Hidden Scotland
Sign in
Waves breaking along the long beach in the Bay of Quendale, dune grass in front.
Shetland Islands

Quendale Beach

Shetland's longest beach, a mile of sand below dunes in the Bay of Quendale, with a clean wave for surfers.

Welcome

Quendale Beach runs round the head of the Bay of Quendale in the South Mainland, about a mile of clean sand, and at that length it is the longest beach in Shetland.

Sand dunes stand behind it, rocky headlands close it in at either end, and the great bulk of Fitful Head rises over the west side of the bay.

It is a favourite with dog walkers, and with surfers too. For all its miles of coastline, Shetland has few places where you can catch a clean wave, and Quendale Bay is one of them. Swimmers should know the water is cold; a wetsuit is wise even in summer. There is nothing built along the shore, only scattered farms and old sites, and the beach is reached through gated sheep fields, so close the gates behind you. The restored Quendale Mill is a short way inland, with its café and displays, and the long walk up Fitful Head starts from the same place.

Round the cornerQuendale MillA restored watermill, and the milling every district once depended on.1 min by roadSee itQuendale Mill's stone buildings and water wheel round a gravel yard.
Before you go

Open at any time and free.

At the head of the Bay of Quendale in the South Mainland, by Quendale Mill; the way down is through gated sheep fields.

Getting there
Quendale, South Mainland, by the mill.
Good for
Walking, dogs and surfing.
Water
Cold; a wetsuit even in summer.
Where it is

Quendale, Dunrossness, ZE2 9JD.

Close byIn the South Mainland.
  1. Fitful HeadThe great headland at the south-west corner of the Mainland, its cliffs 283 metres high, looking out towards Fair Isle.Under a mile3 min by road
  2. 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.3 miles11 min by road
  3. Visitor walks among stone walls and hearth of an Iron Age broch settlementScatness BrochAn Iron Age village, dug and explained5 miles12 min by road
  4. A reconstructed Iron Age house at Old Scatness, its turf roof and doorway, a cooking pot outside.Old ScatnessAn Iron Age village found by accident while building the airport road.5 miles12 min by road
  5. 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.5 miles14 min by road
Directions
Quendale Mill's stone buildings and water wheel round a gravel yard.AttractionsQuendale Mill0.2 miles
The round walls of a wheelhouse below the laird's house, Jarlshof.AttractionsJarlshof2.4 miles over the water
The stone walls and low passage of the Ness of Burgi blockhouse on its grassy headland.AttractionsNess of Burgi5.7 miles
The pale sand and breaking waves of Levenwick bay, green headlands on either side.AttractionsLevenwick6.5 miles
The white sand tombolo curving out to St Ninian's Isle, the sea on both sides.AttractionsSt Ninian’s Isle7.2 miles
Geese flying over Sumburgh Head, the lighthouse on the skyline.AttractionsSumburgh Head Lighthouse8.0 miles
Red foghorn atop a white lighthouse building overlooking the seaAttractionsSumburgh Head8.0 miles
High cliffs rising from a deep blue sea across the bay from Maywick.AttractionsMaywick9.3 miles
The blue and white front of the Hoswick Visitor Centre on the village street.AttractionsHoswick Visitor Centre11 miles
Hidden Scotland, the magazine

Scotland, in print.

Every photograph commissioned, every word written by somebody who went. Printed twice a year, made in Scotland.

Get Issue 13Read it here
Find out more

For further reading, before you go.