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High cliffs rising from a deep blue sea across the bay from Maywick.
Shetland Islands

Maywick

A cliff-wrapped sandy beach a couple of miles from St Ninian's Isle, and usually empty.

Welcome

Maywick is a small sandy beach on the west side of the South Mainland, wrapped by high, sheer cliffs that force the eye up, or out to sea to the island of Havera lying on the western horizon.

Laurie Goodlad, who guides visitors round the islands as Shetland With Laurie, counts it among her top five beaches in Shetland, and one of her favourites for drama.

Its great advantage is its neighbour. Maywick is only a couple of miles from St Ninian's Isle, and while everyone else is out on the famous tombolo, it is generally empty: total tranquillity, peace and freedom, as she puts it, and a real treasure of the South Mainland. Shetland.org lists it among the best beaches for a picnic with children. Bring the picnic, and allow an hour, or longer on a fine evening. It pairs well with St Ninian's Isle, a short drive away, for a day on this side of the South Mainland.

A short drive awaySt Ninian’s IsleThe sand bar out to the isle, and the treasure found under the chapel.11 min by roadSee itThe white sand tombolo curving out to St Ninian's Isle, the sea on both sides.
Before you go

Open at any time and free.

On the west side of the South Mainland, a couple of miles from St Ninian's Isle.

Getting there
South Mainland, a couple of miles from St Ninian's Isle.
Good for
Quiet, and a picnic.
Where it is

Maywick, South Mainland, ZE2 9JF.

Close byIn the South Mainland.
  1. Grey seals hauled out on the pale sand at Rerwick, the sea at the edge.Rerwick and Scousburgh SandsTwo beaches on the west side of the South Mainland: seals at Rerwick, white sand and a loch behind Scousburgh.4 miles12 min by road
  2. The pale sand and breaking waves of Levenwick bay, green headlands on either side.LevenwickA gently sloping sandy bay in the South Mainland with rock pools at either side, loved by families.5 miles14 min by road
  3. The blue and white front of the Hoswick Visitor Centre on the village street.Hoswick Visitor CentreA café, craft shop and fishing and textile archive in the village of Hoswick in the South Mainland.7 miles19 min by road
  4. The long thatched Crofthouse Museum and its stone dykes under a blue sky.Crofthouse MuseumA thatched croft house of the 1870s at Boddam in the South Mainland, with its peat fire and box beds; free, and open in summer.8 miles20 min by road
  5. Mousa Broch across the sound, seen from the water on the way over from Sandsayre.Sandsayre Interpretive CentreThe waiting room at the Mousa boat's pier in Sandwick, with the old flit boat and the story of Mousa and its boats.8 miles19 min by road
Directions
The white sand tombolo curving out to St Ninian's Isle, the sea on both sides.AttractionsSt Ninian’s Isle3.0 miles
Mousa Broch from the air, a round tower on a golden headland above dark rocks and sea.AttractionsMousa Broch7.9 miles
Quendale Mill's stone buildings and water wheel round a gravel yard.AttractionsQuendale Mill9.2 miles
The sweep of sand round the Bay of Quendale beyond a green field.AttractionsQuendale Beach9.2 miles
Visitor walks among stone walls and hearth of an Iron Age broch settlementAttractionsScatness Broch10 miles
A reconstructed Iron Age house at Old Scatness, its turf roof and doorway, a cooking pot outside.AttractionsOld Scatness10 miles
The stone walls and low passage of the Ness of Burgi blockhouse on its grassy headland.AttractionsNess of Burgi11 miles
The round walls of a wheelhouse below the laird's house, Jarlshof.AttractionsJarlshof11 miles
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