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Taing of Flitsand

Beach in Shetland

Scotland

Taing of Flitsand

Noss ferry approaching the Bressay shore
Noss ferry approaching the Bressay shore Credit: Mike Pennington

Taing of Flitsand is a picturesque beach located in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. Situated on the western coast of Mainland, the largest island in the Shetland archipelago, this beach offers stunning views of the North Atlantic Ocean.

The beach is known for its unique landscape and geological features. It is primarily composed of fine sand, which is rare in the Shetland Islands, making it a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. The sand is a beautiful golden color, contrasting with the surrounding rugged cliffs and greenery.

The beach is accessible via a short walk from the nearby car park, which provides ample parking space for visitors. As it is located on the western coast, it is often exposed to the prevailing winds, creating a refreshing and invigorating atmosphere.

Taing of Flitsand is also known for its rich wildlife. The beach is home to a variety of seabirds, including fulmars, puffins, and guillemots. Visitors may also have the chance to spot seals and otters in the surrounding waters.

Due to its remote location, Taing of Flitsand offers a peaceful and tranquil environment, perfect for nature lovers and those seeking solitude. It is an ideal spot for a leisurely stroll, sunbathing, or even a picnic while enjoying the breathtaking views.

Overall, Taing of Flitsand is a hidden gem in the Shetland Islands, offering a unique and serene beach experience that showcases the natural beauty of this remote Scottish archipelago.

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Taing of Flitsand Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 60.150896/-1.0456754 or Grid Reference HU5341. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Noss ferry approaching the Bressay shore
Noss ferry approaching the Bressay shore
Gungstie, Noss, from Noss Sound
Gungstie, Noss, from Noss Sound
Noss-sound, Bressay, from Noss Sound
Noss-sound, Bressay, from Noss Sound
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
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.
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.
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.
Hill of Setter, Noss Taken as we pass north east along the coast of Bressay, en route back to Lerwick, Shetland, I am looking back towards the distinctive Hill of Setter on Noss.
Hill of Setter, Noss
Taken as we pass north east along the coast of Bressay, en route back to Lerwick, Shetland, I am looking back towards the distinctive Hill of Setter on Noss.
Geo of Vatsvie More of an embayment than a deep cleft, the Geo of Vatsvie cuts into Old Red Sandstone on the east coast of Bressay's Loder Head peninsula. There's swell coming in from the east, reflecting off the foot of the rocks and rushing back towards the kayak which always makes getting in close fun. Not far ahead the Island of Noss starts to provide more shelter and the sea becomes pretty much flat - great for nervous tourists on the tiny RIB passenger ferry, but a bit dull for sea kayaks. The opposite side of Noss was to provide a lot more excitement...
Geo of Vatsvie
More of an embayment than a deep cleft, the Geo of Vatsvie cuts into Old Red Sandstone on the east coast of Bressay's Loder Head peninsula. There's swell coming in from the east, reflecting off the foot of the rocks and rushing back towards the kayak which always makes getting in close fun. Not far ahead the Island of Noss starts to provide more shelter and the sea becomes pretty much flat - great for nervous tourists on the tiny RIB passenger ferry, but a bit dull for sea kayaks. The opposite side of Noss was to provide a lot more excitement...
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.
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.
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...
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...
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).
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).
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.
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.
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 !
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 !
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.
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.
Ander Hill, Bressay, from Noss Sound
Ander Hill, Bressay, from Noss Sound
Mansie's Berg, Noss, from the sea
Mansie's Berg, Noss, from the sea
The Noss ferry on the Bressay side of Noss Sound
The Noss ferry on the Bressay side of Noss Sound
A Clapper Bridge Loch of Grimsetter & the Clapper Bridge across Mill Burn, Bressay.
A Clapper Bridge
Loch of Grimsetter & the Clapper Bridge across Mill Burn, Bressay.
Bonxies off the coast of Noss Great Skuas following the boat southwards between Bressay, seen in the background, and Noss. They were feeding on ginger nut biscuits from the hands of a crew member.
Bonxies off the coast of Noss
Great Skuas following the boat southwards between Bressay, seen in the background, and Noss. They were feeding on ginger nut biscuits from the hands of a crew member.
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Taing of Flitsand is located at Grid Ref: HU5341 (Lat: 60.150896, Lng: -1.0456754)

Unitary Authority: Shetland Islands

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///vintages.draining.slipping. Near Lerwick, Shetland Islands

Nearby Locations

Stack of Papilgeo Noss Sound East Geo Mansie's Berg Taing of Flitsand West Geo

Related Wikis

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 60.150896,-1.0456754
Noss Nature Reserve
Information: office
Tourism: information
Lat/Long: 60.14987/-1.0461409
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Ferry Terminal
Lat/Long: 60.1503265/-1.0463554
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Toilets
Lat/Long: 60.1498457/-1.045852
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Defibrillator
Emergency: defibrillator
Lat/Long: 60.1499218/-1.046026
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Shower
Access: yes
Lat/Long: 60.1498588/-1.04587
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Ranger Station
Noss Visitor Centre
Lat/Long: 60.1498938/-1.046043
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Nesti Voe
Natural: bay
Lat/Long: 60.1488538/-1.0440445
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Ferry Terminal
Lat/Long: 60.1505317/-1.0492851
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Beginning section 1
Tourism: viewpoint
Lat/Long: 60.152069/-1.044615
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
Aiths Hamar Shetland
Sand of Gossabrough Shetland

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