VisitShetland

Beaches

Shetland's Beaches

Every seaside resort boasts about 'miles of golden sand' and if that's the kind of beach you want, then Shetland has plenty.

But our islands also have every other kind of beach you could wish for, ranging from tiny coves fringed with shell sand, to storm beaches made of pure white pebbles, to wild boulder beaches below high cliffs. Whether you're building sandcastles, beachcombing, fishing for sea trout, looking for tiny sea creatures in rock pools or doing a spot of geologising, Shetland has a beach for you.

It's most unlikely that you'll meet a crowd on a Shetland beach but if you do and you prefer some solitude, the solution is simple - just move to the next beach along the coast!

It's only fair to point out that the water is chilly - around 14oC in August and as low as 5o or 6oC in January - but on sunny days it can be much warmer in the shallows. To really explore Shetland's amazing underwater wildlife you'll need a wetsuit or drysuit and a snorkel or scuba set.

As well as variety, the sheer number of beaches is astonishing. That's because of our incredibly long (1,500km) and winding coastline. For the same reason, you can always find a sheltered beach on the lee side of the islands, whatever the wind direction.

'Laid up on da green'

Norwick Beach, Unst

 

If you plan to go beachcombing, a word about a local custom. It's not a law, as such, but you'll cause severe offence if you break the rule that says you can only pick up driftwood and other flotsam if it's lying below the highest tide mark. Anything 'laid up on da [the] green', as they say, has been put there by someone else and they'll be back for it some day so please leave it alone. Considering the value of driftwood in a largely treeless archipelago, the fact that this rule is universally observed says something about the honesty of the islanders.

Warning: not everything that washes ashore is harmless or useful. Sometimes distress flares, or explosives from military exercises, or drums of poisonous chemicals can come in on the tide.  Don't touch anything that looks suspicious but phone the Coastguards immediately on 01595 692 976 and they'll deal with it safely.

Our Shetland Beach Map is available in our tourist offices and shows the best sandy beaches (with the best ones named) and also a selection of the bigger pebble beaches. But there are hundreds more and as you explore the islands you'll probably find your own favourite corners of the coast and some peerie geos [little coves] all to yourself.

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