Salta Skerry

Island in Shetland

Scotland

Salta Skerry

Tall ship anchored near Balta Haar is obscuring most of the island.
Tall ship anchored near Balta Credit: Mike Pennington

Salta Skerry is a small and uninhabited island located in the Shetland archipelago, which is situated off the northeastern coast of mainland Scotland. It is part of the Shetland Islands Council area and lies approximately 6 kilometers northeast of the larger island of Unst, the northernmost inhabited island in the United Kingdom.

Covering an area of around 34 hectares, Salta Skerry is characterized by its rocky terrain and rugged coastline. The island is accessible only by boat and its remote location makes it a popular destination for wildlife enthusiasts and birdwatchers. The island's cliffs provide nesting sites for a variety of seabirds, including guillemots, razorbills, puffins, and fulmars.

Salta Skerry is also home to a colony of grey seals, which can often be seen basking on the rocks or swimming in the surrounding waters. The island's vegetation is mainly comprised of grasses and low-growing plants, adapting to the harsh maritime climate.

Due to its natural beauty and ecological significance, Salta Skerry has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Protection Area (SPA) for its breeding seabird colonies. These designations aim to protect the island's unique flora and fauna.

While Salta Skerry does not offer any visitor facilities, its stunning landscapes and abundant wildlife make it a popular spot for nature lovers seeking solitude and a chance to observe Shetland's diverse ecosystem in its unspoiled state.

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

Salta Skerry Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 60.739879/-0.79315862 or Grid Reference HP6506. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Tall ship anchored near Balta Haar is obscuring most of the island.
Tall ship anchored near Balta
Haar is obscuring most of the island.
Sunrise over Balta from Baltasound pier
Sunrise over Balta from Baltasound pier
The rig Ocean Endeavour and the supply vessel Skandi Skansen off Balta, Unst
The rig Ocean Endeavour and the supply vessel Skandi Skansen off Balta, Unst
Cruise ship National Geographic Resolution at anchor at Baltasound
Cruise ship National Geographic Resolution at anchor at Baltasound
MV Hebridean Sky in the voe at Baltasound
MV Hebridean Sky in the voe at Baltasound
Coastline north of the Yei, beside Huney
Coastline north of the Yei, beside Huney
The Yei, beside Huney The narrow strait separating Unst from Huney is the Yei, here at high tide.
The Yei, beside Huney
The narrow strait separating Unst from Huney is the Yei, here at high tide.
Beach at the Yei, beside Huney Looking out towards Balta.
Beach at the Yei, beside Huney
Looking out towards Balta.
The lighthouse at the south end of Balta Taken from the coast opposite Huney, with the north end of Huney in the foreground.
The lighthouse at the south end of Balta
Taken from the coast opposite Huney, with the north end of Huney in the foreground.
Muckle Head on Balta isle from Baltasound pier A couple of Tysties aka Black Guillemots (Cepphus grylle) are in the foreground.
Muckle Head on Balta isle from Baltasound pier
A couple of Tysties aka Black Guillemots (Cepphus grylle) are in the foreground.
The island of Balta Taken from the head of the voe at Skibhoul.
The island of Balta
Taken from the head of the voe at Skibhoul.
The Yei and Huney
The Yei and Huney
Salmon cages and Swarta Skerry, Baltasound
Salmon cages and Swarta Skerry, Baltasound
Salmon cage off Swarta Skerry, Baltasound Muckle Head on Balta in the background.
Salmon cage off Swarta Skerry, Baltasound
Muckle Head on Balta in the background.
Dive boat beyond the Givv, Huney
Dive boat beyond the Givv, Huney
Unstfest Puffin beside the Yei, Huney The Unstfest Puffins made an appearance for the second successive year, encouraging people to visit various corners of Unst. This year, the Puffins were named after various islanders who appeared in the BBC series 'An Island Parish'. This is Desley.
Unstfest Puffin beside the Yei, Huney
The Unstfest Puffins made an appearance for the second successive year, encouraging people to visit various corners of Unst. This year, the Puffins were named after various islanders who appeared in the BBC series 'An Island Parish'. This is Desley.
Unstfest Puffin beside the Yei, Huney The Unstfest Puffins made an appearance for the second successive year, encouraging people to visit various corners of Unst. This year, the Puffins were named after various islanders who appeared in the BBC series 'An Island Parish'. This is Desley.
Unstfest Puffin beside the Yei, Huney
The Unstfest Puffins made an appearance for the second successive year, encouraging people to visit various corners of Unst. This year, the Puffins were named after various islanders who appeared in the BBC series 'An Island Parish'. This is Desley.
View north from the Yei, Huney
View north from the Yei, Huney
Show me another place!

Salta Skerry is located at Grid Ref: HP6506 (Lat: 60.739879, Lng: -0.79315862)

Unitary Authority: Shetland Islands

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///agency.targeted.tightrope. Near Baltasound, Shetland Islands

Nearby Locations

Salta Skerry The Givv

Related Wikis

Balta, Shetland

Balta (Scots: Balta; Old Norse: "Baltey") is an uninhabited island in Shetland, Scotland. == Geography == Balta lies off the east coast of Unst and Balta...

Huney

Huney is an uninhabited island due east of the island of Unst in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. The island is located approximately 1 kilometre south...

Balta Sound

Balta Sound is a sound (inlet) on the east coast of the island of Unst in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. The sound is sheltered from the North Sea to...

Keen of Hamar

Keen of Hamar is a nature reserve on Unst, in Shetland, Scotland, managed by Scottish Natural Heritage. The reserve is primarily of botanical interest...

Unst Airport

Unst Airport also called Baltasound Airport is an unlicensed airfield near Baltasound, on the island of Unst, Shetland Islands, Scotland. The airfield...

Unst Bus Shelter

The Unst Bus Shelter, also known as Bobby's Bus Shelter, is a bus shelter and bus stop near the village of Baltasound, on the isle of Unst, Shetland Islands...

Baltasound

Baltasound (or Baltasund) is the largest settlement on the island of Unst in Shetland, Scotland. It comes from the Old Norse man's name Balti (Baltisund...

Unst

Unst (; Scots: Unst; Norn: Ønst) is one of the North Isles of the Shetland Islands, Scotland. It is the northernmost of the inhabited British Isles and...

Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 60.739879,-0.79315862
Seamark Light 1 Character: Fl
Seamark Light 1 Colour: white
Seamark Light 1 Height: 17
Seamark Light 1 Period: 10
Seamark Light 1 Range: 10
Seamark Light 1 Sector End: 10
Seamark Light 1 Sector Start: 249
Seamark Light 2 Character: Fl
Seamark Light 2 Colour: red
Seamark Light 2 Height: 17
Seamark Light 2 Period: 10
Seamark Light 2 Range: 7
Seamark Light 2 Sector End: 60
Seamark Light 2 Sector Start: 10
Seamark Light 3 Character: Fl
Seamark Light 3 Colour: white
Seamark Light 3 Height: 17
Seamark Light 3 Period: 10
Seamark Light 3 Range: 10
Seamark Light 3 Sector End: 154
Seamark Light 3 Sector Start: 60
Seamark Light Reference: A 3828
Seamark Type: light_minor
Source: US NGA Pub. 114. 2011-05-26.
Lat/Long: 60.7404667/-0.79465
Archaeological Site: megalith
Historic: archaeological_site
Note: recorded as https://canmore.org.uk/site/216012/balta
Lat/Long: 60.742632/-0.7923456
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

Have you been to Salta Skerry?

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