TAP Field Report No. 5 A survey of Shetland's gallow hills Joris ...

TAP Field Report No. 5Figure 3 Topography of Gallow Hill, Huesbreck.The little star marks the viewshed’s observerpoint (see ig. 4). (Data: Ordnance Survey.© Crown copyright /database right 2010).Forra Ness are visible in the distance, with asmall stripe of the Atlantic behind them. Thebest land view from Gallow Hill is towards thenorth, where it overlooks almost all the landbetween the observer and the Ward of Scousburgh(263 m), located 4.5km to the north. Tothe northeast, one can see the settlements ofBoddam and Dalsetter. To the east, the Lochof Browbreck is visible in the foreground, andwe have a grand view of the North Sea, withthe horizon at a distance of c. 30km. However,the coast itself, which is about 850m from thetop of Gallow Hill, and the voe below Boddamare obscured by the slope.The top of the Gallow Hill is marked bya cairn, which was scheduled by HistoricScotland in 1975. 5 It is surrounded by other, Discussion of the sites1) Gallow Hill, Huesbreck, Dunrossness,MainlandHU 3929 1443The southernmost Gallow Hill is locatedsouth of Boddam (Fig. 3). It is formed by asmall hillock at the east side of a larger butgradual hill. The main road A 970 crossesthe hill between the Gallow Hill and theslightly higher ‘summit’ (68 m) to the westof the road. Despite its moderate elevation,the Gallow Hill offers a ine view of southernDunrossness and can in return be seen from alarge surrounding area (Fig. 4 & 49). The GallowHill overlooks the valley up to the ridgeof Ward Hill (80 m), about 2km to the south,with the top of the Compass of Sumburgh justvisible behind it. The West Voe of Sumburgh,opening out into the Atlantic Ocean, appearsto the southwest, adjaced by Fitful Head.However, since the land continues to slopeup in this direction for about 350 m, the landlying between the top of the hill and the landscapefeatures mentioned before is largelyobscured. To the Northwest, Loch Spiggie and Figure 4 Viewshed from Gallow Hill, Huesbreck.(DTM: Ordnance Survey. © Crown copyright/database right 2010).8