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A sea arch in the cliffs at Eshaness, the Atlantic swirling below.
Shetland Islands

Eshaness, Shetland

The cliffs of an ancient volcano in Northmavine, with a lighthouse, blowholes, stacks and the storm beach of the Grind o da Navir.

Welcome

Eshaness, on the far west coast of Northmavine, is one of the most dramatic places in Shetland: a line of black and red cliffs battered by the full weight of the Atlantic, with sea stacks, deep geos and blowholes.

They are the remains of a volcano that erupted some 395 million years ago, when Shetland lay near the equator, and geologists call them the best section through the flank of a volcano in the country.

Start at the car park by Eshaness lighthouse, perched on the rim of the cliffs, where a panel explains the rocks, and walk north along the cliff tops, well back from the edge, past Calder's Geo, where fulmars ride the updraughts and sea pinks cover the rock in summer. The highlight is the Grind o da Navir, where winter storms have smashed a gap in the cliff and hurled great blocks of rock inland to build a storm beach. The full circuit is about six kilometres and three hours. The lighthouse itself is private.

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The Daily for 10 November, from Scotland with love. Aerial view of a concrete road bridge with angled supports spanning a sea loch, twin cloud-wrapped mountain peaks rising behind autumn-coloured hills.
A short drive awayBraewick CaféA café, craft shop and campsite at Braewick on the Eshaness road in Northmavine, with windows towards the Drongs sea stacks.5 min by roadSee itThe dining room of Braewick Café, with tables in front of tall windows looking out to the sea.

Before you go

Drive north on the A970 to Hillswick and on to Eshaness; park at the lighthouse.

Public transport is very limited. Open at any time; free. Keep well back from the cliff edge.

Getting there
The A970 north, then on past Hillswick.
Parking
At the lighthouse.
Walk
About 6km circuit, 3 hours.

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Where it is

Eshaness, Northmavine.

Close byIn Northmavine.
  1. The grey harled stone front of Tangwick Haa, the laird's house that is now a museum, under a clear blue sky.Tangwick Haa MuseumA laird's house of the late 17th century at Eshaness, now the museum of Northmavine's history, open daily from 17 April to 30 September.Under a mile 3 min by road
  2. Da Lang Ayre, a curve of red shingle below steep granite cliffs, from above.Da Lang AyreShetland's longest beach, a long red shingle shore below Ronas Hill, reached only by sea or a hard hill walk.7 miles 17 min by road
  3. The Northmavine rocks board on the grass at Mavis Grind, red rock behind it.Mavis GrindThrow a stone from one ocean to the other13 miles 19 min by road
  4. Frankie's Fish and Chips14 miles 21 min by road
  5. Busta House among trees on the shore, with fields and the voe beyond.Busta HouseA laird's house begun in 1588 on the shore at Brae, now a hotel, with a love story and a drowning from 1748.14 miles 23 min by road
Directions
The dining room of Braewick Café, with tables in front of tall windows looking out to the sea.CafeBraewick Café2.1 miles

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