The Helliack

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Shetland

Scotland

The Helliack

Ness of Queyon Taken on the B9081 as we pass through East Yell, Yell, Shetland, I am looking across Otters Wick to the Ness of Queyon, the croft of the same name and the Hill of Queyon. The cliffs of Hascosay and Mid Yell can be seen beyond. — Ness of Queyon Credit: Carroll Pierce

The Helliack is a prominent coastal feature located in the Shetland Islands, off the northeastern coast of Scotland. It is a headland or point that juts out into the North Sea, forming a distinctive landmark along the rugged coastline of Shetland. The Helliack is known for its dramatic cliffs, which tower above the crashing waves below.

Rising to an elevation of approximately 50 meters (164 feet), the Helliack offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding area. The headland is composed of layered rocks, showcasing the geological history of the region. The cliffs themselves are a result of the continuous erosion by the sea over millions of years, creating stunning formations and natural arches that add to the area's allure.

The Helliack is also a popular spot for birdwatching enthusiasts, as the cliffs provide nesting sites for a variety of seabirds, including puffins, guillemots, and razorbills. Visitors can often witness these colorful birds soaring above the waves or perched on the rocky ledges.

Access to the Helliack is relatively easy, with a well-maintained footpath leading to the headland from nearby coastal villages. The area is frequented by hikers, photographers, and nature lovers seeking to experience the raw beauty of Shetland's coastline.

Overall, the Helliack is an exceptional coastal feature that showcases the ruggedness and natural splendor of the Shetland Islands. It offers visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the stunning landscapes, observe diverse wildlife, and appreciate the power of nature's forces at work.

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The Helliack Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 60.557199/-1.0191427 or Grid Reference HU5386. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Ness of Queyon

Taken on the B9081 as we pass through East Yell, Yell, Shetland, I am looking across Otters Wick to the Ness of Queyon, the croft of the same name and the Hill of Queyon. The cliffs of Hascosay and Mid Yell can be seen beyond.

Carroll Pierce

East Yell: postbox № ZE2 59

A small postbox alongside a bus shelter at the junction, a short distance from the post office. The box is emptied at half past nine on weekday and Saturday mornigs.

Chris Downer

East Yell: the White Wife

This unusual monument commemorates a shipping disaster in April 1924. Setting sail from Gothenburg, bound for Chile, the 'Bohus' had been sailing for three days when a navigational error resulted in the ship becoming grounded a short distance from here, some 60 miles off her intended course. Within half an hour most of the ship had broken up. Four of the 39 on board perished, and the survivors owed a lot to the men of Yell who acted swiftly when they saw the tragedy emerging. The ship's figurehead was washed ashore in September 1924 and this is what we see here: erected by local people as a memorial to the tragedy, within sight of where it occurred.

Chris Downer

East Yell: the White Wife looks out

Another view of HU5285 : East Yell: the White Wife, from behind her as she looks out across Otters Wick. Black Skerry is the rock in the centre of the picture. This unusual monument commemorates a shipping disaster in April 1924. Setting sail from Gothenburg, bound for Chile, the 'Bohus' had been sailing for three days when a navigational error resulted in the ship becoming grounded a short distance from here, some 60 miles off her intended course. Within half an hour most of the ship had broken up. Four of the 39 on board perished, and the survivors owed a lot to the men of Yell who acted swiftly when they saw the tragedy emerging. The ship's figurehead was washed ashore in September 1924 and this is what we see here: erected by local people as a memorial to the tragedy, within sight of where it occurred.

Chris Downer

East Yell: north edge of Otters Wick

Looking down on the head of Otters Wick.

Chris Downer

Otterswick: Burn of the Mires of Queyintiptins

The course of this, surely one of the longest named streams, can be seen running across the picture left-to-right and then coming towards us into the North Burn of Otterswick, whose northern bank is more prominent across the bottom of the picture.

Chris Downer

Reused salmon cages

Old salmon cage parts used as fencing, Otterwick.

Richard Webb

Otters Wick

Beach at Otterswick.

Richard Webb

East Yell Hall

Community hall near Otterswick. The balers are lined up at an agricultural market.

Richard Webb

Parked boat, Otterswick

Richard Webb

Mart, Corn Hill

New pens at the sheep market by Otterswick.

Richard Webb

Lady in red studies White Wife

The story of how the 'White Wife' (aka 'Wudden Wife') ship's figurehead came to be at Otterswick is told here HU5285 : The White Wife: an explanation.

James Allan

Stone walls and fishing nets

With the Black Skerry rock in Otters Wick in the background.

James Allan

White Wife

View of the Hill of Queyon, with the 'White Wife' (an old ship's figurehead rescued from a wreck) on the near shore. The bay in the foreground is Otters Wick, the island of Fetlar is in the background. View from the hill above Otterswick village.

David Wyatt

White Wife, Yell, Shetland

The figurehead of the German barque, Bohus, which ran aground in 1924

Rog Frost

Figurehead of the "White Wife"

According to local tradition (and thus published many times) The White Wife (or White Lady) of Otterswick is said to be a German lady. According to her life records we have to say that Bertha is a British girl or more correctly a Scottish girl, "born in Grangemouth of German parents". She was the figurehead of the steel barque Bertha built in 1892 by Grangemouth Dockyard Co., Grangemouth, as yard no. 163. Her dimensions were: 74,11×11,70×6,88 metres [248'2"×38'4"×22'4"] and with a tonnage of 1653 GRT (1499 NRT and 2600 DWT). She was launched at the shipyard of Grangemouth Dockyard Co. for Joh. H. Soost, Hamburg on July 6th, 1892 and assigned the official German signal RJQD. She was named after Bertha, the eldest daughter of Joh. H. Soost, and this should be the proper name of The White Lady. In 1899 she was sold to Captain M. Dietrich, Hamburg, and thereafter changed hands several times. In her great days until 1912 she did a lot of long distance runs such as 1904 from Lizard Point to Seattle in 154 days, 1906 from Lizard Point to Sydney in 117 days and again in 1909 in 114 days or in 1910 from Sydney to Falmouth f/o in 129 days. In 1912 she was sold to Sweden changed hands several times and ended up with Förnyade Ångfartygs AB Viking, Gothenburg, for SEK 500.000. She was then renamed Bohus and assigned the official Swedish Reg. No. 5903 and signal KBCV. Captain at that time was Mr Ragnar Erik Nyberg, Stockholm. Bertha was bound to the Baltic Sea, mostly sailing in Swedish and Finnish waters.

Harry Hatton

Hogalee Burn

The burn rises on the hill of Hoga Lee and flows into the Loch of Vatsetter but, like several other Shetland burns, it has several names along the way.

Mike Pennington