Urie Ness, Fetlar

Summary

This short walk from Fetlar's ferry terminal follows the soggy coastline out to Urie Ness and its ruins. This is a good area to look for otters, before the route continues by climbing inland to reach the further haunting ruins at Urie itself - a reminder of the Highland Clearances which swept the island.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Coastal and grassy walking, boggy in parts. There are stiles (and marker arrows) over all fences.

Getting there

Start

Hamars Ness ferry terminal, Fetlar.

Public Transport

Hamars Ness is the main ferry terminal on Fetlar, and is served by daily ferries from both Yell and Unst.

Start Grid Ref

HU585944

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 4.25km / 2.75 miles
Time: 1.5 - 2 hours
Ascent: 58m (Profile)

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Explorer 470 - Shetland - Unst, Yell and Fetlar

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Walk Description

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Stage 1

The walk starts from Hamars Ness - Fetlar's ferry terminal - where there is parking, a waiting room with vending machine, and toilets. Begin by crossing the stile on the east side of the road, signposted for Urie walk. This quickly leads to another stile and the walk then continues along the grassy but rather boggy coastline.

Stage 2

A substantial drystone wall is crossed by a ladder stile. Further on the route continues along a shingle beach dividing the sea from the small Loch of Urie on your right. Keep a keen watch out for otters which can be spotted in this area.

Stage 3

At the far end of the beach is the Urie Ness peninsula, dotted with a couple of ruined buildings. This was once one of Fetlar's important haaf (or deep sea) fishing stations. The men sold their catch through the laird, but in the 19th century some worked for cash wages on ships operating out of Leith, against the Laird's wishes. He later carried out Clearances on the island, and some of the ruins of the settlement of Urie can be seen later in the walk. It's worth visiting the Fetlar Interpretative Centre in Houbie for further details.

Stage 4

After exploring Urie Ness continue behind another shingle beach stretching to the south. A short distance beyond this leave the coastline and head inland, aiming southwest to reach a stile over a fence. There are good views looking back.

Stage 5

Cross the stile, and keep just to the left of the ruins of Urie itself. Once beyond them aim slightly right (west) to reach a ladder stile over a wall, next to a gate.

Stage 6

Cross the stile and follow a grassy track which swings left on the far side. This rounds a wall corner - keep the wall to your left, and further on cross a stile over a fence. Now try to follow the faint traces of a grassy track that continues WSW. There are distant views towards a Georgian folly, a small tower above the old house at Brough. Aim to pass through a gate and then over a stile into an agricultural storage area. Leave this through its access gate to reach the road just beyond and turn right to follow this back down to the start at Hamars Ness.

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