Fetlar
| Shetland Islands | |
|---|---|
| OS Name: | Fetlar |
| Shetland Name: | Fetlar |
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| UK Grid Reference: | HU640910 |
| Area (ha): | 4078 ha |
| Population: | 60 |
| Community Council: | Fetlar |
| Ferry Services: | From Belmont, Unst, and Gutcher, Yell. |
| Notes: | |
Fetlar (Old Norse : Fetaland = Fat Land ) is one of the North Isles of Shetland, with a population of about 60 people. Its main settlement is Houbie, near the centre of the island, home to the Fetlar Interpretive Centre.
Leagarth House, the home of Sir William Watson Cheyne, is also in Houbie.
Part of north and south Fetlar are RSPB reserves, home to several important breeding bird species including Arctic Skuas and Whimbrels. Of greatest importance however are breeding Red-necked Phalaropes, with the Loch of Funzie an important feeding site for the birds. The loch, close to the road, allows visitors the chance to see and photograph this unique species in the UK. A pair of Snowy Owls also famously bred on Fetlar in the 1960s, they lasted until the 1980s but are no longer present.
Another attraction on the island is Brough Lodge, built by Arthur Nicolson in the 1820s.
Ferries sail from Hamars Ness on Fetlar to Gutcher on Yell and Belmont on Unst.
The Vandela/Wendela wrecked on the east coast of the isle on December 18th-19th 1737, Strandburgh Ness is the most probable location for the wreck of the James on June 26th 1773, the Good Intent wrecked in the Wick of Little on March 23rd 1799, the Clarendon on 19th December 19th 1847, the Neptune at Noustaness on January 7th 1848, the Johann Caesar at Aithbank on December 20th 1870, the Lizzie, "at the back of Stranburgh Ness" in December 1882, the Hedevig on Daaey Isle on 17th February 1900, the Maia near the Broch of Houbie on February 2nd 1962, and the Freedom 0.5miles E of the isle on 14th October 1991.
Additionally other wrecks have occured in Funzie Bay and the Wick of Tresta, and can be found on the respective pages.
Businesses
Looking around Fetlar
Click on any image to enlarge
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External links
- Fetlar Webcam, looking over Houbie
- Fetlar Interpretive Centre
- Brough Lodge Trust
- Fetlar Developments Ltd, Promoting Fetlar
- Nothing But A Shepherd and His Dog an article by Adam Grydehøj concerning the depopulation of Fetlar as published in Shima: The International Journal of Research Into Island Cultures, Vol. 2, Number 2, 2008.
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