Walk: The broch at Burra Ness

📌 Cunnister, Isle of Yell, Shetland Isles
★★★

Burra Ness juts out into the sound separating the islands of Yell, Fetlar, Unst and Hascosay. This low-lying peninsula’s highlight is a 2,000 year-old broch, well-preserved on its seaward side, encrusted in lichen and home to nesting storm petrels during summer nights. This walk also takes in some attractive coastal scenery, Burra Ness trig point and a quiet lochan, along with the possibility of spotting seabirds, seals or otters.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish at public minor road end 0.5 mi southeast of Cunnister, Isle of Unst

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: HU 533960

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 60.644111,-1.027446

❌ No public transport within 1 mi – infrequent service stops on A968 at Cunnister turnoff (1.5 mi)

🚗 Probably space for one car at turning area (leave space for other vehicles to turn), or other options further back towards Cunnister

📝 Key info

▶ 7 km / 4 mi | ▲ 70 m | ⌚ 2 hr

Features: 🌊 Burra Ness coastline; △ Burra Ness (15 m); ⭕ Burra Ness Broch ★★

⬤ Easy | Grassy coastline, some boggy areas, mostly with a faint path. Final section on track.

➡️ Irregular route shape: start – follow coastline to Burra Ness Broch – continue around coast to lochan southeast of Hill of Burraness – cut across neck of headland to rejoin outward route – Kirkabister – start via track

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Sheep & lambs, one seal, greylag geese, eider ducks, cormorants / shags, Arctic skuas, fulmars, gulls, terns, black guillemots, oystercatchers, ringed plover, hooded crows, wheatears.

Weather: 12°C & breezy, overcast with the odd glimpse of something brighter.

June 2024

Burra Ness Broch ★★