Pesda Press. pp. 189–194. ISBN 9781906095000. OCLC 1023254263. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=jGN4l2dIxloC&pg=PA189&lpg=PA189&source=bl&ots=ZLDsDs9q5O&sig=ACfU3U2bCcUTUB9uzmgRyl8vZ7KU-g9mYQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwifhuDS2LrlAhUOQxUIHSisDvcQ6AEwBnoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 2019-10-26.