Island 386 - Mid Ness of Houlland, Yell, Shetland

The Ness of Houlland on the north coast of Yell is divided into 3 parts:

• Inna Ness, which is a peninsula joined to Yell at the north end of the lovely golden Sands of Breckon
• Mid Ness, which is just about a tidal island (it would only be cut off during extreme high tides or storm conditions) and which lies to the west of Inna Ness
• Outsta Ness, which is another tidal island to the west of Mid Ness. 

My friend Deb and I only got as far as the eastern end of Mid Ness.  It was an easy scramble down to the beach from the western end of Inna Ness but the climb up onto the top of Mid Ness, although possible, didn't look easy (going up looked okay but getting down again would have been more difficult), so we contented ourselves with standing above the high tide level and we managed to reach out and touch some thrift plants growing on the island. The top of Mid Ness is covered in very short grass,  so I presume that the local sheep are more sure footed and adventurous than we were and that they visit Mid Ness to provide grass cutting services.

Looking south towards the Hill of Brimness from Mid Ness

 

 Inna Ness from Mid Ness

 

The way up onto Mid Ness is the diagonal rock face running through the photo

 

Looking north towards the North Pole from Mid Ness

 

Mid Ness from Inna Ness

 

Sands of Breckon from Inna Ness

Island 195 - Ness of Sound, Yell, Shetland

Ness of Sound is a small island linked to the west coast of Yell between Setter and Sound by a substantial tombolo.  The highest point on the island is 32 metres above sea level.  The island is about 600 metres from north to south by 500 metres from east to west.  The tombolo is partly covered in grass, so I doubt whether it gets breached or covered very often by the sea.  There is a small lighthouse on the west coast and Robert Irvine's Skerries (rocks) are located off the north west coast.  The area to the north of the tombolo is called the North Wick of Sound and the area to the south is called the South Wick of Sound - very logical!  When I visited there were about a dozen seals in the sea just off the beach to the south of the tombolo, who kept a close eye on what I was doing.

There is a track that leads down the hill from the main road.  However it ends with a gate into someone's yard around their house.  It didn't say private no access, so I opened it and walked through and out a gate the other side onto the beach.  I thought about knocking on the door to ask if it was permissible to visit Ness of Sound.  However I thought that might invite rejection, so went for strolling nonchalantly through but prepared to stop and apologise if challenged.  There was a car outside the house but no one was in sight.

 Tombolo from Yell
This cottage doesn't look to be inhabited on a full-time basis

 Yell from Ness of Sound

 Yell from Ness of Sound

 Ness of Sound from Yell

Ness of Sound from Yell

Island 194 - Holm of Copister, Yell, Shetland

Holm of Copister is a small island joined to the south west corner of Yell by a tombolo of pebbles on its north east side.  The tombolo is substantial and I would guess it doesn't get breached or covered by high tides very often.  Another tombolo links the island to Yell in its north west corner.  However this tombolo definitely is covered at high tide.  The area between the 2 tombolos is called Tangi Loch.  Holm of Copister is grass covered, grazed by sheep and the highest point is between 10 and 20 metres above sea level.  The island is about 300 metres from north to south by 250 metres from east to west.

This area is a good place to look for otters.  On my way back to the car I passed 3 people - a couple we had previously spoken to on Unst and Fetlar, who were accompanied by a local wildlife expert and they were looking for otters.  I felt slightly guilty that I might have disturbed any otters in the vicinity, although I hadn't spotted any.  However we met the same couple the following day at Eshaness on Mainland and they said that they had seen 6 otters while out with him.  The only animals I saw while on the island were sheep, including a distressed ewe keeping watch over her dead lamb, which was rather sad.

There is a tiny unnamed island located to the south east of Holm of Copister on which the remains of a broch can be seen.

 Holm of Copister from Copister, looking across Mussel Loch

 Holm of Copister from Yell

 Yell from Holm of Copister

 Tombolo at north west of the island

 Holm of Copister from Yell

Island 193 - Ness of Galtagarth, Yell, Shetland

Ness of Galtagarth is joined to the south coast of Yell at Houlland by a tombolo of stones at its south east end.  The tombolo is partly grassed over, so I would guess that it is rarely breached or covered by high tides.  The island is low lying, uninhabited and unremarkable.  The highest point is only 10 metres above sea level.  At the north east end of the island a spit of land reaches out towards the Ness of Galtagarth but doesn't quite reach it.  The channel that separates it from the island is called The Vadill.  The area between the spit and the tombolo is known as the Loch of Galtagarth.  The island is covered in grass and looks like it is sometimes used for grazing, although there was no sign of any sheep when I visited in early May 2013.

 It looks like the island was inhabited at one time

 Don't bring your dog with you.  

Someone had corrected the misspelling of allowed but for some reason hadn't corrected the misspelling of beyond!

 Tombolo from Yell



Tombolo from Ness of Galtagarth, looking towards Houlland, Yell



The only take away on the island looks like it closed down some while ago!