Little Cals Geo

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Shetland

Scotland

Little Cals Geo

Papa Stour from Huxter, Sandness Credit: Mike Pennington

Little Cals Geo is a prominent coastal feature located on the rugged coastline of Shetland, an archipelago in Scotland. Specifically, it is situated on the eastern coast of the Shetland Mainland, near the village of Cunningsburgh.

Little Cals Geo is classified as a headland, which is a narrow strip of land that extends into the sea. It is known for its unique geological formations and dramatic cliffs, making it a popular destination for tourists and nature enthusiasts. The headland is characterized by its steep slopes, which rise up to a height of approximately 40 meters above sea level. These cliffs provide a stunning vantage point for panoramic views of the surrounding coastline and the North Sea.

At the end of Little Cals Geo, there is a prominent point that juts out into the sea. This point offers an exceptional viewpoint to observe the crashing waves and coastal wildlife, including seabirds such as puffins, fulmars, and guillemots. The area is also rich in marine life, with seals often seen basking on the rocks and occasionally dolphins or whales spotted offshore.

Access to Little Cals Geo is relatively easy, with a designated walking trail leading visitors along the cliff tops. However, caution is advised due to the steep and sometimes unstable terrain. The headland is also an important site for geologists, as its distinctive rock formations provide valuable insights into the geological history of the region.

Overall, Little Cals Geo is a remarkable coastal feature that showcases the rugged beauty and natural diversity of Shetland's coastline, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking stunning vistas and unique geological wonders.

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Little Cals Geo Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 60.320563/-1.7071495 or Grid Reference HU1659. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Papa Stour from Huxter, Sandness

Mike Pennington

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

Ruined meal mill

The image shows the rear of one of the two mills at this location. The image was taken from channel, now waterless, which fed water into the mill.

Doug Lee

Ruined mill

The image shows a view of the front of the mill shown in HU1660 : Ruined meal mill.

Doug Lee

Ruins beside Hamna Voe

There are no inhabited buildings left on this side of the island

Doug Lee

Ruined mill complete with stream

This side of the island has many disused mills, all situated on the outflows of the few sizeable lochans found here. This mill, unique amongst those that I observed, still has some water running through it - all others appear to have had the channels blocked off at some point. It should be noted that most of the usable arable land is/was on the other side of the island. The mills have been located on this northwest side of the island presumably to be close to the supplies of water.

Doug Lee

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Little Cals Geo is located at Grid Ref: HU1659 (Lat: 60.320563, Lng: -1.7071495)

Unitary Authority: Shetland Islands

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands