Hill of Hamarsland

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

A small chapel in an isolated spot, west of the village on the road towards Whiteness.

I parked near Girlsta Service Reservoir before climbing the moorland HuMP called Hill of Hamarsland.

View south from above the bay of Quoy Ness.

Beyond the Loch of Strom you can see Whiteness Voe, and in the far distance is the distinctive form of Fitful Head, right at the south end of Mainland Shetland.

The lochside church can be seen on the left and the remains of a castle are on the small holm. The view south extends as far as Fitful Head, at the very south end of Shetland.

Looking along the southern part of Loch Strom. Although the bay here appears to be the head of the Loch, in fact it extends upstream for another mile and a half, to the left as we look, beyond the headland (Quoy Ness) protruding into the picture.

Looking along the road following the western shore of Loch Strom at the extreme northeast corner of this gridsquare. A fish farm is on the right.

High-level small loch above the Weisdale Valley. Weisdale Hill is in the background.