The Koam

Sea, Estuary, Creek in Shetland

Scotland

The Koam

Papa Stour from Huxter, Sandness Credit: Mike Pennington

The Koam, also known as the Koam Estuary or Koam Creek, is a small body of water located in the Shetland Islands, an archipelago in Scotland. It is situated on the eastern coast of the main island, known as Mainland, near the village of Brae. The Koam is an estuary, which means it is a partially enclosed coastal body of water where freshwater from rivers and streams meets and mixes with seawater.

The Koam is characterized by its calm and tranquil atmosphere, surrounded by picturesque landscapes. It is lined with lush vegetation, including reeds, grasses, and various species of plants and trees. The estuary is also home to a diverse range of wildlife, including numerous species of birds, fish, and marine mammals.

The water in the Koam is influenced by the tidal movements of the North Sea, resulting in a constantly changing environment. During high tide, the estuary fills up with seawater, creating a deep and navigable channel for boats and small vessels. As the tide recedes, the Koam transforms into a shallow creek with mudflats and sandbanks exposed.

The Koam Estuary is not only a beautiful natural feature but also serves as an important habitat for local flora and fauna. It is a popular spot for birdwatching, fishing, and recreational activities such as kayaking and canoeing. Its serene and unspoiled surroundings make it a haven for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts seeking a peaceful escape in the heart of the Shetland Islands.

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The Koam Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 60.32215/-1.7143046 or Grid Reference HU1559. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Papa Stour from Huxter, Sandness

Mike Pennington

Aesha Head

One of the many fine stretches of coast on Papa Stours, Aesha Head is the furthest west point of the main island, though there are various smaller islands and skerries beyond.

Anne Burgess

Natural Arch, Aesha Head

This is a closer view of the fine arch in Aesha Head, with a glimpse of Lyra Skerry beyond.

Anne Burgess

Kirstan's Hole

Actually, it isn't the Kirstan's Hole (or Christie's Hole) shown on the maps, but a second hole which opened suddenly a few years ago, where previously there had been a depression in the ground, into the same sea-cave system as the original Kirstan's Hole.

Anne Burgess

Plantiecrub near Flaes Point

A plantiecrub is a small walled enclosure in which cabbage seedlings are grown until they are big enough to plant out in croft gardens. They are usually built well away from the croft to protect the seedlings against the crofters' hens.

Anne Burgess

Ruined Meal Mills

Several traditional mills straddle this little burn. Inside the building was a fixed lower millstone, and a rotating upper millstone driven by the water falling on to the paddles below, which were mounted at 45º to the vertical drive shaft.

Anne Burgess

The Loch that Ebbs and Flows

The interior of Papa Stour is mainly moorland, though there are several lochans in the central part. This one's curious name reflects its closeness to the sea, from which it is cut off only by an ayre or shingle spit.

Anne Burgess

Hurdibrack

The last stretch of the footpath back from the west side of the island. In the middle distance is the wall which crosses the entire island, separating the arable land in the east from the pasture to the west.

Anne Burgess

The Wall

This is the wall which cuts across the whole island. The west side (left) has a steep face to prevent animals climbing over it. The east (right) side has a sloping face so that any animals which have managed to cross it can easily be driven back on to the pasture land.

Anne Burgess

Ruined House

Doug Lee

Ruined house

The number of ruined buildings on the island seem to far outnumber those still habitable or used.

Doug Lee

Road and ruins

This is the main road for the island. Even this close to the pier the ruins of abandoned crofts can be found just off the road.

Doug Lee

View towards Papa Stour Airstrip

The cleared and smoothed ground in the upper right of the image is the airstrip for Papa Stour which is located in HU1759.

Doug Lee

Unnamed Sea Stack Off Breigeo Head, Papa Stour (Big Isle of the Priests)

At less than 20 metres high this little stack is not as impressive as it's compatriots such as a little down the coast HU1461, but facing out onto the North Atlantic the situation is wild and imposing. As with most sea stacks, this has probably formed and survived through being constituted from rock that is more solid and stable than that washed out from around them. In many cases this results in providing ideal rock climbing routes in spectacular locations. In this case, the rock visible in this image is of a good solid nature but as can be seen more clearly in HU1560 : The problem with sea stacks... it is overhanging and in addition lacks much in the way of cracks in which to place rock climbing protection. Taken together these would make this an extremely difficult climb even if top roped. The side of the stack facing away to the right of the image is also overhanging, albeit to a lesser extent, but the rock is somewhat green and slimy making it an unattractive ascent route. Gaining access to the stack also presents some problems. The water foaming around the stack prevents easy access by boat and even on a comparatively calm day such as that pictured here would make swimming to the stack a highly dangerous exercise. The first visit to the top of the stack recorded by climbers is shown in the image HU1560 : The problem with sea stacks.... For this, the only viable route to the stack was by Tyrolean traverse.

Doug Lee

The problem with sea stacks...

The problem with sea stacks is how to get to them. The sea conditions at the base of this one pretty much eliminate the possibilities of swimming. One workable technique used here was to string a 100m abseil rope across the geo laying the rope on the top of the stack. The rope can then be used for a tyrolean traverse to get over to the stack and back from it.

Doug Lee

Oystercatcher nest with eggs

This nest was located in the pebbles at the high-point of the beach. The eggs are camouflaged to be hard to see amongst the pebbles - although thankfully these were just noticeable enough to escape being trodden on. The oystercatchers seem to be surviving relatively well on the island, whilst the previously abundant tern population has been largely destroyed by the skuas.

Doug Lee