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| Name: | Saxa Vord |
| Hill number: | 1530 |
| Height: | 284m / 932ft |
| RHB Section: | 22: Shetland Islands |
| County/UA: | Shetland Islands |
| Island: | Unst |
| Class: | Marilyn, Hump, Tump (200-299m), SIB, Yeaman (Ma,Hu,Tu,2,SIB,Y) |
| Grid ref: | HP 63117 16611 |
| Summit feature: | trig point |
| Drop: | 284m |
| Col: | Sea |
| OS map sheet(s): | (1:50k) 1 (1:25k) 470N |
| Observations: | higher man made ground within 10m; area fenced with continuous security presence |
| Change log: | show changes for this hill entry |
| GPS data: | show GPS entries for this hill |
N.B. Some hill summits are on private property or on land where there is no public right of way. Permission should be sought from the landowner where access to a hill summit is through private land(*).
*For information about access rights in Scotland see the ScotWays website.
Please report via the contact page any logs you see below which describe or encourage acts of trespass. Please quote the hill number and hill name.
| Logged Descriptions (logged by 142 users, only the latest 50 shown - Show all) | By | Date of Ascent |
| It is currently possible to reach the trig without any high wire antics. Look closely at the confusing array of fences in the vicinity of the trig. I stepped over one wind blown fence, then a few metres on stepped through a gap in a corner between fences. | Stickman | 03/07/2023 |
| Walked around security fence from viewpoint seat. | Winterfloodian | 10/06/2023 |
| beckybags | 25/05/2023 | |
| A Peckish | 25/05/2023 | |
| Drove to viewpoint Seat, then walked rest way, although trig is outside very secure compound still needed to climb fence where there was no barbed wire on top. | PeterD | 11/05/2023 |
| CXB | 28/07/2022 | |
| NickF | 26/07/2022 | |
| Drove up and wandered around perimeter fencing.. No one about. Glimpsed trig point lurking behind security barriers | SpudGunn | 04/07/2022 |
| From top of access road (HP630164), NE up slopes and through fence gap at a corner (HP631165) to trig point and higher made ground beyond | kdbennett | 25/05/2022 |
| Drove to viewpoint at gate only 240m from summit. Up grass to within 50m of TP, fence around it is old but largely intact, 6ft mesh topped with barbed wire. Walked all round it, barbed wire missing in some places including adjacent to the TP so climbable with some difficulty. Gloves useful and trainers better than boots. Or just accept the fence as closest point. Buildings within fence seem derelict except those in the inner sanctum, protected by 2 formidable new fences. TP fortunately outside these. | govanah | 08/05/2022 |
| Drove to viewpoint seat, just as site warden checking the summit buildings. Wandered circuit around the fence watched … only old fence on lower compound can be breached, didn’t linger long in exploring options. New fence just round the ball, but older fence appears solid too. Fine views | N.Morters | 28/04/2022 |
| Failed! Walked all around but the big chain-link fence is in good condition. Saw the trig from 30 metres away. No humans seemed to be on site. | Pete R | 22/04/2022 |
| got as close as I could, no fences seamed to be down. Looks very run down | Coxswain | 13/09/2021 |
| 2nd visit to this hill to access the trig point. Parked at old military buildings high on the hill, then short walk straight up on heather and long grass, crossing where old fences are down, to the summit. | LizH | 26/08/2021 |
| PeterAH | 26/08/2021 | |
| dave g | 25/08/2021 | |
| fionnag | 24/08/2021 | |
| From turning area 9/10 of way up. Walked up road, then followed fence until found 2 sections blown over on S and W sides, then 2 minutes to trig and wander round outside secure area to high point. Lovely views over Muckle Flugga. | Thearlaichdubh | 07/08/2021 |
| iainwalton | 25/07/2021 | |
| Got to the locked gates and barbed wire fences New planetary trail showing solar system placings | VerySlowPlodder | 19/07/2021 |
| Emma and Simon | 08/07/2021 | |
| With KeithByTheC | JulieB | 29/06/2021 |
| From Sothers Field on road. Slightly awkward access to trig through two tumbledown fences to west of trig point. | KeithByTheC | 29/06/2021 |
| phil101 | 28/06/2021 | |
| Simon Winton | 03/06/2021 | |
| MC JC O. Walked up the access road. The summit area is currently abandoned by the MoD and the fence is indeed down in parts. Such a disappointment for the most northerly Marilyn. Buildings are semi-derelict or derelict and presumably will never be used again. Whilst it is understandable that the land should be kept by the MoD, under current circumstances the buildings should be removed and not allowed to decay further, polluting the surrounding area. Rant over ... | Martin66 | 08/09/2020 |
| walk livi | 31/08/2020 | |
| PaulineD | 31/08/2020 | |
| I got as high as I could without crossing any fences. | Alancache | 07/08/2019 |
| A circular walk from Saxa Vord hostel via Norwick. A path leaves the road at the bend above Houlanbrindy, just before you reach a barn, and takes you to the MOD road just below Sothers field. Follow the road towards Saxa Vord; near the top follow the old security fence, step over where it's fallen, stroll to the summit, outside the new security fence. The highest ground is by the buildings, right by the new security fence. Walked out towards the Noup, and followed the coast to Skaw, then around to Hill of Clibberswick. I met one of the RAF people in Saxa Vord hostel. The RAF visit occasionally, more likely in the afternoon as they use civilian airlines to get to Sumburgh just like us, so it takes them a while to get to Unst. I am also reliably informed that there is no hazard from the RF radiation from the radome. | Gill | 26/07/2019 |
| Alternative to climbing through fence meet a nice man with a key! | Crumblie2 | 26/07/2019 |
| A second visit exactly one year after my initial unsuccessful attempt. No problems now, with the trig/high point outwith the new security fence. I concur with ger's summit observations. | NormanW | 24/06/2019 |
| DRS | 18/06/2019 | |
| From parking to SW. Got to trig over flattened part of old security fence. Did a CW circuit on outside of new security fence. Some fantastic views - Muckle Flugga, etc. 10m N of trig there is a possible natural high point at 63116 16622 & 40m N of trig there is a man made high point at 63116 16654. | ger | 18/06/2019 |
| Solo. Very misty. | pwbellarby | 16/06/2019 |
| 09.40 fence is down access to the trig easy.. Worries over 1993 set to rest. | vegibagger | 16/06/2019 |
| There's no security presence at the moment and the lower compound at the dog leg is derelict. | Chris Peart | 13/06/2019 |
| curlebd | 11/06/2019 | |
| Parked by cattle grid (20:35) and walked up road in rain. Reached perimeter of upper compound and called it a day; discouraging notices about Official Secrets Act etc. Back to car 21:50. | dbb | 31/05/2019 |
| On site construction is currently 7 days a week for completion prior to winter. Spoke with C4I Sqn at Buchan (see mae's log for a good number), spoke with security guys on site - no access at present. The site footprint is being reduced, as to whether trig and hill top will eventually be outwith the wire is not yet known (or we are not being told if it has been decided). In the meantime closest possible access is 35m from the old fenceline (HP 6313 1659). Pillar and hill top visible - head above summit rule invoked. With Gill Stevens. ***Re-visited 22 Jun 2019. New high security fencing completed, trig and hill high point both out with. However, old security fencing extant although tatty and breached. Trig and hill high point can be accessed. | jonglew | 21/08/2018 |
| Radar station active, but mainly stopped by construction site on summit. Highest point apparently being re modelled, but not allowed in to check. Walked fence instead. | PeteN | 15/08/2018 |
| Circular walk from Saxa Vord hostel, up access road to radar station (contractors at work and no obvious access - viewed trig from security fencing) - Skaw - Wick of Skaw beach - coastline - Sand of Inner Shaw (quick swim) - Lamba Ness (future rocket launch site) - The Taing - Saxa Vord hostel. With Gillian | richard69 | 04/08/2018 |
| Second visit (first in 2010). Summit not reached this time. It's active again, and guarded day and night. Don't expect to be allowed in if you arrive unannounced. Contact RRH Buchan on 01779 874052 to find out if there's any chance of arranging access to the summit. | mae2 | 06/07/2018 |
| Not possible to reach high point due to security at perimeter fence. | NormanW | 24/06/2018 |
| Mark Hodgson | 06/06/2018 | |
| Security man was definitely not going to let me in, and told me off for being on MOD property (the access road). Had to be content with a walk around the perimeter fence. Revisited 21/10/2019 after seeing Gill's report. Not sure where her fallen fence was, maybe it's been fixed? I found an unattached and bendable section on west side which enabled access to the trig and summit area. | PGCE | 02/05/2018 |
| softsquare | 21/07/2017 | |
| Tom Mundell | 15/07/2017 | |
| Trekking toes | 15/07/2017 | |
| Isbjorn | 15/07/2017 |