Shetland - The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands - page 398

Brough Lodge
Sir Arthur Nicolson's architectural tastes were rather more eccentric than some other
local tyrants; his rotting but still astonishing Brough Lodge , a rambling castellated
composition built in stone and brick in the 1820s, can be seen about a mile south of
the ferry terminal, and owes something - perhaps an apology - to Gothic, Classical
and maybe even Tudor styles. Nicolson is also responsible for the nearby round-tower
folly, which was built with stone from the abandoned crofthouses.

Vord Hill
Much of the northern half of the island around Fetlar's highest point, Vord Hill (522ft),
is now an RSPB Reserve. As well as harbouring important colonies of arctic skua and
whimbrel, Fetlar is perhaps best known for having harboured Britain's only breeding
pair of snowy owls , which bred on Stackaberg, to the southwest of Vord Hill, from
1967 to 1975.

Houbie and around
At the tiny, main settlement, HOUBIE , in the centre of the island on the south coast,
there's a rather less adventurously styled laird's house called Leagarth, with an
impressive conservatory, built by Fetlar's most famous son, Sir William Watson Cheyne
(1852-1932), who, with Lord Lister, pioneered antiseptic surgery. You can learn more
about Cheyne's colourful life from the nearby Fetlar Interpretive Centre (May-Sept
Mon-Sat 11am-3pm, Sun 1-4pm; £2; T 01957 733206, W fetlar.com), a welcoming
museum with information on Fetlar's outstanding birdlife.
he Sand of Tresta is less than a mile to the west of Houbie, with a beautiful,
sheltered beach of golden sand, and the freshwater loch of Papil Water immediately
behind it. Fetlar also shelters Britain's most northerly religious community, the
Society of Our Lady of the Isles , a small Anglican religious order for women based in the
modern lodge on the edge of the cliffs at Aith Ness, to the east of Houbie. There are
two chapels at the nunnery, both open to visitors: the Byre Chapel, a converted barn
with a resident goat, and a modern chapel where the daily office takes place.

8

Loch of Funzie
Fetlar is also one of very few places in Britain where you'll see the graceful red-necked
phalarope (late May-early Aug): the birds are unusual in that the female does the
courting and then leaves the male in charge of incubation. There is a hide overlooking
the marshes (or mires) to the east of the Loch of Funzie (pronounced “Finny”).
ARRIVAL AND GETTING AROUND FETLAR

By ferry Ferries to Fetlar (Mon-Sat 7-9 daily; 25-40min)
depart regularly from both Gutcher (Yell) and Belmont
(Unst), and dock at Hamar's Ness, 3 miles northwest
of Houbie.
By bus There's a Funzie to Fetlar ferry service (Mon-Sat

3 daily), and a dial-a-ride electric minibus service - to
use it you must book your journey the day before
( T 01595 745745).
By car Bear in mind that there's no petrol station on Fetlar,
so fill up before you come across.

ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Aithbank Böd T 01595 694688, W camping-bods
.com. A cosy wood-panelled cottage, a mile east of Houbie,
with two rooms, sleeping a total of f se ven. Hot water,
kitchen, solid-fuel stove. March-Oct. £10 /person
Fetlar Café T 01957 733227. The island's only café lives
inside the island shop/post o ce in Houbie. Cooked
breakfasts (Fridays only), soup and a few light snacks is all
you can hope for. Mon-Sat 11am-4pm.

Garths Campsite T 01957 733227. A simple camping
field just to the west of Houbie and a stone's throw from the
Sand of Tre sta, with toilets, showers and drying facilities.
May-Sept. £7 /pitch
Gord T 01957 733227, E [e-mail].
The modern house attached to the island shop in Houbie is
also a B&B with great sea views from all the room s. Full l
board only; meals for non-residents by arrangement. £100