The Nev

Cliffs at The Nev, north of Fitful Head

The bend in the track

There is a well-graded track up to the communications masts on Fitful Head. Clearly, it is not open to the public to drive up, but it is an easy walk from Quendale. At this point, there is a sharp bend. Coming down, I certainly would not want to lose control here, or miss the turn in mist. The consequences are pretty clear! I think that the rocks just left of centre must be Swarta Skerry, in HU3415.

The track from Fitful Head

A well-graded track serves the communications station on Fitful Head. Clearly, it is not open to the public to drive, but it gives an easy walk. This is looking back downhill towards Quendale.

Fitful Head: view from a few miles east

Looking out from the Northlink ferry to Aberdeen as cloud covers Fitful Head on a beautiful sunny evening.

Chris Downer

Mystery Feature

An absolute mystery when first located, but close investigation revealed its identity. It turns out to be a Protective Wall for a Target Zone on an old disused firing range (some evidence here HU3513 : Blitzed Target Zone. It faces another Target Zone (down-range) about 450 metres away; see - HU3613 : Unmarked Feature. The platform (maybe planks) on which the targets stood, is missing.

Fire Wall

This is the protective wall at a Target Zone on an old disused firing range. There are no names, nor designations, on the map, nor references (that I could find) on the Internet. Looking from this protective wall, across the valley, one can see another obvious Target Zone HU3613 : Unmarked Feature - centre and to the right of the quarry. This Fire Wall but not the Target Zone is shown on the OS map.

Blitzed Target Zone

The front edge of the protective wall, behind which, on a raised platform I assume, targets stood. The 'blitzing' suggests that a lot of 'incoming fire' had raked the wall, as the rear edges and the protected front ones appear as sharp as new. The whole area must have been used for weapon training.

Livestock Management Facility

Probably a sheep dip in there but they are no longer allowed near water courses.

Fitful Head View To Summit

Drove up the road until we found Rick and Jenny parked before the road goes steeply uphill, then walked up the hill together to bump into Alison Fox and Jonathan Foote near the summit. Name: Fitful Head Hill number: 1531 Height: 283m / 928ft Area: 22: Shetland Islands Class: Ma Grid ref: HU 34625 13536 Summit feature: no feature: ground 5m W of trig point Drop: 270m Col: 13m HU375142

Coastal View

Coastal view north where the road to Fitful Head turns at 90 degrees.

Sheep Pens

These sheep pens are close to the road up to Fitful Head.

Track To Gord Farm

The view back down the access track to Gord Farm. We parked nearby to walk up the track to Fitful Head.

Fitful Head

Drove up the road until we found Rick and Jenny, then walked up the hill together to bump into Alison Fox and Jonathan Foote. Name: Fitful Head Hill number: 1531 Height: 283m / 928ft Area: 22: Shetland Islands Class: Ma Grid ref: HU 34625 13536 Summit feature: no feature: ground 5m W of trig point Drop: 270m Col: 13m HU375142