Local Area Information
Welcome to Bressay
Within ten minutes you can exchange the bustle of Lerwick town for the tranquil rural atmosphere of Bressay. The island is home to around 350 people, many of whom commute to the Mainland daily on the frequent car and passenger ferry service. Lying to the east of Lerwick the island of Bressay, (7 x 3 miles), creates a superb, sheltered harbour for shipping, the reason for Lerwick’s establishment as a major trading port. From Viking times Bressay Sound has provided a safe anchorage and in the mid 17th century up to 1500 Dutch Herring fishing vessels gathered here. During the summer months Bressay sound now teams with cruise ships with visitors to the islands.
Getting Around
Motorists will enjoy exploring the Islands network of single-track roads. Bressay is also an ideal Island for walkers and many interesting sites are only accessible on foot. Please keep to paths or the edges of fields when crossing crofting areas and close any gates which you have opened. Also, to prevent disturbance of livestock and wildlife, dogs should be kept on leads at all times.
Geology and Landscape
The Old Red Sandstone rocks that make up most of Bressay and Noss have eroded into a series of rounded hills, the highest of which is Wart of Bressay at 226 meters. Along parts of the eastern coastline and particularly at the Ord and the Bard there are high sea cliffs. Elsewhere the rocky coast is fringed with fertile soils and agricultural land, but much of the interior is heather moorland. The sandstone flags provide ideal building material to which the many skilfully built drystone dykes and croft buildings stand testimony.
Costal Mammals
A combination of cliffs, rocky headlands and sheltered voes creates a varied coastal habitat for both Gray and Common Seals. In summer large shoals of fish attract porpoises, dolphins and whales inshore. Noss Sound is one of the best areas to look for them. The voes on the east side are best for otters.
Wild Flowers
During summer there is a succession of wild flowers. Roadside verges and pastures blaze with a colourful tapestry of Buttercups, Birds foot Trefoil, Red Campion, Clovers and Orchids. Ditches and wet areas glow with golden Marsh Marigold and the brilliant yellows of Mimulus and Yellow Flag. On the moorland look for the white flowers of Heath Bedstraw, the sapphire gems of Heath Milkwort, the yellow starts of Tormentil and the delicate pinks of Heath Spotted Orchid.
Bird Life
Bressay provides a mosiac of habitats which support a variety of wildflowers and breeding birds. The summer moorland is the haunt of species such as Great and Artic Skua, Curlew, Golden Plover, Common Gull, Skylark and Meadow Pipit. Elegant Red-throated Divers breed in some of the hill lochs, whilst fields and pastures echo to the calls of waders like Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Redshank and Snipe. Tiny Shetland Wrens, Rock Pipits and Ringed Plovers breed along the coastline with Artic Terns, Elders and Black Guillemots patrolling offshore.
Noss
Noss, a small island off the east coast of Bressay, is a National Nature Reserve with over 100,000 pairs of breeding seabirds. The island is also part of a sheep farm and demonstrates a good example of conservation and agricultural practices working together.
Noss is managed by Scottish Natural Heritage and staffed by seasonal wardens who provide a weather permitting summer boat service.
The Island is open from 10am to 5pm (except Mondays and Thursdays) from late May to the end of August.
A walk around the perimeter of the Island will take at least three hours.
The sandstone cliffs on the east of the island have weathered into innumerable parallel ledges and crevices, providing ideal nesting sites for over 8,000 pairs of Gannets, 45,000 pairs of Guillemots and smaller numbers of Kittiwake, Shag, Puffin and Razorbill. The moorland interior supports about 44 pairs of Bonxies (Great Skuas) and a few pairs of Artic Skua.
Useful Information
Noss Ferry (May to August)
Tel: 0800 1077818
Heritage Centre and Neighbourhood Information Point Leirnaness
Tel: 01595 820750
Mail Shop, selling fresh vegetables, local produce and well stocked with groceries
Tel: 01595 820200
Places to Eat
Speldiburn Cafe, serving lunch, freshly made soups and home bakes
Tel: 01595 820706
Maryfield Hotel, bar and restaurant serving meals most evenings
Tel: 01595 820207