Hidden Scotland
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Rocks and a sandy bay on the north coast of Unst, hills behind.
Shetland Islands

Skaw and Norwick Beaches

Britain's most northerly sandy beach at Skaw on Unst, over the hill from the bay at Norwick.

Welcome

Unst is home to many of Britain's most northerly things: the post office, the school, the bus shelter.

At Skaw, a hamlet at the end of the island's last road, is the most northerly sandy beach, beside the most northerly house. The road there winds up over the shoulder of the hill from Norwick, with wide views of the cliffs of north Unst.

The beach is fine white sand, facing due east and well sheltered from the prevailing winds, with a meadow behind it full of wild flowers in spring and summer. For even more quiet, a smaller sandy beach at Inner Skaw is under a kilometre's walk to the south. Look at the rocks too: the Skaw granite, some of the oldest in Shetland, holds huge pink crystals of feldspar. The low cliffs make good walking, past a pioneering radar station of the Second World War. Norwick, the bay below the hill, is the other beach, with Viking graves marked by hogback stones in the graveyard at Framgord nearby.

A short drive awaySaxa Vord DistilleryThe most northerly distillery in Britain, on the old RAF site at the top of Unst, where Shetland Reel gin is made.11 min by roadSee itJars of gin botanicals on a wooden shelf in the Saxa Vord Distillery.
Before you go

Open at any time and free.

Two ferries from the Mainland to Unst, then north through Haroldswick to Norwick and over the hill on the road to Skaw.

Getting there
Toft to Ulsta, about 20 minutes; Gutcher to Belmont, about 10. Then north to Norwick and Skaw.
Good for
Quiet sand, flowers and cliff walks.
Where it is

Skaw, Unst, ZE2 9EF.

Close byOn Unst.
  1. Shetland Reel, Shetland IslandsShetland ReelGin and whisky from Unst, the most northerly distillery in Britain.3 miles11 min by road
  2. Unst Boat HavenA shed full of Shetland boats, and the herring years that filled Baltasound.4 miles13 min by road
  3. Unst Heritage CentreThe story of Britain's northernmost island, and the island's information point.4 miles13 min by road
  4. The SkidbladnerA full-size Viking longship, beached at Haroldswick on Unst.4 miles13 min by road
  5. The cliffs and stacks of Hermaness above a calm blue sea.Hermaness National Nature ReserveThe northern tip of Unst, over Muckle Flugga: clifftop puffins, gannets and bonxies, an hour's walk from the car park.7 miles19 min by road
Directions
Jars of gin botanicals on a wooden shelf in the Saxa Vord Distillery.AttractionsSaxa Vord Distillery3.2 miles
Edmondston's chickweed, small white flowers among the serpentine stones of the Keen of Hamar.AttractionsKeen of Hamar6.0 miles
Muness Castle's long wall and round tower above its stone dyke.AttractionsMuness Castle15 miles
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