Dale of Walls
A quiet valley beyond Walls in the Westside, ending in a storm beach of piled pebbles facing the Atlantic.
Dale of Walls, or the Dale o' Waas to anyone local, is a soft, green valley tucked into the hard country of Shetland's Westside, a few miles beyond the village of Walls.
A single-track road runs down it to a beach at the head of the Voe of Dale, and though you can drive almost to the shore, it feels remote, and there is usually nobody else there.
The beach faces straight into the Atlantic, and the breakers have piled its pebbles metres high. In summer, walk up the burn that runs down to the beach and its banks are thick with wild flowers; on a calm day it is a place of real peace, perhaps with seals or an otter for company. For the fit and well equipped, a challenging walk of about three kilometres leads over the hill and along the coast to the cliffs of Deep Dale, and on up Sandness Hill beyond. On a wild day it is simply the place to blow away the cobwebs.
Drive through Walls and on down the single-track road to the Dale; a short walk to the shore.
Open at any time; free.
- Getting there
- Beyond Walls; single-track road.
- Walk
- A short walk to the shore.
Dale of Walls, beyond Walls, Westside.
Scotland, in print.
Every photograph commissioned, every word written by somebody who went. Printed twice a year, made in Scotland.
For further reading, before you go.