Geograph - photograph every grid square

Sheep Rock is a small island (altitude 132m) on the south-east coast of Fair Isle, south of the Shetlands. To be more accurate, it is not a separate island (the col is about 25m high), but it is generally accepted that you can’t get to Sheep Rock from Fair Isle, it is only accessible from the sea (and even then it is a quite serious expedition). It can be found on OS Landranger 4 and Explorer 466, and is regarded as among the half-dozen most difficult HuMPs (hills with a drop all round of at least 100m).

The usual starting point is just west of a small skerry at HZ 2221 7110, which provides shelter for the landing. The initial route goes up to the left (south), with an awkward ledge which can, however, be protected. There is then a very steep climb up rough grass and loose rocks: this is a challenge for the leader as there is little in the way of protection, but he can then insert an anchor and let down a rope to give more confidence to those following. (There is an old chain left by the islanders which can be found in some places, but it could certainly not be relied on to give primary protection. This was the route used ‘back in the day’ to get sheep onto Sheep Rock for summer grazing. They were hauled up from or lowered down to waiting boats – see HZ2270 : Cliff rescue, Fair Isle.)

This photo shows most of the ascent route:

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That gets you about half way (in altitude) to the summit. The final climb through ungrazed summer vegetation is hard work, but not in any way technically demanding. According to Hill-bagging, just 11 recreational hillwalkers have reached the summit, nine of them on 31 July 2022 – but of course there may be a few others who have not reported the feat.

Most of Sheep Rock is in HZ2271 (the natural arches are in HZ2270). However the summit is just in HZ2171, and so photos from Vaasetter on Fair Isle may qualify for Geograph status.

The ten photos by Michael Earnshaw (and one by me) to which I have added this Shared Description illustrate various aspects of the climb. It is one which I could never have done, even in my younger and fitter days. I am extremely grateful to Michael for allowing me to submit some of his photos of remote and/or difficult locations!

Created: Sat, 27 Aug 2022, Updated: Sat, 26 Aug 2023