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Shetland from the Air
04/11/2010
In June 2010, as a part of an ongoing programme to record the archaeology, architecture and landscapes of Scotland from the air, RCAHMS aerial survey team relocated to Tingwall airport near Lerwick. Shetland's remote location presents a real challenge to the aerial surveyor: a final frontier. But a spell of settled weather allowed RCAHMS a rare opportunity to spend two days recording some of the region's magnificent landscapes from above. In part supporting RCAHMS archaeological field survey projects on Shetland, this was also an opportunity to prospect for otherwise unknown sites and record already established archaeological monuments from a unique perspective.
Our gallery of images presents some of the highlights from over 700 digital photographs taken during the flights. The results of the full survey are currently being made available through RCAHMS publicly-accessible, online database Canmore.
DP 081236
General oblique aerial view looking across Oxna towards West Burra on the W coast of Shetland Mainland, taken from the N.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081247
General oblique aerial view of East and West Burra and Bridge End with Souterhouse in the foreground, taken from the NW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081268
Oblique aerial view centred on the remains of the buildings and enclosures at North Ham, South Havra, Shetland, taken from the SSW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081275
Oblique aerial view centred on the remains of the buildings and enclosures at North Ham, South Havra, taken from the SSW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081276
Oblique aerial view centred on Maywick with the remains of the buildings adjacent, taken from the WSW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081297
Oblique aerial view centred on the footings of St Ninian's church, taken from the W.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081327
Oblique aerial view centred on the excavated broch and settlement at Old Scatness, Sumburgh, and the visitor attraction, taken from the NE.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081337
Oblique aerial view of the excavated settlement, broch and lairds house at Jarlshof, taken from the NNE.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081345
Oblique aerial view of the Sumburgh Head lighthouse, taken from the SW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081354
Oblique aerial view centred on Lambhoga Head and the remains of the possible fort and the buildings, taken from the NNW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081366
Oblique aerial view centred on the remains of the farmsteads and enclosures at North Crulie, taken from the WSW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081371
General oblique aerial view looking across the village of Bigton and St Ninian's Isle with Foula in the distance, taken from the E.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081393
Oblique aerial view centred on the Broch of Mousa with The Haa and the burnt mound adjacent, taken from the WSW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081451
Oblique aerial view centred on the cliffs at Noss Head, Isle of Noss National Nature Reserve (HU 5538 3989), taken from the ESE.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081456
General oblique aerial view looking across the Burradale wind farm towards Scalloway, taken from the NNE.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081536
General oblique aerial view centred on the inlet of South Ham on Muckle Roe, taken from the SE.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 082124
Oblique aerial view centred on the remains of the Stanydale temple, looking NW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 082169
Oblique aerial view centred on the remains of the field systems, clearance cairns, heel-shaped cairn, buildings and enclosures at Flatpunds, looking NW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 082215
Oblique aerial view centred on 'Da Gairdins i Sand' gardens and woodland with the remains of the farmsteads adjacent, looking NW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 082236
General oblique aerial view of the Loch of Tingwall with the Law Ting Holm in the foreground and Scalloway in the distance, looking SSW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 082254
Oblique aerial view centred on the remains of the broch and settlement at Clickhimin, looking S.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 082266
General oblique aerial view of Lerwick with the harbour area in the foreground and Bressay Sound to the top left, looking SSW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 082269
General oblique aerial view of Lerwick with the harbour area in the foreground, looking SSE.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081236
General oblique aerial view looking across Oxna towards West Burra on the W coast of Shetland Mainland, taken from the N.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081247
General oblique aerial view of East and West Burra and Bridge End with Souterhouse in the foreground, taken from the NW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081268
Oblique aerial view centred on the remains of the buildings and enclosures at North Ham, South Havra, Shetland, taken from the SSW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081275
Oblique aerial view centred on the remains of the buildings and enclosures at North Ham, South Havra, taken from the SSW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081276
Oblique aerial view centred on Maywick with the remains of the buildings adjacent, taken from the WSW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081297
Oblique aerial view centred on the footings of St Ninian's church, taken from the W.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081327
Oblique aerial view centred on the excavated broch and settlement at Old Scatness, Sumburgh, and the visitor attraction, taken from the NE.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081337
Oblique aerial view of the excavated settlement, broch and lairds house at Jarlshof, taken from the NNE.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081345
Oblique aerial view of the Sumburgh Head lighthouse, taken from the SW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081354
Oblique aerial view centred on Lambhoga Head and the remains of the possible fort and the buildings, taken from the NNW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081366
Oblique aerial view centred on the remains of the farmsteads and enclosures at North Crulie, taken from the WSW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081371
General oblique aerial view looking across the village of Bigton and St Ninian's Isle with Foula in the distance, taken from the E.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081393
Oblique aerial view centred on the Broch of Mousa with The Haa and the burnt mound adjacent, taken from the WSW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081451
Oblique aerial view centred on the cliffs at Noss Head, Isle of Noss National Nature Reserve (HU 5538 3989), taken from the ESE.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081456
General oblique aerial view looking across the Burradale wind farm towards Scalloway, taken from the NNE.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 081536
General oblique aerial view centred on the inlet of South Ham on Muckle Roe, taken from the SE.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 082124
Oblique aerial view centred on the remains of the Stanydale temple, looking NW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 082169
Oblique aerial view centred on the remains of the field systems, clearance cairns, heel-shaped cairn, buildings and enclosures at Flatpunds, looking NW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 082215
Oblique aerial view centred on 'Da Gairdins i Sand' gardens and woodland with the remains of the farmsteads adjacent, looking NW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 082236
General oblique aerial view of the Loch of Tingwall with the Law Ting Holm in the foreground and Scalloway in the distance, looking SSW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 082254
Oblique aerial view centred on the remains of the broch and settlement at Clickhimin, looking S.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 082266
General oblique aerial view of Lerwick with the harbour area in the foreground and Bressay Sound to the top left, looking SSW.
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 082269
General oblique aerial view of Lerwick with the harbour area in the foreground, looking SSE.
© Crown Copyright: HES
