Ness of Brough

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Shetland

Scotland

Ness of Brough

Road west of Brough Lodge The B9088 drops down to the pier at Ugasta on the west coast of Fetlar. — Road west of Brough Lodge Credit: Oliver Dixon

Ness of Brough is a prominent coastal feature located in the Shetland Islands, off the northeast coast of Scotland. This headland is situated on the western side of the island of Unst, the northernmost inhabited island in the British Isles.

Rising to an elevation of approximately 30 meters (98 feet), Ness of Brough offers breathtaking views of the surrounding North Sea. Its strategic position on the island provides a vantage point for observing nearby cliffs, rugged offshore rocks, and the vast expanse of the ocean.

The headland is characterized by its steep and rocky cliffs, which have been shaped by the relentless forces of wind and waves over thousands of years. These cliffs are composed of sedimentary rocks, such as sandstone and shale, which display striking layers and patterns.

Ness of Brough offers a habitat for a variety of seabird species, including gannets, puffins, and fulmars. The surrounding waters are also home to seals and other marine wildlife.

Visitors to Ness of Brough can enjoy a walk along the coastline, taking in the awe-inspiring natural beauty and the sound of crashing waves. The headland is accessible by a footpath that leads from the nearby village of Haroldswick, providing a convenient starting point for exploration.

Overall, Ness of Brough is a captivating coastal feature that showcases the raw power of nature and offers visitors a chance to connect with the stunning landscapes of the Shetland Islands.

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Ness of Brough Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 60.611945/-0.94623807 or Grid Reference HU5792. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Road west of Brough Lodge

The B9088 drops down to the pier at Ugasta on the west coast of Fetlar.

Oliver Dixon

Shetland ponies below Sugil

Oliver Dixon

The Tower at Brough Lodge

A Victorian folly overlooking the west coast of Fetlar.

Oliver Dixon

Three roadside containers

Purpose unknown, these containers stand by the road to the Fetlar ferry terminal.

Oliver Dixon

Roadside livestock pens

By the road from the Fetlar ferry terminal.

Oliver Dixon

Ruined cottage at Uskister

Oliver Dixon

Dunlin (Calidris alpina) on the beach at Ugasta by Brough Lodge

Dunlin breed quite commonly on moorland in Shetland. This is either a local bird feeding on the shore or a late migrant still heading north.

Mike Pennington

Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) at Ugasta by Brough Lodge

Ringed Plovers breed quite commonly in Shetland, most often in coastal habitats.

Mike Pennington

Mire at Sanslogins, north of Gallow Hill

Mike Pennington

Track to telecoms mast at Ponsil, Lambhoga

Mike Pennington

View north over Mires of Oddsetter

Saxa Vord on Unst is in the distance.

Mike Pennington

Dilapidated pier at Ugasta, near Brough Lodge

Mike Pennington

Beach at Ugasta, near Brough Lodge

Mike Pennington

Urie

One of several ruins at Urie, set amongst lush grassland.

Richard Webb

Fetlar: signpost to Funzie

Looking along the western side of the island, while the road heads east across to Funzie (pronounced Finnie) on the B9088.

Chris Downer

Brough Lodge Folly

The oval-shaped tower in the grounds may have been contemporary with the manor house, or it may have been built slightly later. It is another example of a folly-type structure, even though it occupies the site of an actual Iron Age broch, and it originally had three storeys, joined to the land by a footbridge which has now disintegrated. It was used at one stage as an astronomical observatory, which contained a large telescope, and the lens for the instrument has been preserved at Fetlar Interpretive Centre.

Rude Health