Loch of Haggrister

The A970, heading south for Mavis Grind and Brae, can be seen on the right.

Single track remains of the A970 road

View from the road

South east of Mangaster. Mangaster Voe in the foreground.

Overlooking Mangaster Voe. Too Brekk is hill beyond on the left.

Heads towards Mangaster Voe through rough grazing. Better pasture on the right..

East of Mangaster. Mangaster Voe on the left.

The A970 runs for 71 miles across most of the length of the "Mainland" in the Shetland Islands. It is a good-quality single-carriageway road for most of its route. Travelling from south to north, the road begins at Grutness near Sumburgh Airport and winds around the many hills and inlets passing close to a number of small villages without going through any large ones before Lerwick. After looping around Lerwick, a short spur runs to Scalloway whilst the main route continues northwards towards Brae where it crosses the narrow isthmus of Mavis Grind. At Sandy Lochs the road splits and a four-mile spur goes through Urafirth to Hillswick. The main route continuing to the right towards its northern terminus at Isbister. This last part of the route tends to be narrower with passing places. Link SABRE

The A970 runs for 71 miles across most of the length of the "Mainland" in the Shetland Islands. It is a good-quality single-carriageway road for most of its route. Travelling from south to north, the road begins at Grutness near Sumburgh Airport and winds around the many hills and inlets passing close to a number of small villages without going through any large ones before Lerwick. After looping around Lerwick, a short spur runs to Scalloway whilst the main route continues northwards towards Brae where it crosses the narrow isthmus of Mavis Grind. At Sandy Lochs the road splits and a four-mile spur goes through Urafirth to Hillswick. The main route continuing to the right towards its northern terminus at Isbister. This last part of the route tends to be narrower with passing places. Link SABRE

The A970 runs for 71 miles across most of the length of the "Mainland" in the Shetland Islands. It is a good-quality single-carriageway road for most of its route. Travelling from south to north, the road begins at Grutness near Sumburgh Airport and winds around the many hills and inlets passing close to a number of small villages without going through any large ones before Lerwick. After looping around Lerwick, a short spur runs to Scalloway whilst the main route continues northwards towards Brae where it crosses the narrow isthmus of Mavis Grind. At Sandy Lochs the road splits and a four-mile spur goes through Urafirth to Hillswick. The main route continuing to the right towards its northern terminus at Isbister. This last part of the route tends to be narrower with passing places. Link SABRE

The A970 runs for 71 miles across most of the length of the "Mainland" in the Shetland Islands. It is a good-quality single-carriageway road for most of its route. Travelling from south to north, the road begins at Grutness near Sumburgh Airport and winds around the many hills and inlets passing close to a number of small villages without going through any large ones before Lerwick. After looping around Lerwick, a short spur runs to Scalloway whilst the main route continues northwards towards Brae where it crosses the narrow isthmus of Mavis Grind. At Sandy Lochs the road splits and a four-mile spur goes through Urafirth to Hillswick. The main route continuing to the right towards its northern terminus at Isbister. This last part of the route tends to be narrower with passing places. Link SABRE

The A970 runs for 71 miles across most of the length of the "Mainland" in the Shetland Islands. It is a good-quality single-carriageway road for most of its route. Travelling from south to north, the road begins at Grutness near Sumburgh Airport and winds around the many hills and inlets passing close to a number of small villages without going through any large ones before Lerwick. After looping around Lerwick, a short spur runs to Scalloway whilst the main route continues northwards towards Brae where it crosses the narrow isthmus of Mavis Grind. At Sandy Lochs the road splits and a four-mile spur goes through Urafirth to Hillswick. The main route continuing to the right towards its northern terminus at Isbister. This last part of the route tends to be narrower with passing places. Link SABRE

This is the narrowest land in the British Isles. The inlet on the right is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean; and on the left is Sullom Voe, which is an inlet of the North Sea.

A large roadmetal quarry, with many veins of red granite cutting the surrounding grey diorite.

This area is fascinating for the series of small lochs (lochans) some forming a circle. Many are connected one to the next by small burns. The landscape itself is largely devoid of human settlement, and even of sheep. Yet in its barren-ness, it is very beautiful.