Photos and the City

Category: Sotland

Mavis Grind

Mavis Grind – the very narrow strip of land connecting the Northmavine peninsula to mainland Shetland. Mavis Grind means “gate of the narrow isthmus”. An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger areas of land across the water.

Mavis Grind is just 33 metres wide on its narrowest point. You can throw a stone from the Atlantic on the one side to the North Sea on the other side. Vikings and local fishermen carried their boats over the narrow land to avoid having to sail around the peninsula.

A chambered cairn from the Bronze Age was found nearby. I didn´t go there on this day, but did enjoy the view of mainland Shetland.

Mavis Grind – the narrowest point.

05/04/2022
Ronas Hill & The Hollanders Grave

On my last day in the Northmavine in the northern part of Shetland, I thought about climbing Ronas Hill, the highest point in Shetland, a classed Marilyn. (A “Marilyn” is defined as a peak with at least 150 metres or more.)

But in the end, I got discouraged by the dark clouds and decides to drive along Ronas Hill searching for “The Hollanders Grave”.

The Hollanders Grave is a mass grave dating from the Anglo-Dutch war in 1674 somewhere opposite Ronas Hill. I didn´t really find the grave or better said the memorial for it, but it was a beautiful drive and walk.

29/03/2022
Ollaberry

Hillswick

I started my day in the Northmavine with a little stroll around Hillswick and having some coffee in the Hillswick hotel – enjoyed outside in the sunshine. As a 2nd score of the day, I found a bottle of Shetland Reel Fliska Gin in the Hillswick shop, a limited edition and remembered how the poor guy at Shetland Reel had to peel all those grapefruits for the gin. It was worth it though!

After a visit to the fun toilet, I went on a little hike around the Hillswick peninsula – but didn´t take the camera with me. Something I quickly regret as it was stunning. But it was also nice to enjoy the cliffs without thinking about pictures.

Ollaberry

My lovely little cottage was near Ollaberry in the Northmavine – in the evening I took a little stroll along the coastline to look out for otters.

I didn´t see any otters but met a few lovely dogs and their owners. But it was also quite disturbing to see a lot of dumped cars in the area. Some even with their plates still on. According to my hosts, people don´t get fined for dumping their cars somewhere and the community can´t afford to have them towed away all the time.

24/03/2022