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Mousa Broch across the sound, seen from the water on the way over from Sandsayre.
Shetland Islands

Sandsayre Interpretive Centre

The waiting room at the Mousa boat's pier in Sandwick, with the old flit boat and the story of Mousa and its boats.

Welcome

Sandsayre Pier, at Sandwick in the South Mainland, is where the Mousa Boat leaves for the island and its broch, so most people meet the interpretive centre beside it while they wait.

The pier itself was built in 1854 by David and Thomas Stevenson, the lighthouse builders, and the old boat shed beside it has become a waiting room and a small exhibition.

Pride of place goes to the old Mousa flit boat, which carried sheep, cattle and supplies across the sound to the island. Around it the boards tell the story of Mousa and the boats that have served it, of the grand house at Sandlodge nearby and the copper that was once mined there, and of the brochs at Mousa and Burland across the water. It is run by the local community's development company and stays open round the clock, which makes it a dry place to wait out a shower before the crossing. The Mousa Boat sails from April to September.

A short drive awayMousa BrochThe best-preserved broch in Scotland, on an island of its own.4 min by roadSee itMousa Broch from the air, a round tower on a golden headland above dark rocks and sea.
Before you go

Open at any time and free.

At Sandsayre Pier, Sandwick, about 14 miles south of Lerwick. The Mousa Boat sails from here from April to the end of September.

Getting there
Sandsayre Pier, Sandwick, South Mainland.
Open
Round the clock; free.
Mousa Boat
April to end of September.
Where it is

Sandsayre Pier, Sandwick.

Close byIn Sandwick.
  1. 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.2 miles6 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.6 miles11 min by road
  3. The white sand tombolo curving out to St Ninian's Isle, the sea on both sides.St Ninian’s IsleThe sand bar out to the isle, and the treasure found under the chapel.7 miles14 min by road
  4. 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.7 miles14 min by road
  5. High cliffs rising from a deep blue sea across the bay from Maywick.MaywickA cliff-wrapped sandy beach a couple of miles from St Ninian's Isle, and usually empty.8 miles19 min by road
Directions
Mousa Broch from the air, a round tower on a golden headland above dark rocks and sea.AttractionsMousa Broch1.1 miles
The long thatched Crofthouse Museum and its stone dykes under a blue sky.AttractionsCrofthouse Museum10 miles
Quendale Mill's stone buildings and water wheel round a gravel yard.AttractionsQuendale Mill12 miles
The sweep of sand round the Bay of Quendale beyond a green field.AttractionsQuendale Beach12 miles
Two people on Fjarå's deck in the evening sun, looking over Breiwick Bay to Bressay.CafeFjarå Café Bar12 miles
Visitor walks among stone walls and hearth of an Iron Age broch settlementAttractionsScatness Broch13 miles
A reconstructed Iron Age house at Old Scatness, its turf roof and doorway, a cooking pot outside.AttractionsOld Scatness13 miles
Scalloway Castle's roofless walls above its stone dyke, a visitor at the gate.AttractionsScalloway Castle13 miles
The Scalloway Museum, a long wood-clad building with a red entrance, on a bright day.AttractionsScalloway Museum13 miles
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