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The pebble beach at Funzie Bay, Fetlar, and the green cliffs beyond.
Shetland Islands

Funzie Beach

A small bay on the east side of Fetlar where the pebbles were squashed into rods 400 million years ago.

Welcome

Funzie is a small bay at the end of the road on the east side of Fetlar, the island Shetlanders call the Garden of Shetland, and it is one of the islands' geological highlights.

The pebbles at the far side of the beach look like nothing else: cobbles of different rocks set in a fine matrix, then squashed and stretched into rods.

They were made when an ocean closed, between 480 and 390 million years ago. Its floor was pushed up over the land in two great sheets, and when the second sheet rode over the first, the weight flattened the pebbles beneath. The top sheet has worn away, and now the sea is wearing the pebbles out again. The bay is also the start of the walk round Funzie Ness, along cliffs with sea stacks and skerries, and past two small lochs where otters are sometimes seen. Fetlar has large RSPB reserves and a hide for the rare red-necked phalarope.

A short drive awayThe Snap, FetlarA clifftop walk from Funzie on Fetlar to the Snap, a sea arch standing out of the water, past stacks and seabirds.6 min by roadSee itDusk over the low hills of Fetlar, a road running towards a house on the skyline.
Before you go

Two ferries from the Mainland: Toft to Ulsta in Yell, about 20 minutes, then across Yell to Gutcher and the Bluemull Sound ferry to Hamars Ness in Fetlar, about 25 minutes.

Two ferries work from Gutcher, so check with the crew that yours goes to Fetlar, and book a car on both, above all in summer. There is no fuel on Fetlar. Follow the B9088 to its end.

Getting there
Toft to Ulsta, about 20 minutes; Gutcher to Hamars Ness, about 25.
Booking
Book a car on both ferries, above all in summer.
Fuel
None on Fetlar; fill up before.
Where it is

Funzie, Fetlar, ZE2 9DJ.

Close byOn Fetlar.
  1. Stone circle and cairn ring in a grassy field edged by treesHaltadans Stone CircleThirty-eight stones, and two in the middle4 miles9 min by road
  2. Muness Castle's long wall and round tower above its stone dyke.Muness CastleBritain’s most northerly castle, on Unst.17 miles107 min by road
  3. Edmondston's chickweed, small white flowers among the serpentine stones of the Keen of Hamar.Keen of HamarA landscape that looks like nowhere else20 miles110 min by road
Directions
Dusk over the low hills of Fetlar, a road running towards a house on the skyline.WalksThe Snap, Fetlar3.0 miles
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