I went back to Burra about three years ago with my wife. I was telling her the story of the sheep on Fugla Stack and there was another sheep looking forlornly at us. No doubt hoping that I would come and rescue it too. Fugla stack is not an easy climb even for the unencumbered but to come down with a 400 lb sheep in tow! How did he do that? I am not too good with heights. All right, I have parachuted and done a bungee jump and so forth but I am not a natural climber. My father was though. He once told me a story about VE day in 1945. You will no doubt have heard of the Chain Home Radar stations. Well, there were Chain Home Radars in Shetland too. On VE day all the RAF staff simply got up from their desks and left. My father took the opportunity to climb the chain home radar mast which was 480 feet high. I doubt I could have done that.
I watched this episode with great interest. Some things that you could have mentioned about Burra; the main hamlet is Hamnavoe. This is the same name as the fictional town in George MacKay Brown's novel set in Orkney, but the real Hamnavoe is in Burra. I have not been there recently but my memory is of a whole street of houses all with brightly painted railings. Also the sands at Mel. This is smaller than Min but it too is well worth a visit. It is one of the three places in Shetland where the sand is of a very distinctive colour(another case in point would be the striking Sands of Brekkin in Yell which I do not think you mentioned in your episode on Yell). In the case of Mel, the sands are so named because they resemble oat meal. Hence the name Sands of Mel. Also for some reason the beach very often has big breakers rolling in which makes swimming great fun. On Min where my parents took us camping in the early 1970's and where I have been back many times, I can give you much more information. The reverse side of the Tombolo is not sand but smooth rocks with glittering mica (Not sure if I have the right term here?). We used to camp where the ruined crofts are. At night my father would take us out on fishing expeditions for Piltocks (English word is Pollock). Then we would come home and have a big fry-up at 2 am or something. The island or Stack to use the correct term where you saw the sheep that had fallen over the banks and scrambled its way to the top, is called Fugla Stack. The old crofter at the time told my father that he could have a lamb if he were to climb up Fugla Stack and rescue the sheep which at the time had been there for four years. My father agreed and we took the boat over to Fugla Stack. My father leaped onto the rocks with a rope and he disappeared upwards. Later we saw him come down much to my relief with the sheep which had four year's wool on it. There is a photograph of me with the sheep outside the lambing hut which you can see in the video. My father said that the birds on Fugla stack had no fear of humans. Fugla in Scandanavian means bird. There is some evidence that monastic communities like those at Papil and St Ninian's Isle were also present at other lonely stacks similar to Fugla Stack. When we were there some of the crofts now lying derelict were inhabited. Also, you do not mention the island of Trondra, but before you get onto Burra, you must first cross the bridge to Tronda. Again, there are quite a fiew things I could tell you about Trondra and those bridges. Also, areas which I really do not know well at all but have heard are very interesting East Burra.
Many thanks, Mark, for that fascinating information. I realise there is much more that we could have seen and filmed in Burra but we ran out of time, and the weather closed in, so we didn't get to Mel. We hope to come back to Shetland next year which will give us the opportunity to spend more time in this beautiful part of the world - we do love it there. What a wonderful story about Fugla Stack. We were so surprised to see the sheep on it. We were pleased to have met the group of walkers, one of whose grandparents lived in one of the crofts now ruined. As I have added to the description, Min, the tombolo and the crofts were part of the episode of Shetland on BBC last Wednesday - I think there will be an increase of visitors as a result!
@@philmorr About three years ago I took my wife to Burra and to Min. I told her the story of Fugla Stack and Scott Christy's sheep. While there we saw another sheep looking forlornly at us no doubt hoping that I would come and rescue it. How did my father do that? Fugla stack is no mean climb. Granted it is not the Old Man of Hoy, but it is pretty much straight up. I would not fancy clambering down with a 400 lb sheep in tow. I am not a natural climber. Yes, I have done some. I have parachuted and done high ropes and even a bungee jump but I am not a natural. My father was though. He told me of the time in 1945 when all the RAF staff had suddenly upped sticks and left their desks on VE Day. He took the opportunity to climb one of the Chain Home Radar masts which were 480 ft tall! On one occasion when my father and I were visiting Burra we met a New Zealander who happened to be out walking. It turned out that she knew one of my father's family (or knew of them) who had emigrated to New Zealand in the 1930's. Some things I would like to share with you but possibly not on a public forum.
Hi, I love your little videos but just a little advice, it's "The Mainland" not just "Mainland". If you live on one of our outer isles then you speak about "going to the mainland".
Great place coming in 2 weeks for a holiday
Hope you have a good time - and that the weather is kind to you!
I went back to Burra about three years ago with my wife. I was telling her the story of the sheep on Fugla Stack and there was another sheep looking forlornly at us. No doubt hoping that I would come and rescue it too. Fugla stack is not an easy climb even for the unencumbered but to come down with a 400 lb sheep in tow! How did he do that?
I am not too good with heights. All right, I have parachuted and done a bungee jump and so forth but I am not a natural climber. My father was though. He once told me a story about VE day in 1945. You will no doubt have heard of the Chain Home Radar stations. Well, there were Chain Home Radars in Shetland too. On VE day all the RAF staff simply got up from their desks and left. My father took the opportunity to climb the chain home radar mast which was 480 feet high. I doubt I could have done that.
I watched this episode with great interest. Some things that you could have mentioned about Burra; the main hamlet is Hamnavoe. This is the same name as the fictional town in George MacKay Brown's novel set in Orkney, but the real Hamnavoe is in Burra. I have not been there recently but my memory is of a whole street of houses all with brightly painted railings. Also the sands at Mel. This is smaller than Min but it too is well worth a visit. It is one of the three places in Shetland where the sand is of a very distinctive colour(another case in point would be the striking Sands of Brekkin in Yell which I do not think you mentioned in your episode on Yell). In the case of Mel, the sands are so named because they resemble oat meal. Hence the name Sands of Mel. Also for some reason the beach very often has big breakers rolling in which makes swimming great fun.
On Min where my parents took us camping in the early 1970's and where I have been back many times, I can give you much more information. The reverse side of the Tombolo is not sand but smooth rocks with glittering mica (Not sure if I have the right term here?). We used to camp where the ruined crofts are. At night my father would take us out on fishing expeditions for Piltocks (English word is Pollock). Then we would come home and have a big fry-up at 2 am or something.
The island or Stack to use the correct term where you saw the sheep that had fallen over the banks and scrambled its way to the top, is called Fugla Stack. The old crofter at the time told my father that he could have a lamb if he were to climb up Fugla Stack and rescue the sheep which at the time had been there for four years. My father agreed and we took the boat over to Fugla Stack. My father leaped onto the rocks with a rope and he disappeared upwards. Later we saw him come down much to my relief with the sheep which had four year's wool on it. There is a photograph of me with the sheep outside the lambing hut which you can see in the video. My father said that the birds on Fugla stack had no fear of humans. Fugla in Scandanavian means bird. There is some evidence that monastic communities like those at Papil and St Ninian's Isle were also present at other lonely stacks similar to Fugla Stack. When we were there some of the crofts now lying derelict were inhabited. Also, you do not mention the island of Trondra, but before you get onto Burra, you must first cross the bridge to Tronda. Again, there are quite a fiew things I could tell you about Trondra and those bridges.
Also, areas which I really do not know well at all but have heard are very interesting East Burra.
Many thanks, Mark, for that fascinating information. I realise there is much more that we could have seen and filmed in Burra but we ran out of time, and the weather closed in, so we didn't get to Mel. We hope to come back to Shetland next year which will give us the opportunity to spend more time in this beautiful part of the world - we do love it there.
What a wonderful story about Fugla Stack. We were so surprised to see the sheep on it. We were pleased to have met the group of walkers, one of whose grandparents lived in one of the crofts now ruined. As I have added to the description, Min, the tombolo and the crofts were part of the episode of Shetland on BBC last Wednesday - I think there will be an increase of visitors as a result!
@@philmorr About three years ago I took my wife to Burra and to Min. I told her the story of Fugla Stack and Scott Christy's sheep. While there we saw another sheep looking forlornly at us no doubt hoping that I would come and rescue it. How did my father do that? Fugla stack is no mean climb. Granted it is not the Old Man of Hoy, but it is pretty much straight up. I would not fancy clambering down with a 400 lb sheep in tow. I am not a natural climber. Yes, I have done some. I have parachuted and done high ropes and even a bungee jump but I am not a natural. My father was though. He told me of the time in 1945 when all the RAF staff had suddenly upped sticks and left their desks on VE Day. He took the opportunity to climb one of the Chain Home Radar masts which were 480 ft tall!
On one occasion when my father and I were visiting Burra we met a New Zealander who happened to be out walking. It turned out that she knew one of my father's family (or knew of them) who had emigrated to New Zealand in the 1930's. Some things I would like to share with you but possibly not on a public forum.
Gorgeously presented. My mum's family came from Shetland. Thank you!
Many thanks for your kind comment
Love your videos...nice clear, crisp visuals with excellent sound and production.
Many thanks for your kind comment - much appreciated
Hi, I love your little videos but just a little advice, it's "The Mainland" not just "Mainland".
If you live on one of our outer isles then you speak about "going to the mainland".
a pity you spoiled the video with artificial noise....
Who murdered Harry Horse and Amanda Williamson?