Tinto
Tinto is an isolated hill in the south of the
Central Lowlands just to the north of the
Southern Uplands of
Scotland. It comprises little more than one top, which stands on the west bank of the
River Clyde, 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 give 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 and
paragliding. Tinto is located near the small villages of
Thankerton and
Wiston.
Tinto is also the venue for one of the most popular hill running races in Scotland which is held annually in November.
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