Tinto from Lanark Racecourse (1) - geograph

Tinto is an isolated hill in the Southern Uplands of Scotland. It comprises little more than one top, which stands on the west bank of the

River Clyde The River Clyde ( gd, Abhainn Chluaidh, , sco, Clyde Watter, or ) is a river that flows into the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. It is the ninth-longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third-longest in Scotland. It runs through the major cit ...

, some west of Biggar. The peak is also called "Tinto Tap", with the name Tinto possibly deriving from the Scottish Gaelic word ', meaning "fiery", which may refer to its ancient past as a look out beacon. Further known as the "Hill of Fire" it is also suggested exposed red hue felsite rock visible in many places on the hill helped gave rise to this name due to the effect seen when a setting sun illuminates the hillside. At the summit sits "Tinto Cairn", and with a diameter of and a height of it is one of the largest Bronze Age round cairns in Scotland, most of which are found at lower elevations. An old Scots children's rhyme tells of the "kist in the mist" at "Tintock tap", ' being the Scots word for " chest". On Tintock tap, there is a mist, And in that mist, there is a kist, And in that kist, there is a cup, And in that cup, there is a drap. Tak' up that cup, and drink that drap, that's in yon kist, on Tintock tap! It is accessible for walking and is one of the premier locations for

hanggliding Hang gliding is an air sport or recreational activity in which a pilot flies a light, non-motorised foot-launched heavier-than-air aircraft called a hang glider. Most modern hang gliders are made of an aluminium alloy or composite frame covered ...

and paragliding. Tinto is located near the small villages of

Thankerton Thankerton is a small village in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. It is located between Biggar and Lanark, and situated between Quothquan Law and Tinto (two local hills). Thankerton's name derives from an early feudal lord cal ...

and Wiston. Tinto is also the venue for one of the most popular hill running races in Scotland which is held annually in November.

Artistic recognition

Tinto Hill was painted by

John Pairman John Pairman (1788–1843) was a Scottish portrait and landscape painter operational in the 19th century. His style is derivative of his contemporary, David Wilkie. Life Pairman appears to have spent most of his early life in Biggar, South Lanar ...

in 1841.

References

External links

Tinto Hill race

Sign in - Google Accounts
Marilyns of Scotland Donald mountains Grahams Mountains and hills of the Southern Uplands Landforms of South Lanarkshire Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Clydesdale and South East Glasgow {{SouthLanarkshire-geo-stub