1. Home
  2. Scotland
  3. Highlands and Islands
  4. Shetland Islands
  5. Shetland
  6. The Skerry

The Skerry

Island in Shetland

Scotland

The Skerry

South Harbour, Fair Isle
South Harbour, Fair Isle Credit: David Purchase

The Skerry is a small island located in the Shetland archipelago, which is situated off the northeast coast of Scotland. It is part of the United Kingdom and has a population of approximately zero, as it is uninhabited. The island spans an area of around 20 hectares and is characterized by its rugged and rocky terrain.

The Skerry is known for its diverse wildlife, particularly seabirds. It serves as an important breeding ground for several species, including puffins, guillemots, and kittiwakes. The island's cliffs provide nesting sites and shelter for these birds, making it a haven for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.

Access to The Skerry is limited due to its remote location and lack of facilities. However, it is possible to visit the island by boat, either privately or as part of organized tours. The surrounding waters are also popular among divers, who are attracted by the rich marine life and the presence of shipwrecks in the area.

The Skerry is renowned for its picturesque landscapes, with its rugged coastline and stunning views of the surrounding sea. It offers a sense of tranquility and isolation, making it an ideal destination for those seeking a peaceful retreat or a chance to connect with nature.

Overall, The Skerry is a captivating and untouched island, offering a unique opportunity to experience the raw beauty of the Shetland archipelago.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

The Skerry Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 59.507118/-1.6509069 or Grid Reference HZ1969. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

South Harbour, Fair Isle
South Harbour, Fair Isle
The Wick (Bay) of Hestigeo At the far south of Fair Isle, near the South Light.
The Wick (Bay) of Hestigeo
At the far south of Fair Isle, near the South Light.
Malcolm's Head At 107m, Malcolm's Head is the fifth highest hill on Fair Isle, after Ward Hill (217m), Burrashield Hill (150m), Sheep Rock (132m) and Vaasetter Hill (110m). Although one can argue about "What is a hill?", I do not think any other spot would really qualify, although there are many sea stacks.
Malcolm's Head
At 107m, Malcolm's Head is the fifth highest hill on Fair Isle, after Ward Hill (217m), Burrashield Hill (150m), Sheep Rock (132m) and Vaasetter Hill (110m). Although one can argue about "What is a hill?", I do not think any other spot would really qualify, although there are many sea stacks.
Winter Sea, Fair Isle
Winter Sea, Fair Isle
South Harbour Cro Stack in South Harbour; almost inevitably, Sheep Rock can be seen in the background.
South Harbour
Cro Stack in South Harbour; almost inevitably, Sheep Rock can be seen in the background.
Buildings at the end of the road, near the South Light You can also see the cemetery in the middle distance, centre of photo, which is also in this square.
Buildings at the end of the road, near the South Light
You can also see the cemetery in the middle distance, centre of photo, which is also in this square.
View across South Harbour, with Tirricks Fair Isle's Tirricks (Arctic Terns) had a disastrous breeding season in 2008 - food to rear chicks was so scarce they didn't even try, we were told by an RSPB officer.
View across South Harbour, with Tirricks
Fair Isle's Tirricks (Arctic Terns) had a disastrous breeding season in 2008 - food to rear chicks was so scarce they didn't even try, we were told by an RSPB officer.
Fair Isle coastline at Port Saider A very detailed map of Fair Isle on view at the Fair Isle Bird Observatory marks Port Saider slightly to the north of the position on the 1:25,000 OS Map. This view south-west towards the Burrian is from the cliff edge at the OS location.
Fair Isle coastline at Port Saider
A very detailed map of Fair Isle on view at the Fair Isle Bird Observatory marks Port Saider slightly to the north of the position on the 1:25,000 OS Map. This view south-west towards the Burrian is from the cliff edge at the OS location.
Cliff edge of Meo Ness The lichens on the rocks at the cliff edge provide a great contrast to the green of Meo Ness. The South Light is visible beyond South Harbour.
Cliff edge of Meo Ness
The lichens on the rocks at the cliff edge provide a great contrast to the green of Meo Ness. The South Light is visible beyond South Harbour.
The Burrian The Burrian is the offshore skerry viewed across one of the many geos on Fair Isle.
The Burrian
The Burrian is the offshore skerry viewed across one of the many geos on Fair Isle.
Heili Stack, Fair Isle One of several stacks and holms off the west coast of Malcolm's Head.
Heili Stack, Fair Isle
One of several stacks and holms off the west coast of Malcolm's Head.
Malcolm's Head Malcolm's Head summit with distant view towards Fair Isle Lighthouse. Sheep graze the slopes of this TuMP keeping the grass short. Ruined war buildings near summit. Name: Malcolm's Head Hill number: 103899 Height: 107m / 351ft Area: 22: Shetland Islands Class: 1 Grid ref: HZ195707 (est) Drop: 82m Col: 25m
Malcolm's Head
Malcolm's Head summit with distant view towards Fair Isle Lighthouse. Sheep graze the slopes of this TuMP keeping the grass short. Ruined war buildings near summit. Name: Malcolm's Head Hill number: 103899 Height: 107m / 351ft Area: 22: Shetland Islands Class: 1 Grid ref: HZ195707 (est) Drop: 82m Col: 25m
Malcolm's Head, Fair Isle, from the sea Taken from the ferry en route from Lerwick to Kirkwall, several km to the NW.
Malcolm's Head, Fair Isle, from the sea
Taken from the ferry en route from Lerwick to Kirkwall, several km to the NW.
The low pastures at Malcolm's Head Beside the fresh painted South Light.
The low pastures at Malcolm's Head
Beside the fresh painted South Light.
The village and Sheep Rock from Malcolm's Head Tidy, well kept fields in the 'sheltered' centre of Fair Isle.
The village and Sheep Rock from Malcolm's Head
Tidy, well kept fields in the 'sheltered' centre of Fair Isle.
South Lighthouse, Fair Isle The last Scottish lighthouse to be automated in March 1998 see <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://www.nlb.org.uk/ourlights/history/fairislesouth.htm" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.nlb.org.uk/ourlights/history/fairislesouth.htm">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
South Lighthouse, Fair Isle
The last Scottish lighthouse to be automated in March 1998 see LinkExternal link
South Lighthouse, Fair Isle The Tower, courtyard and one-time accommodation block. The lighthouse is now automatic and the accommodation block converted into flats and business premises.
South Lighthouse, Fair Isle
The Tower, courtyard and one-time accommodation block. The lighthouse is now automatic and the accommodation block converted into flats and business premises.
Fair Isle South Light Taken from Malcolm's Head in the late 1950s
Fair Isle South Light
Taken from Malcolm's Head in the late 1950s
Show me another place!

The Skerry is located at Grid Ref: HZ1969 (Lat: 59.507118, Lng: -1.6509069)

Unitary Authority: Shetland Islands

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///librarian.desktops.reporters. Near Sumburgh, Shetland Islands

Nearby Locations

Head of Tind Smirri Geo Peerie Uri Geo The Skerry Brecks of Leogh Muckle Uri Geo

Related Wikis

Black Watch (full-rigged ship)
Black Watch (full-rigged ship)

Black Watch was a large full-rigged ship built by Windsor shipbuilder Bennett Smith in Windsor, Nova Scotia. It was the last ship built by Smith in Windsor...

El Gran Grifón
El Gran Grifón

El Gran Grifón was the flagship of the Spanish Armada's supply squadron of Baltic hulks (built in and chartered from the City of Rostock, in modern-day...

Stroms Hellier
Stroms Hellier

Stroms Hellier (Stroms Heelor) is a steep-sided rocky cove located off the Swartz Geo inlet on Fair Isle in the Scottish Shetland Islands.On 27 September...

Fair Isle Airport
Fair Isle Airport

Fair Isle Airport (IATA: FIE, ICAO: EGEF), is a small airport located in Fair Isle, Shetland, Scotland. It is owned by the National Trust for Scotland...

Fair Isle
Fair Isle

Fair Isle (; Scots: Fair Isle; Old Norse: Friðarey; Scottish Gaelic: Fara), sometimes Fairisle, is the southernmost Shetland island, situated roughly 38km...

North Haven (harbour)
North Haven (harbour)

North Haven is a natural cove, developed in the 20th century as one of the primary ports of Fair Isle, an outlying island of the Shetland Isles in the...

Lang Cole Shetland
Swaabi Cole Shetland

Have you been to The Skerry?

Leave your review of The Skerry below (or comments, questions and feedback).

© 2024 UK Place Database | Privacy