Inner Hillier (natural arch, SW) [CI53d]

A missing layer cave tunnel which goes about NE/SW through Sheep Rock. This is the left (NW) entrance of two which are close together. The other joins this main tunnel a short distance inside - so that the entrances go round a pillar.

The tunnel floor is subtidal from this entrance until it reaches a supratidal beach near the NE end.

Notes: The length is end to end 107 + estimated 9 m around the pillar. Altitude is ACD and is a guesstimate, as it the vertical range.

Needs a visit inside in calm weather to confirm length. The exact location of the NE entrance is hard to pick out with certainty on aerial because of shadow.

Links and Resources:

OS Namebooks. Shetland, vol 11. p90 - The Hilliers: "Three natural arches running through Sheep Craig near the south end. The centre one is deep and lofty and admits of a boat being rowed through it; about the centre, where the outer arch joins the middle one, it opens out into a large and lofty chamber upwards of 200 ft high - and is one of the grandest scenes in the northern Isles. The inner or northern arch is dry, and the outer or southern one is partly dry from the eastern entrance to where it joins the middle arch."
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.
Photo 1 shows various entrances on the SW side of Sheep Rock. Report 1145 - FI Caves (GSG vs) p88. This entrance is CI53d. The other entrance is CI53c.
Photo 2 shows the entrances to this cave system, with the pillar between them from just outside, looking NE. Also the light showing through NE entrance over what is probably a beach near that NE entrance. Report 1145 - FI Caves (GSG vs) p95.

This entry was last updated: 2024-12-23 22:24:48

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NGR:	HZ 22043 70929
WGS84:	59.52373, -1.61217
Length:	116 m
Vert. Range:	10 m
Altitude:	-2 m
Geology:	Vaasetter Sandstone Formation - sandstone interbedded with conglomerate.
Tags:	Cave, SeaCave
Registry:	main

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