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The Gloup memorial statue on its plinth above the beach at Gloup Voe.
Shetland Islands

Gloup Memorial

A woman and child in stone above Gloup Voe in North Yell, for the 58 fishermen lost in the storm of July 1881.

Welcome

The Gloup memorial stands above Gloup Voe in the far north of Yell, west of Cullivoe: a stone woman looking out to sea with a child in her arms.

It remembers the night of 20 and 21 July 1881, when a summer storm caught the haaf fishing fleet far out at sea.

Ten boats were lost, most of them sixareens, small open boats that went more than 40 miles out to the deep-water fishing grounds. Fifty-eight men drowned, and 36 of them came from Gloup itself. They left 34 widows and 85 orphans, and it was one of the biggest fishing tragedies Shetland has known. The memorial was put up in 1981, a hundred years on. From it a path runs down to the beach at the head of the voe. To reach Yell, take the ferry from Toft in the North Mainland to Ulsta, about 20 minutes, then drive north through the island.

A short drive awaySands of BreckonA shell-sand beach in the far north of Yell, sheltered, turquoise and backed by dunes and flowering machair.7 min by roadSee itA sandy cove at Breckon below green dunes, the sea deep blue beyond.
Before you go

Open at any time and free.

Take the daily ferry from Toft to Ulsta, about 20 minutes, and book a car ahead in summer; then drive north through Yell towards Cullivoe. A short walk from the road.

Getting there
Ferry Toft to Ulsta, about 20 minutes, then north through Yell.
Booking
Book a car on the ferry; it sails whether booked or not.
Walk
Short, from the road; a path to the beach.
Where it is

Gloup, North Yell, ZE2 9DD.

Close byIn North Yell.
  1. Muness Castle's long wall and round tower above its stone dyke.Muness CastleBritain’s most northerly castle, on Unst.13 miles50 min by road
  2. Purple flower baskets on a stone cottage wall overlooking hills and a gravel trackWindhouseThe most haunted house in Shetland17 miles37 min by road
Directions
A sandy cove at Breckon below green dunes, the sea deep blue beyond.AttractionsSands of Breckon1.8 miles
Edmondston's chickweed, small white flowers among the serpentine stones of the Keen of Hamar.AttractionsKeen of Hamar16 miles
AttractionsThe Skidbladner18 miles
AttractionsUnst Boat Haven18 miles
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