I was lucky enough to work on Shetland for 7 years whilst constructing the Gas plant from 2010 to 2017.
The island is awash with wartime history and relics, one place which interested me the most was the rumours of and abandoned RAF radar base on the very north of the islands. Quite an important base due to it been the closest one to Russia. For years I wanted to visit the place but the work rotations didn’t give you a day off (work 21 days then travel home for 7 days leave)
Anyway, I did an extended trip one particular time and the law stated I had to have a day off, soooooo you guessed it a trip to Saxa Voe.
I set off early morning and caught the two very small ferries to the outer islands.
Took me a few hours in my little borrowed car to get there, but it wasn’t a disappointment.
The actual base is perched on a hill, the thing you hit first is the former camp where all service personal lived or were stationed. Quite an impressive place complete with swimming pool, many barracks, houses, artificial football pictures, pub etc, you have to imagine this camp is absolutely remote no towns nearby, very bleak. Anyway all these facilities are just locked up, the mod pulled the previous year, just a ghost town now (I wish I got pictures of the camp). To my surprise one building was unlocked, I walked in and it was a former barracks converted into a hotel, I walked to the bar when eventually an old guy popped up to serve me, I asked him about the place and he said that this building was now been run as a hotel, I thought it was bizarre as there wasn’t a soul insight, but he said he had lots of bird watchers come stay from all over the world. I asked him about the base on the hill and he told me which track to take, I asked him if there was any security etc and he said nope nothing, but doubted I’d actually get into the base, he also advised me I’d be breaking the law if I did.
I drove up the single track road and parked up between the two sentry bunkers right in front of the main gate, I did I bit of walking around the perimeter fence and to my surprise (and joy) found a side gate that opened, well, that was me in.
The approach road to the base.
Perimeter fence
Entering the base down the access road.
Inside the base now.
I’m told that there was a huge ‘golf ball’ Radar here which was taken away when they MOD left.
More buildings
Couldn’t get in the main building but there were still pens on desks and even coats hung up when looking through the window.
The views are quite stunning, I’ve never experienced such a sense of isolation in my life.
Kinda ignored this.
The island is awash with wartime history and relics, one place which interested me the most was the rumours of and abandoned RAF radar base on the very north of the islands. Quite an important base due to it been the closest one to Russia. For years I wanted to visit the place but the work rotations didn’t give you a day off (work 21 days then travel home for 7 days leave)
Anyway, I did an extended trip one particular time and the law stated I had to have a day off, soooooo you guessed it a trip to Saxa Voe.
I set off early morning and caught the two very small ferries to the outer islands.
Took me a few hours in my little borrowed car to get there, but it wasn’t a disappointment.
The actual base is perched on a hill, the thing you hit first is the former camp where all service personal lived or were stationed. Quite an impressive place complete with swimming pool, many barracks, houses, artificial football pictures, pub etc, you have to imagine this camp is absolutely remote no towns nearby, very bleak. Anyway all these facilities are just locked up, the mod pulled the previous year, just a ghost town now (I wish I got pictures of the camp). To my surprise one building was unlocked, I walked in and it was a former barracks converted into a hotel, I walked to the bar when eventually an old guy popped up to serve me, I asked him about the place and he said that this building was now been run as a hotel, I thought it was bizarre as there wasn’t a soul insight, but he said he had lots of bird watchers come stay from all over the world. I asked him about the base on the hill and he told me which track to take, I asked him if there was any security etc and he said nope nothing, but doubted I’d actually get into the base, he also advised me I’d be breaking the law if I did.
I drove up the single track road and parked up between the two sentry bunkers right in front of the main gate, I did I bit of walking around the perimeter fence and to my surprise (and joy) found a side gate that opened, well, that was me in.
The approach road to the base.
Perimeter fence
Entering the base down the access road.
Inside the base now.
I’m told that there was a huge ‘golf ball’ Radar here which was taken away when they MOD left.
More buildings
Couldn’t get in the main building but there were still pens on desks and even coats hung up when looking through the window.
The views are quite stunning, I’ve never experienced such a sense of isolation in my life.
Kinda ignored this.
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