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Hamna Voe

Sea, Estuary, Creek in Shetland

Scotland

Hamna Voe

Papa Stour from Huxter, Sandness
Papa Stour from Huxter, Sandness Credit: Mike Pennington

Hamna Voe is a picturesque sea inlet located in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. Nestled between the Mainland and Burra, this stunning natural formation is a popular tourist destination due to its scenic beauty and rich biodiversity.

As a sea estuary, Hamna Voe is characterized by its deep waters and steep sides, which provide a sheltered harbor for boats and ships. The voe stretches for approximately 4 kilometers, with its entrance facing southwards towards the North Sea. The area is known for its calm waters, making it an ideal spot for fishing and sailing enthusiasts.

The surrounding landscape of Hamna Voe is a delightful mix of rolling green hills and rugged cliffs, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding islands and the North Atlantic Ocean. The area is also home to a variety of seabirds, including puffins, gannets, and fulmars.

Hamna Voe is not only a scenic wonder but also has historical significance. The remnants of ancient settlements have been discovered in the vicinity, indicating human habitation as far back as the Iron Age. The area was once a thriving hub for the fishing industry, with numerous herring stations and fish curing sheds dotting the shores.

Today, Hamna Voe remains an important center for marine activities, including aquaculture and offshore oil operations. Its natural beauty, combined with its rich cultural and historical heritage, makes it a must-visit destination for nature lovers and history enthusiasts alike.

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Hamna Voe Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 60.322029/-1.708114 or Grid Reference HU1659. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Papa Stour from Huxter, Sandness
Papa Stour from Huxter, Sandness
Aesha Head One of the many fine stretches of coast on Papa Stours, Aesha Head is the furthest west point of the main island, though there are various smaller islands and skerries beyond.
Aesha Head
One of the many fine stretches of coast on Papa Stours, Aesha Head is the furthest west point of the main island, though there are various smaller islands and skerries beyond.
Natural Arch, Aesha Head This is a closer view of the fine arch in Aesha Head, with a glimpse of Lyra Skerry beyond.
Natural Arch, Aesha Head
This is a closer view of the fine arch in Aesha Head, with a glimpse of Lyra Skerry beyond.
Kirstan's Hole Actually, it isn't the Kirstan's Hole (or Christie's Hole) shown on the maps, but a second hole which opened suddenly a few years ago, where previously there had been a depression in the ground, into the same sea-cave system as the original Kirstan's Hole.
Kirstan's Hole
Actually, it isn't the Kirstan's Hole (or Christie's Hole) shown on the maps, but a second hole which opened suddenly a few years ago, where previously there had been a depression in the ground, into the same sea-cave system as the original Kirstan's Hole.
Plantiecrub near Flaes Point A plantiecrub is a small walled enclosure in which cabbage seedlings are grown until they are big enough to plant out in croft gardens. They are usually built well away from the croft to protect the seedlings against the crofters' hens.
Plantiecrub near Flaes Point
A plantiecrub is a small walled enclosure in which cabbage seedlings are grown until they are big enough to plant out in croft gardens. They are usually built well away from the croft to protect the seedlings against the crofters' hens.
Ruined Meal Mills Several traditional mills straddle this little burn. Inside the building was a fixed lower millstone, and a rotating upper millstone driven by the water falling on to the paddles below, which were mounted at 45º to the vertical drive shaft.
Ruined Meal Mills
Several traditional mills straddle this little burn. Inside the building was a fixed lower millstone, and a rotating upper millstone driven by the water falling on to the paddles below, which were mounted at 45º to the vertical drive shaft.
The Loch that Ebbs and Flows The interior of Papa Stour is mainly moorland, though there are several lochans in the central part. This one's curious name reflects its closeness to the sea, from which it is cut off only by an ayre or shingle spit.
The Loch that Ebbs and Flows
The interior of Papa Stour is mainly moorland, though there are several lochans in the central part. This one's curious name reflects its closeness to the sea, from which it is cut off only by an ayre or shingle spit.
Hurdibrack The last stretch of the footpath back from the west side of the island. In the middle distance is the wall which crosses the entire island, separating the arable land in the east from the pasture to the west.
Hurdibrack
The last stretch of the footpath back from the west side of the island. In the middle distance is the wall which crosses the entire island, separating the arable land in the east from the pasture to the west.
The Wall This is the wall which cuts across the whole island. The west side (left) has a steep face to prevent animals climbing over it. The east (right) side has a sloping face so that any animals which have managed to cross it can easily be driven back on to the pasture land.
The Wall
This is the wall which cuts across the whole island. The west side (left) has a steep face to prevent animals climbing over it. The east (right) side has a sloping face so that any animals which have managed to cross it can easily be driven back on to the pasture land.
Ruined House
Ruined House
Ruined house The number of ruined buildings on the island seem to far outnumber those still habitable or used.
Ruined house
The number of ruined buildings on the island seem to far outnumber those still habitable or used.
Road and ruins This is the main road for the island. Even this close to the pier the ruins of abandoned crofts can be found just off the road.
Road and ruins
This is the main road for the island. Even this close to the pier the ruins of abandoned crofts can be found just off the road.
View towards Papa Stour Airstrip The cleared and smoothed ground in the upper right of the image is the airstrip for Papa Stour which is located in <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/HU1759">HU1759</a>.
View towards Papa Stour Airstrip
The cleared and smoothed ground in the upper right of the image is the airstrip for Papa Stour which is located in HU1759.
Unnamed Sea Stack Off Breigeo Head, Papa Stour (Big Isle of the Priests) At less than 20 metres high this little stack is not as impressive as it's compatriots such as a little down the coast <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/HU1461">HU1461</a>, but facing out onto the North Atlantic the situation is wild and imposing. As with most sea stacks, this has probably formed and survived through being constituted from rock that is more solid and stable than that washed out from around them. In many cases this results in providing ideal rock climbing routes in spectacular locations. In this case, the rock visible in this image is of a good solid nature but as can be seen more clearly in <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/798611">HU1560 : The problem with sea stacks...</a> it is overhanging and in addition lacks much in the way of cracks in which to place rock climbing protection. Taken together these would make this an extremely difficult climb even if top roped. The side of the stack facing away to the right of the image is also overhanging, albeit to a lesser extent, but the rock is somewhat green and slimy making it an unattractive ascent route. Gaining access to the stack also presents some problems. The water foaming around the stack prevents easy access by boat and even on a comparatively calm day such as that pictured here would make swimming to the stack a highly dangerous exercise. The first visit to the top of the stack recorded by climbers is shown in the image <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/798611">HU1560 : The problem with sea stacks...</a>. For this, the only viable route to the stack was by Tyrolean traverse.
Unnamed Sea Stack Off Breigeo Head, Papa Stour (Big Isle of the Priests)
At less than 20 metres high this little stack is not as impressive as it's compatriots such as a little down the coast HU1461, but facing out onto the North Atlantic the situation is wild and imposing. As with most sea stacks, this has probably formed and survived through being constituted from rock that is more solid and stable than that washed out from around them. In many cases this results in providing ideal rock climbing routes in spectacular locations. In this case, the rock visible in this image is of a good solid nature but as can be seen more clearly in HU1560 : The problem with sea stacks... it is overhanging and in addition lacks much in the way of cracks in which to place rock climbing protection. Taken together these would make this an extremely difficult climb even if top roped. The side of the stack facing away to the right of the image is also overhanging, albeit to a lesser extent, but the rock is somewhat green and slimy making it an unattractive ascent route. Gaining access to the stack also presents some problems. The water foaming around the stack prevents easy access by boat and even on a comparatively calm day such as that pictured here would make swimming to the stack a highly dangerous exercise. The first visit to the top of the stack recorded by climbers is shown in the image HU1560 : The problem with sea stacks.... For this, the only viable route to the stack was by Tyrolean traverse.
The problem with sea stacks... The problem with sea stacks is how to get to them. The sea conditions at the base of this one pretty much eliminate the possibilities of swimming. One workable technique used here was to string a 100m abseil rope across the geo laying the rope on the top of the stack. The rope can then be used for a tyrolean traverse to get over to the stack and back from it.
The problem with sea stacks...
The problem with sea stacks is how to get to them. The sea conditions at the base of this one pretty much eliminate the possibilities of swimming. One workable technique used here was to string a 100m abseil rope across the geo laying the rope on the top of the stack. The rope can then be used for a tyrolean traverse to get over to the stack and back from it.
Oystercatcher nest with eggs This nest was located in the pebbles at the high-point of the beach. The eggs are camouflaged to be hard to see amongst the pebbles - although thankfully these were just noticeable enough to escape being trodden on. The oystercatchers seem to be surviving relatively well on the island, whilst the previously abundant tern population has been largely destroyed by the skuas.
Oystercatcher nest with eggs
This nest was located in the pebbles at the high-point of the beach. The eggs are camouflaged to be hard to see amongst the pebbles - although thankfully these were just noticeable enough to escape being trodden on. The oystercatchers seem to be surviving relatively well on the island, whilst the previously abundant tern population has been largely destroyed by the skuas.
Ruined meal mill The image shows the rear of one of the two mills at this location. The image was taken from channel, now waterless, which fed water into the mill.
Ruined meal mill
The image shows the rear of one of the two mills at this location. The image was taken from channel, now waterless, which fed water into the mill.
Ruined mill The image shows a view of the front of the mill shown in <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/799075">HU1660 : Ruined meal mill</a>.
Ruined mill
The image shows a view of the front of the mill shown in HU1660 : Ruined meal mill.
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Hamna Voe is located at Grid Ref: HU1659 (Lat: 60.322029, Lng: -1.708114)

Unitary Authority: Shetland Islands

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///take.hockey.mended. Near Walls, Shetland Islands

Nearby Locations

Calsgeo Taing Flaes Point Hill of Fielie Gorsendi Geo Hamna Voe Tiptans Skerry

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