Shetland Outdoors

It’s a hilly and challenging 9.5km from the Bressay Lighthouse at Kirkabister to the Noss car park, but has fantastic views along this dramatic coast.  If you have a car parked at either end, or organising a drop off and pick up will save a walk back on the road, but the road is nice too.

You can download a PDF here or a GPX for use with mobile GPS devices or apps here.  

As always take care near cliff tops and keep well back from any edges as they may be lose or undercut.

The Shetland Islands Council Inter-island ferry times can be found here and there is one general store and the Speldiburn Café at the old school.

The walk starts from the small parking area next to Bressay Lighthouse which is bookable for accommodation. From the stile we head straight up the steep hill. Thankfully you have a good excuse to stop occasionally to enjoy the view as you look back to the light, notice the fine arch next to it?

We continue around the cliff tops until the intriguing Veng Croft comes into view, last inhabited in 1803. There’a lovely couple of burns here and an information panel in the croft house remains.

Continuing around the coast over some more rough ground we eventually come to The Bard. An impressive headland with the arch of ‘The Giant’s Leg’ below it and the remains of a WWl gun emplacement looking out to sea. To the north-east you’ll see the iconic shape of Noss NNR which will be walking towards.

Now following the coast northwards we’ll pass the Loch of Seligeo and a range of remains of settlements around Wadbister and the Bill Deacon Memorial before coming to the end of our coastal walk near the pier for the Noss NNR ferry.

Did you know that there’s another gun emplacement at the northern end of Bressay too? Watch this space for details on that walk at a later date.

Until next time, take care in the countryside and enjoy #shetlandoutdoors!