Shaldi Cliff east tunnel (SW entrance)

'Viewed from entrance 20/8/21. SW entrance of the most easterly of a parallel pair of inclined rift tunnels running SW to NE through Shaldi Cliff and opening into Geo Claver. Tunnel width ~4 m throughout. Height of SW entrance ~7 m ACD, height of NE entrance ~17 m ACD. Water depth ~0 m BCD throughout but shallower at NE end with boulders breaking surface (>1.6 m ACD). Passage length estimated ~18 m. Fully illuminated.' [Report 1145]

Notes: Length from NGRs derived from Canmore Aerial, other dimensions estimated by Report 1145.

Links and Resources:

Shetland, Sheet LXIX (includes: Dunrossness), Survey date: 1878 Publication date: 1881. Modern OS shows two parallel tunnels running NE/SW through the narrow neck of Shaldi Cliff.
Photo 1 shows the south west entrances of this tunnel - CI63 - on the southern face of Shaldi Cliff. p110 of FI Caves (GSG version), an annexe of Report 1145.
Photo 2 shows the south west entrances of this tunnel - CI63 - and the other one from fairly close. p111 of FI Caves (GSG version), an annexe of Report 1145.
Photo 3 looking through the tunnel from the the south west entrance. p112 of FI Caves (GSG version), an annexe of Report 1145.
For a sketch plan, see NE entrance.
Photo 4 a view looking east along the ridge of Shaldi Cliff, with Geo Claver on the left. Shows how steep the cliffs are. SW entrances to this and the west tunnel are out of sight on the near right (S).
Rpt 1145 Harries, D.B., Purcell, A., Moore, C.G., Lyndon A.R., Porter, J.S., Saunders, G.R. and Hume, C.L. 2024. Distribution mapping and baseline monitoring survey of sea caves around Fair Isle. NatureScot Research Report 1145.

This entry was last updated: 2025-06-18 11:19:35

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NGR:	HZ 21498 71138
WGS84:	59.52563, -1.62178
Length:	29 m
Vert. Range:	7 m
Altitude:	0 m
Geology:	Observatory Sandstone Formation - argillaceous rock, dolomitic
Tags:	Cave, Arch, SeaCave
Registry:	main

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