Loch of Brough

Lake, Pool, Pond, Freshwater Marsh in Shetland

Scotland

Loch of Brough

Noss National Nature Reserve Taken from a tour boat moored in Nesti Voe, Noss, Shetland, I am looking west to Big Ness where the wardens of Noss National Nature Reserve are located. NatureScot operates an inflatable ferry boat across Noss Sound (beyond the buildings pictured) during the summer months to allow walkers to get from Bressay to Noss. — Noss National Nature Reserve Credit: Carroll Pierce

Loch of Brough, located in the Shetland Islands, is a picturesque freshwater loch that offers stunning views and a diverse range of flora and fauna. Spanning approximately 42 hectares, the loch is surrounded by rolling hills and heather-covered moorland, creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere.

The loch itself is relatively shallow, with an average depth of around 5 meters, and is fed by several small streams and springs that flow into its waters. This freshwater source supports a rich and varied ecosystem, attracting a wide variety of bird species, including migratory birds such as greylag geese, whooper swans, and teal. Birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts flock to Loch of Brough to observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

The surrounding area of the loch is also home to a diverse array of plant life, including water lilies, reeds, and marsh marigolds. These plants provide a habitat for numerous amphibians, such as frogs and newts, as well as insects and small mammals.

Loch of Brough is a popular spot for outdoor activities, including fishing and boating. Anglers can expect to catch brown trout and arctic char, while boaters can enjoy peaceful rides on the calm waters, taking in the breathtaking scenery.

Overall, Loch of Brough is a haven for nature lovers and a place of great beauty. Its tranquil waters, diverse wildlife, and stunning surroundings make it a must-visit destination for anyone exploring the Shetland Islands.

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Loch of Brough Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 60.148598/-1.078844 or Grid Reference HU5140. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Noss National Nature Reserve

Taken from a tour boat moored in Nesti Voe, Noss, Shetland, I am looking west to Big Ness where the wardens of Noss National Nature Reserve are located. NatureScot operates an inflatable ferry boat across Noss Sound (beyond the buildings pictured) during the summer months to allow walkers to get from Bressay to Noss.

Carroll Pierce

Gungstie, Noss

I am looking back as we leave Noss Sound, Shetland, on our way back to Lerwick. The rocky outcrop of Gungstie is to the right of shot and the distinctive Hill of Setter (to the south of Noss) can be seen in the distance.

Carroll Pierce

The lane to Setter, Bressay

Running across the slopes of the Hill of Setter.

David Purchase

The summit of the Hill of Setter, Bressay

With the remains of a World War II anti-aircraft battery.

David Purchase

The lane to Pettifirth, Bressay

Ward of Bressay, the highest point on the island, is in the background.

David Purchase

Getting onto the Noss ferry

Whilst the Bressay ferry used to get here takes vehicles and has a "proper" dock, the Noss ferry is only for very small numbers of pedestrians, so needs no more than a set of steps down to sea level. There's no timetable - when the ferryman notices that there are people waiting, he will come across to get them. Whether this works on foggy days is another question entirely, and not one we needed answered, as we were visiting in our own boats, just popping over to look at the ferry terminal out of curiosity.

Andy Waddington

Paddling down Noss Sound

Somehow, using a map, one always thinks of heading south as "down" though, of course, on average, the sea is level, and as we were going against the very start of the flood tide we might actually be going a tiny bit uphill ! Tidal flows at Noss are generally insignificant except in this shallow channel, and we were going anticlockwise round the island more to have the sun behind us on the scenic side than to take any advantage of the flow. The boat powering away from us had been stationary as we arrived, but seemed to form a sudden desire to leave as (or perhaps before) their clients realised just how much closer to the wildlife sea kayakers can get than anyone in a big boat. The Sound had already given us close encounters with Seals, Eider, Cormorants and Terns diving in just metres away. The outer side promised huge numbers of Gannets and Razorbills...

Andy Waddington

Landing on Noss

Although, coming from Voe of Cullingsborough round Loder Head, we hadn't paddled very far to reach Noss, the island offers few other landing places apart from the west side, facing Bressay across Noss Sound. Thus our group stopped for an early lunch in anticipation that we would be on the water for rather longer to complete our trip all the way round. This beach is just north of the tourist ferry landing, out of their way, and even seemed quite sheltered (we'd had a very windy 24 hours the previous day and the open sea was still quite lumpy, whilst here in the Sound it was essentially flat).

Andy Waddington

Southwest shore, Voe of Cullingsborough

Although the Voe of Cullingsborough looks sheltered, there is a low pass through the island of Bressay just to its south and today's southerly wind was being canalised through the gap, giving us the strongest headwind of our day's paddle round Noss. A somewhat unexpected end to a day where we'd anticipated the most challenging conditions to be out on the open coast. However, it's not far to go now - the landing is on the little shingle beach on the left of the photo, which lies just below the end of the public road, and the parked cars of both our group of sea kayakers and another, bigger group, who'd gone round the other way and were not far behind us.

Andy Waddington

Rounding Big Ness into Nesti Voe

Big Ness is really quite a small peninsula, ending in these low shoreline rocks. Beyond to the left is Nesti Voe, with a big beach, but an onshore wind, so not what we wanted for a lunch stop. Across the Voe is Turr Ness, a somewhat rockier and longer peninsula with enough height to conceal our onward route to reach the east coast of Noss. The hill in partial shadow is Hill of Setter, rising to 181m directly above the cliffs and gannetry of Noss Head, though you'd scarcely guess that seeing it from the west. The whole island is a nature reserve, gentle slopes being mainly inhabited by chaps in camouflage jackets carrying large cameras and even bigger tripods. Must be something worthwhile to see then, so let's keep paddling !

Andy Waddington

Coastguard Lookout, Ander Hill from Setter, Bressay

Historic Environment Scotland Scheduled Monument the Admiralty lookout station was built between 1912 and 1917. In addition to the tower, an underground shelter, accessed by a ground-level trapdoor, a cast-iron water-pump and a concrete footing with the remains of a wooden signalling pole survive in close proximity. The now floorless concrete tower commands fantastic views reaching as far as Foula and Sumburgh Head on a fine day. The building was in use as a coastguard lookout until it was abandoned in 1969.

Jo and Steve Turner