Stranburgh Ness, Fetlar

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This wonderful walk takes in some of Fetlar's most stunning coastal clifftop scenery, becoming wilder in the second half before returning via the old fishing station at Funzie and through croftland on minor roads.

Terrain

Coastal clifftop walking with stiles, mostly pathless with grass; rough underfoot and exposed on later section, return on minor road.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start

Parking at Everland. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

The walk starts from the croft at Everland, reached by turning north from the B9088 near Funzie. When parking please ensure no entrances are blocked or impeded. Begin the walk by heading to the left of the house, passing between it and a metal barn to go over a stile in a fence. Head diagonally towards the shore aiming for the ruins of a once grand house, Smithfield, built in 1815 but abandoned in 1870.

Stage 2

Pass to the left of the ruins to climb a stile and then aim diagonally downhill to reach another stile in a stone wall. Cross this and continue parallel to the coast to cross a stile over a fence and onto the unfenced coastline. As you head out to Hesta Ness a stile leads over a broken down wall and you cross a burn with the ruins of a Norse mill still visible. The route rounds Long Geo and Hesta Ness to reach Skarpi Geo, named after the Shetland dialect word for a cormorant.

Stage 3

From the end of the geo head up to a stile in a stone wall and cross sometimes boggy ground at Longa Tonga where metal winding gear can still be seen at the top of the cliff left over from soapstone quarrying which took place in the early 20th century.

Stage 4

As the route continues round the coast towards Strandburgh Ness the cliffs get higher with a series of inlets. Only a narrow neck of land connects to Inner Brough; pass through the ruins of a viking building here - with spectacular views over the geo to the right - to reach Inner Brough on which once stood the largest Norse monastic cliff-top community in Shetland. There are also further Norse remains on Outer Brough which is cut off by a narrow channel of sea.

Stage 5

Leave Inner Brough and continue south along the coast which is dotted with impressive features including a fine arch - best seen by a detour out onto the Head of Cumla and then looking back - and a number of sea caves. Pass the small stacks known as Berdins and bear left to cross a stile in a fence and cross to the back of Whale Geo.

Stage 6

The cliff now climbs and the going becomes increasingly rugged. Cross another stile and bear right inland to a bridge over a burn and continue near the coast to another stile passing the Head of Hosta and then Baa Neap before descending and eventually heading inland to pass behind Houlls Geo. At a stile with a gate to the left go over the stile and across a boardwalk on boggy ground to another stile and from there head south directly towards Funzie Bay keeping the house at Funzie Haa, the site of an old fishing station, on your left.

Stage 7

At the road you can detour to an information board on the left, otherwise turn right to follow the road uphill away from the bay. Climb steadily and at the road junction turn right for Everland to return to the start.

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Stranburgh Ness, Fetlar

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Terrain

Public Transport

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