Northmavine

Northmavine or Northmaven (from Old Norse norðan mœv-eið, "north of the narrow isthmus") is a sparsely populated peninsula in Shetland, forming the northernmost part of Mainland. The peninsula has historically formed a civil parish of the same name. The modern Northmavine community council area has the same extent. The area of the parish is given as 204.1 km².

Northmavine includes the villages of Hillswick, Ollaberry, and North Roe. An isthmus, Mavis Grind, about a hundred yards across, forms the sole connection with the rest of Mainland. The coast is indented by numerous bays and consists largely of high, steep rocks. There are a number of high, fissured, cavernous cliffs on the west coast, faced by many skerries, islets, and offshore rocks. The interior has a very small amount of arable land; it consists mostly of rough, rising ground, including Ronas Hill, the highest point in all Shetland.

Esha Ness Lighthouse is situated on the Northmavine peninsula. Tangwick Haa Museum preserves the history of Northmavine including knitted replicas of the stockings and purse of Gunnister Man. Remains of ancient watch houses and remains of barrows and forts are also numerous.

At the provisional population census conducted in March 2017, the population numbered 741, yielding a population density of 3.6 per km², which is the second lowest in Shetland, after Fetlar.^{[citation needed]}

60°30′N 1°24′W / 60.500°N 1.400°W / 60.500; -1.400