wader3
24-02-2011, 04:40 PM
This is the most Northern place in the UK. A local told me the place was deserted, so I drove up for a look around. The Base itself has been empty since 2004, but the accommodation village a couple of miles south is now part of a tourism initiative. (Good luck, nice place but a bit far for most!)
I've left it a while because 1 I never find the time to do all the uploading, but 2 because the place is so remote, I'm pretty sure they'd know who was snooping - the local was one of a handful of residents occupying this island. Oh, and I did later find it's not completely deserted, the radar is still maintained and perhaps I could have been shot afterall :wflag
RAF Saxa Vord was a radar station operated by the Royal Air Force. It was situated on the island of Unst, one of the Shetland Islands in the north of Scotland. Its radar provided long-range coverage of the airspace to the North of Scotland. The station's motto "Praemoneo de Periculis", Forewarn of Danger, reflected its role.
The island of Unst has played an important part in the defence of the UK since the outbreak of the Second World War.
From around 2000 until 2 April 2004, the station operated as RRH Saxa Vord, an unmanned Remote Radar Head operated from a parent station (RAF Buchan). On 2 April 2004, RAF Saxa Vord was upgraded from a Remote Radar Head to a full manned station, taking over control of the radar defences in the area. RAF Buchan will be downgraded to a Remote Radar Head. RAF Saxa Vord closed in April 2006.
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060257.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060253.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060231.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060232.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060234.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060237.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060238.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060236.jpg
Last exit to nowhere...?
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060239.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060241.jpg
I thought about going up this as I figured it was out of use...glad something held me back...
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060240.jpg
Notice how this gate is now open... (and how quick the weather changes...)
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060243.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060233.jpg
Gate to electric sub station
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060228.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060258.jpg
Anyone want to compete for the furthest north vehicle UK?
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060260.jpg
I've left it a while because 1 I never find the time to do all the uploading, but 2 because the place is so remote, I'm pretty sure they'd know who was snooping - the local was one of a handful of residents occupying this island. Oh, and I did later find it's not completely deserted, the radar is still maintained and perhaps I could have been shot afterall :wflag
RAF Saxa Vord was a radar station operated by the Royal Air Force. It was situated on the island of Unst, one of the Shetland Islands in the north of Scotland. Its radar provided long-range coverage of the airspace to the North of Scotland. The station's motto "Praemoneo de Periculis", Forewarn of Danger, reflected its role.
The island of Unst has played an important part in the defence of the UK since the outbreak of the Second World War.
From around 2000 until 2 April 2004, the station operated as RRH Saxa Vord, an unmanned Remote Radar Head operated from a parent station (RAF Buchan). On 2 April 2004, RAF Saxa Vord was upgraded from a Remote Radar Head to a full manned station, taking over control of the radar defences in the area. RAF Buchan will be downgraded to a Remote Radar Head. RAF Saxa Vord closed in April 2006.
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060257.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060253.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060231.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060232.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060234.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060237.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060238.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060236.jpg
Last exit to nowhere...?
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060239.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060241.jpg
I thought about going up this as I figured it was out of use...glad something held me back...
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060240.jpg
Notice how this gate is now open... (and how quick the weather changes...)
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060243.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060233.jpg
Gate to electric sub station
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060228.jpg
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060258.jpg
Anyone want to compete for the furthest north vehicle UK?
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/david_mann_duel/saxa%20vord%20raf/P1060260.jpg