Holm of Noss

Island in Shetland

Scotland

Holm of Noss

Noss from Lunning Sound Credit: Mike Pennington

Holm of Noss is a small uninhabited island located in the Shetland archipelago, off the northeast coast of Scotland. It is situated about 200 meters east of the larger island of Noss, to which it is connected by a narrow isthmus. The island covers an area of approximately 26 hectares and is characterized by rugged coastal cliffs, rolling hills, and lush vegetation.

The landscape of Holm of Noss is dominated by steep cliffs that rise up to 60 meters above sea level, providing nesting sites for numerous seabird species. Puffins, guillemots, razorbills, and kittiwakes are among the most common birds found here, making the island a popular destination for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.

In addition to its diverse bird population, Holm of Noss also boasts rich marine life. The surrounding waters are home to seals, dolphins, and various species of fish, attracting snorkelers and divers to explore the underwater world.

Access to Holm of Noss is limited due to its protected status as part of the Noss National Nature Reserve. Visitors can reach the island by boat from nearby Lerwick, the capital of Shetland. However, it is important to note that landing on the island is prohibited to protect the fragile ecosystem and nesting bird colonies.

Overall, Holm of Noss offers a unique opportunity to experience the unspoiled beauty of a remote Scottish island, with its dramatic cliffs, diverse birdlife, and abundant marine wildlife.

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Holm of Noss Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 60.132254/-1.0113112 or Grid Reference HU5539. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Noss from Lunning Sound

Mike Pennington

Gannets on The Rump, Noss

The prime nesting sites in any gannetry are the flatter ones in positions still inaccessible to land predators from above. Easier, safer landings are one obvious benefit (a couple of days after this photo was taken, we came across a Gannet which had got its approach wrong and was hanging, dead, by one wing from a crack in the cliff - gusty downdraughts can hit at any time so misjudgements aren't the only cause of accidents). Beyond The Rump, the cliffs return to the vertical once more at Point of Heogatoug, beyond which the coast gets lower, and the bird nesting paradise soon comes to an end. It's an exciting couple of kilometres of paddling up to this point.

Andy Waddington

Noss Head

Seen from the Whalsay ferry en route between Symbister and Laxo. I do not normally submit this type of 'long distance view' with no foreground, but this one seemed interesting enough to add to the site.

David Purchase

Noss from the SW, with a cruise ship on its way to Lerwick

The ship is the MV Boudicca, a cruise ship owned and operated by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, which was built in 1973 by Wärtsilä Helsinki Shipyard in Finland as Royal Viking Sky.

Mike Pennington

Paddling past the Point and Geos of Hovie

Although we'd picked the sheltered side of Shetland after a day of high wind on our crossing from mainland Scotland, there was still some swell setting in from the east. Across that, wind waves from the southwest made for interesting conditions round the south side of Noss, with confused water particularly around the headland ahead of us. It still seemed less work than the people on the slopes of Hill of Setter who were trekking across above us with a big camera and heavy-looking tripod. It's a bit of a toss-up as to who would get the closer views of the Gannets and Razorbills - we would certainly feel safer down here than teetering on the cliff edge in the gusty wind, and find Razorbills rafting on the surface, but then they'd probably get better photos than those below in the waves !

Andy Waddington

Confused water off Feadda Ness

The rock over which the wave is just breaking (and water from the previous wave pouring off) is the southernmost point of the island of Noss at this state of the tide (lowish - early in the flood, near neaps). Turning this headland from the southwest coast starts to open up views of progressively more interesting rock scenery as well as increasing amounts of bird life. There are small caves just here, and a Geo between the first and second sections of cliff in this photo. I paddled into more sheltered water inside, where bigger caves awaited exploration, but in the rather confused water (southwesterly windwaves cutting across easterly swell) no-one seemed to want to join me and it's not a place to play without a bit of backup... The rock is a mix of sandstones and conglomerates of Devonian (Old Red Sandstone) age where layers of varying hardness have eroded into the many ledges which make the place such an attractive place for seabirds.

Andy Waddington

Guillemots rafted below Cradle Holm

A large flock of Guillemots were rafted up just below the cliffs as we turned the southern tip of Noss, so we aimed away from the coast a bit to give them some space. However, they suddenly chose to head out to sea directly in front of our group - they do take a long time bouncing off the wave tops to get airborne so we were treated to a closer view than we'd have ventured to get. The nearest cliff face, with the cave entrance, is Cradle Holm, an island at all but low tide (and pretty inaccessible from Noss even then, as there is a deep rocky cleft the same height as the cliffs). Beyond this is Charlie's Holm, with rock of a similar colour, whilst in the distance, looking much whiter, is Noup of Noss, surrounded by wheeling Gannets.

Andy Waddington

Gannets fill the air at Noup of Noss

Whilst the southern tip of Noss is home to auks, Noss Head is the summer residence of a large number of Gannets. Very few were fishing in the immediate vicinity, but both the cliffs and the air were filled with noisy bird life, especially around the headland and in Rumble Wick, the bay to its south. The Devonian Old Red Sandstone hardly dips here, and the rock has eroded into ledges and pockets bigger than those further south where the rock beds dip more, suiting the Gannets better than the smaller species who prefer Holm of Noss.

Andy Waddington