Fort North Sutor, November 2007 First Visit

Visited With Zimbob last November. Our first explore together, and my first proper explore.

History:

Very little information is available about these sites (as they were supposed to be secret from the enemy) but during the first and second World War, Invergordon was host to the Admirals fleet (along with Scappa Floe in the Orkneys). Due to it's deep water and relatively calm waters is was an ideal location for large warships to harbour. To protect the fleet, coastal gun emplacements were situated atop the Sutors (two cliftop vantage points forming the narrow entrance to the cromarty firth) Folklore has it that the Sutors were actually two giants who lived on the north and south Sutors, who would throw shared tools accross the narrow divide.
Anyway, both North and South Sutor were significant in the defence of the Cromarty firth Fleet, with their commanding vista out into the North sea.

I am unsure of the actual figures, but there were 12" guns sited here in WW1 and the later gun emplacements (from WW2) are still standing today. We also found evidence of two smaller emplacements, facing inland to Cromarty, obviously to take care of the ones that got away. As far as I am aware, not a single shot was fired in anger.

This report was posted "elsewhere" before, but I have decided to post it here as a preview to a newer visit today. More details to follow shortly

Easterly emplacement form rear


Magazine escape shaft (possibly remains of WW1 emplacement), now filled with rubble


The rubble


Easterly emplacement from magazine escape shaft (sorry for the blue hue!)


Inside the easterly emplacement


Shell storage (no doors or evidence of them)


Gunners view


Rubble in magazine


Easterly gun emplacement from range-finder tower


Rear of rangefinder tower


Inside, plinth for rangefinder (all ironwork has been removed)


Irn Bru moment


Bottom of rangefinder plinth


Rangefinder tower from the east


Ministry of "De-Fence" (I know I've done it before)


Westerly emplacement footings


Magazine hoist (or where it would have been)


Old oil/water can in magazine


And again with light painting


My favourite shot of the day, the magazine escape shaft (blast doors at the top still intact and working)


Please accept my apologies for the quality of the pictures. It was my first explore, and whilst I would like to blame the camera- it was actually brilliant as I discovered when I learnt to work it properly. Sadly it was the photographer at fault. Thankfully, I am much better now (and have an even better camera)

Hopefully Zimbob will add his collection, and then we will move on to part two, which was for us, the "piece de resistance"(he haw, he haw, he haw!)

Bryag,

Looks like a great site. Now slightly off topic...I believe Invergordon was also a base for Flying boats during WWII as well.

There is a story that the real Rudolf Hess died along with the then Duke of Kent during the war on a flight that originated from here. The Sunderland picked up Rudolf Hess at Loch More if I remember correctly then the plane hit Eagle's Rock north of Berrydale. The Flight was officially going to Iceland but there are seemingly plenty theories that this was actually a flight taking Hess to Scandinavian to sort out some sort of end to the War.

Double Standards by Lynne Picknett, Clive Prince and Stephen Prior...

Andy

Bax__ said:

Bryag,

Looks like a great site. Now slightly off topic...I believe Invergordon was also a base for Flying boats during WWII as well.

There is a story that the real Rudolf Hess died along with the then Duke of Kent during the war on a flight that originated from here. The Sunderland picked up Rudolf Hess at Loch More if I remember correctly then the plane hit Eagle's Rock north of Berrydale. The Flight was officially going to Iceland but there are seemingly plenty theories that this was actually a flight taking Hess to Scandinavian to sort out some sort of end to the War.

Double Standards by Lynne Picknett, Clive Prince and Stephen Prior...

Andy

Click to expand...

Your facts are accurate there about the then Duke of Kent (Although the Sunderland base was along the road at RAF Invergordon- Which was actually Alness), and there is a memorial cairn at Dunbeath, Caithness. I could be wrong, but the Rudolph Hesse connection has been dismissed as here say, but that would be the official party line. After all, what would a senior member of the Nazi party be doing in a plane with a member of the British Royal family?!?!?!!?!?!?!

Hey Bryag. Sweet write up and snaps. You wrote.

My favourite shot of the day, the magazine escape shaft

Click to expand...

I like that pic too, very atmospheric.

B

That is a cool fort, thanks for the photo's

Bryag said:

Your facts are accurate there about the then Duke of Kent (Although the Sunderland base was along the road at RAF Invergordon- Which was actually Alness), and there is a memorial cairn at Dunbeath, Caithness. I could be wrong, but the Rudolph Hesse connection has been dismissed as here say, but that would be the official party line. After all, what would a senior member of the Nazi party be doing in a plane with a member of the British Royal family?!?!?!!?!?!?!

Click to expand...

Yeh the Victor always write the history books! Another allegation in the book was that the SAS killed the fake Hess in Spandau Prison. Anyway the book makes a very good read, I'd like to believe it's all true! I'm off for a beer and I'll see you tomorrow!

Bax__ said:

Yeh the Victor always write the history books! Another allegation in the book was that the SAS killed the fake Hess in Spandau Prison. Anyway the book makes a very good read, I'd like to believe it's all true! I'm off for a beer and I'll see you tomorrow!

Click to expand...

Looking forward to it!

Bishop said:

Hey Bryag. Sweet write up and snaps. You wrote.

Quote:
My favourite shot of the day, the magazine escape shaft
I like that pic too, very atmospheric.

B

Click to expand...

Thanks Bishop Generally the pictures are rubbish as the camera was capable of so much more (unfortunately at the time, I wasn't!) but that last one just hit the spot. Sadly today, time was against us, as we had planned to do a full explore, but we had to settle for the only bit we missed the last time. The seemingly undoable, really seemed undoable, but thankfully we both made it back with only minor cuts and bruises(and Sunburn!). I will let Zimbob start the thread for our return today. It might be a couple of days, because he has visitors, and although I was thinking at the time "why the hell are we doing this!" it was worth it in the end!

Fabulous site, Bryag. Love those emplacements. Looks like a lovely place for an explore too. Look forward to the next installment.