📌 Bigton, Shetland Mainland
★★★★
St Ninian’s Isle is a part-time island, part-time peninsula usually connected to Shetland Mainland by a sandy ribbon. St Ninian never visited the 72-acre island (nor Shetland itself), but there is a ruined, 12th century chapel here dedicated to him, and he is now the archipelago’s patron saint. The 28-piece “St Ninian’s Isle treasure” silver hoard was discovered here in 1958 and now resides at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Back in Shetland, the St Ninian’s Isle coastline is a real natural treasure too, and usually much quieter than the tombolo it’s adjoined to. The south end of the island is surrounded by dramatic islets, stacks and skerries, while the northern part rises gradually to a 59-metre trig point with views north to the Ness of Ireland and South Havra.
📷 Chronological photo guide
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at minor road end, 0.5 mi west of Bigton, Shetland Mainland
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: HU 375209
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 59.971343,-1.330298
🚌 Infrequent bus to Bigton
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 6 km / 4 mi | ▲ 130 m | ⌛ 2-2.5 hr
Features: 🏖️ St Ninian’s Isle tombolo ★★★★; 🌊 St Ninian’s Isle; △ St Ninian’s Isle (59 m); ⛪ St Ninian’s Church
⬤ Moderate | Once on island, fairly straightforward going on grass / sheep paths, some ascent. ⚠️ Access to island is via a sandy tombolo which may be submerged during very high tides, storms & more often during winter.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit of St Ninian’s Isle with access via tombolo
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Sheep & lambs, rabbits, red throated divers, eiders with ducklings, shags, fulmars, oystercatchers, terns, gulls, seals.
Weather: 15°C, fairly sunny, moderate breeze.
June 2024
