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A sandy cove at Breckon below green dunes, the sea deep blue beyond.
Shetland Islands

Sands of Breckon

A shell-sand beach in the far north of Yell, sheltered, turquoise and backed by dunes and flowering machair.

Welcome

The Sands of Breckon lie at the far north of Yell, framed by the island's cliffs, and they are one of its highlights.

The beach holds a Seaside Award from Keep Scotland Beautiful. Although the bay opens to the Atlantic, it is sheltered from most winds, and the dunes behind make endless picnic spots on a good day. The sand is a mix of rock and shell, piled deep and shelving quite steeply, which gives the water its colour.

Breckon has the largest area of blown shell sand in Shetland. Marram grass traps the sand into dunes, and behind them lies machair, grassland full of wild flowers that thrive on the calcium; more than 80 kinds of plant have been recorded. People have lived here for at least 4,000 years, and finds from the dunes include Iron Age and Viking remains, bone combs and even Roman coins. The cliff tops nearby make a good walk. It is at the very north end of the island, about 21 miles from the Ulsta ferry.

A short drive awayGloup MemorialA woman and child in stone above Gloup Voe in North Yell, for the 58 fishermen lost in the storm of July 1881.8 min by roadSee itThe Gloup memorial statue on its plinth above the beach at Gloup Voe.
Before you go

Open at any time and free.

Take the ferry from Toft to Ulsta in Yell, about 20 minutes, and book a car ahead in summer; then drive about 21 miles to the far north of the island.

Getting there
Toft to Ulsta, about 20 minutes; then about 21 miles north.
Good for
Picnics in the dunes; cliff-top walks.
Care
Keep off the fragile dunes.
Where it is

Breckon, North Yell, ZE2 9DD.

Close byIn North Yell.
  1. Purple flower baskets on a stone cottage wall overlooking hills and a gravel trackWindhouseThe most haunted house in Shetland16 miles33 min by road
Directions
The Gloup memorial statue on its plinth above the beach at Gloup Voe.AttractionsGloup Memorial1.9 miles
Edmondston's chickweed, small white flowers among the serpentine stones of the Keen of Hamar.AttractionsKeen of Hamar15 miles
AttractionsThe Skidbladner16 miles
AttractionsUnst Boat Haven17 miles
AttractionsUnst Heritage Centre17 miles
Shetland Reel, Shetland IslandsAttractionsShetland Reel18 miles
Jars of gin botanicals on a wooden shelf in the Saxa Vord Distillery.AttractionsSaxa Vord Distillery18 miles
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