Kettla Ness – A Wild Headland Beyond Minn Beach
About 5 miles on foot.
At the south end of West Burra a bar of white sand called Minn beach ties the island to Kettla Ness, a rough green headland of sheep, seabirds and wind.
The round of the headland is about 8 km over grass with barely a path, past cliffs and geos (narrow sea inlets), with wide views out to Foula. Burra is reached by bridges from the Shetland Mainland, so no ferry is needed.
- Time
- Two and a half to three hours: 8 km (5 miles) round with 150 metres of climbing, by a walkers' guide's measure. Grassy coast with faint paths or none, and a couple of fences to climb.
- The path
- Sand, then pathless grass above cliffs, with a couple of fences to climb.
- Where to start
- The small parking area at the end of the public road at Duncansclett, at the south end of West Burra. It can fill on a fine day.
- Set off
- From November to January, set off by 11am to be back in daylight.
- When to go
- All year in daylight, and not in a strong wind. From November to January set off by 11am.
- Dogs
- On a lead: sheep graze the whole headland, and terns and skuas nest on it in summer.
- Children
- A long, pathless walk beside unfenced cliffs: one for older children, kept close.
- Toilets
- None at the road end: the nearest public toilets are at the Meal beach car park by Hamnavoe.
- Before you set out
- Unfenced cliffs and no shelter: not a walk for a strong wind.
The walk
Park at the end of the public road at Duncansclett, at the south end of West Burra. The parking area is small and can fill on a fine day, so if there's no room, don't block the gates or the turning place. There are no toilets here: the nearest are at the Meal beach car park by Hamnavoe, at the north end of the island. Scotland Off the Beaten Track, a walkers' guide, gives the round as 8 km with 150 metres of climbing, and two and a half to three hours. A short way below the road end is Minn beach. It's a tombolo, a bar of white sand with the sea on both sides, and it's the way onto Kettla Ness.
Beyond it the headland is open grazing with faint paths or none. The walk keeps to the coast all the way round, past geos cut deep into the rock, caves and stacks, and the far headland called the Heugg. On a clear day Foula sits on the horizon to the west. There are a couple of fences to climb, which needs care. The cliffs are unfenced and the grass runs right to the edge, so keep well back, hold on to children, and don't go round the headland at all in a strong wind. Sheep graze the whole of Kettla Ness, so dogs stay on a lead.
In summer Arctic terns and skuas nest here and shouldn't be disturbed. There's no shelter and no café at this end of Burra, so bring food, a flask and a map. If the wind is too strong for the cliffs, the beach alone is worth the drive. From November to January, set off by 11am.
If it rains
There's no shelter anywhere on the headland and the grass by the cliff edges is slippery when wet. In rain or a strong wind, go down to the sand at Minn and no further.
For further reading, before you go.
Photograph by yuyun drwiega via Google