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

Virda

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Shetland

Scotland

Virda

Fugla Stack, Burra, from the air
Fugla Stack, Burra, from the air Credit: Mike Pennington

Virda is a prominent coastal feature located in Shetland, an archipelago situated off the northeastern coast of mainland Scotland. Specifically, it is a headland or point that juts out into the North Sea. Virda is positioned on the western side of the Shetland mainland, near the village of Walls.

This coastal feature is known for its rugged and picturesque landscape. Virda offers stunning views of the surrounding sea, with its cliffs providing a dramatic backdrop. The headland is characterized by its rocky terrain, which has been shaped by centuries of erosion caused by the relentless waves of the North Sea.

The area around Virda is rich in biodiversity, with various seabirds, including puffins and gannets, often seen nesting on the cliffs. The coastal waters are also home to a diverse range of marine life, including seals, dolphins, and otters.

Virda is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, such as hikers and birdwatchers, who are drawn to the area's natural beauty and wildlife. There are several walking trails that allow visitors to explore the headland and its surroundings, offering breathtaking views and opportunities to observe the local flora and fauna.

Overall, Virda is a captivating coastal feature in Shetland, offering a unique blend of rugged landscapes, diverse wildlife, and recreational opportunities for nature lovers.

Show me another place!

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

Virda Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 60.065971/-1.3535062 or Grid Reference HU3631. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Fugla Stack, Burra, from the air
Fugla Stack, Burra, from the air
Sound of Fuglastack, Burra, from the air
Sound of Fuglastack, Burra, from the air
Fugla Stack, Kettla Ness, West Burra, from the air Virda Vatn in the background.
Fugla Stack, Kettla Ness, West Burra, from the air
Virda Vatn in the background.
Cliffs on the west side of Kettla Ness It looks as though there will soon be another landslide on this dramatic coast.
Cliffs on the west side of Kettla Ness
It looks as though there will soon be another landslide on this dramatic coast.
At Gossigarth on Kettla Ness Looking towards Banna Minn and Duncansclett.
At Gossigarth on Kettla Ness
Looking towards Banna Minn and Duncansclett.
Symbister, East Burra An extensive set of ruined buildings.
Symbister, East Burra
An extensive set of ruined buildings.
Burnt Mound at Symbister One of three burnt mounds indicated on the 1:25,000 OS mapping. This was a smaller mound. Often features like this are marked on maps yet are hard to find. A Eureka moment followed after the GPS location was checked. I understand the purpose of burnt mounds is a contentious issue.
Burnt Mound at Symbister
One of three burnt mounds indicated on the 1:25,000 OS mapping. This was a smaller mound. Often features like this are marked on maps yet are hard to find. A Eureka moment followed after the GPS location was checked. I understand the purpose of burnt mounds is a contentious issue.
Symbister This croft site was abandoned in the early 1950s largely because there was no road to it. [P. Guy, Walking the Coastline of Shetland, South Mainland, Shetland Times, Lerwick, 2000.]
Symbister
This croft site was abandoned in the early 1950s largely because there was no road to it. [P. Guy, Walking the Coastline of Shetland, South Mainland, Shetland Times, Lerwick, 2000.]
Derelict Croft The ruins of the croft at Gossigarth with Banna Minn showing behind
Derelict Croft
The ruins of the croft at Gossigarth with Banna Minn showing behind
East Burra: Houss from West Burra Looking across South Voe towards the scattered dwellings of Houss with the mighty slopes of Shetland's south mainland on the far side of Clift Sound beyond.
East Burra: Houss from West Burra
Looking across South Voe towards the scattered dwellings of Houss with the mighty slopes of Shetland's south mainland on the far side of Clift Sound beyond.
Houss: view from Papil Looking across the water separating West Burra (our side) from East Burra, on which we see a few of the buildings, one of them ruined, in the hamlet of Houss. Immediately to the south (right) of these is the narrow strip of land connecting Houss Ness to the 'main' part of East Burra. The Clift Hills, on the mainland, are the backdrop, shrouded in cloud.
Houss: view from Papil
Looking across the water separating West Burra (our side) from East Burra, on which we see a few of the buildings, one of them ruined, in the hamlet of Houss. Immediately to the south (right) of these is the narrow strip of land connecting Houss Ness to the 'main' part of East Burra. The Clift Hills, on the mainland, are the backdrop, shrouded in cloud.
Houss: a house with a dramatic backdrop Looking across to a Houss house, as it were, from West Burra. I haven't been able to exactly locate the house on the map but it's somewhere hereabouts. In the background, a couple of vessels, below the cliffs of the Clift Hills, are catching a very rare bit of sun today - the rarity of the fine weather hinted at by the low mist towards the top of the hills.
Houss: a house with a dramatic backdrop
Looking across to a Houss house, as it were, from West Burra. I haven't been able to exactly locate the house on the map but it's somewhere hereabouts. In the background, a couple of vessels, below the cliffs of the Clift Hills, are catching a very rare bit of sun today - the rarity of the fine weather hinted at by the low mist towards the top of the hills.
Boats at The Taing The boats seen here are moored at a yard on the east coast of the Voe of North House, on the small peninsula called The Taing on East Burra. East Burra is a very narrow island (as is West Burra) that is linked to Mainland Shetland via bridges to Trondra and West Burra. The bridge between West and East Burra is a simple stone arch bridge in Bridge End.
Boats at The Taing
The boats seen here are moored at a yard on the east coast of the Voe of North House, on the small peninsula called The Taing on East Burra. East Burra is a very narrow island (as is West Burra) that is linked to Mainland Shetland via bridges to Trondra and West Burra. The bridge between West and East Burra is a simple stone arch bridge in Bridge End.
The Taing and Voe of North House The Taing is a small promontory of East Burra island into Clift Sound, with the Voe of North House on the right. The little stream entering the Voe at this point is a drain from the small Loch of Houss a few hundred yards to the north. A closer view of the end of the Taing can be seen here <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2586774">HU3831 : Boats at The Taing</a> and of the cottages on the left of the image, here <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2695373">HU3831 : Cottages on The Taing</a>
The Taing and Voe of North House
The Taing is a small promontory of East Burra island into Clift Sound, with the Voe of North House on the right. The little stream entering the Voe at this point is a drain from the small Loch of Houss a few hundred yards to the north. A closer view of the end of the Taing can be seen here HU3831 : Boats at The Taing and of the cottages on the left of the image, here HU3831 : Cottages on The Taing
East Burra: view down South Voe Looking down South Voe, the long inlet separating the islands of East Burra and West Burra.
East Burra: view down South Voe
Looking down South Voe, the long inlet separating the islands of East Burra and West Burra.
East Burra: across Voe of North House Looking across this small bay, towards a house with coastal outlooks both front and back - Clift Sound is beyond, with the Clift Hills on the Shetland mainland rising into the mist.
East Burra: across Voe of North House
Looking across this small bay, towards a house with coastal outlooks both front and back - Clift Sound is beyond, with the Clift Hills on the Shetland mainland rising into the mist.
Papil, West Burra
Papil, West Burra
Tombolo at Banna Minn
Tombolo at Banna Minn
Show me another place!

Virda is located at Grid Ref: HU3631 (Lat: 60.065971, Lng: -1.3535062)

Unitary Authority: Shetland Islands

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///smallest.shuffles.couch. Near Scalloway, Shetland Islands

Nearby Locations

Loch of Papil Duncansclett Rams-raer Red Stack Muckle Rae Geo Scorifield Noust

Related Wikis

West Burra
West Burra

West Burra is one of the Scalloway Islands, a subgroup of the Shetland Islands in Scotland. It is connected by bridge to East Burra. With an area of 743...

Burra, Shetland
Burra, Shetland

Burra (Old Norse: Barrey ) is the collective name for two of the Shetland Islands, West (pop. 753) and East Burra (pop. 66), which are connected by bridge...

Scalloway Islands
Scalloway Islands

The Scalloway Islands are in Shetland opposite Scalloway on south west of the Mainland. They form a mini-archipelago and include: Burra (two islands linked...

East Burra
East Burra

East Burra (Scots: East Burra; Old Norse: "Barrey") is one of the Scalloway Islands, a subgroup of the Shetland Islands in Scotland. It is connected by...

South Havra
South Havra

South Havra (Scots: Sooth Haevra; Old Norse: Hafrey), formerly Hevera, is an uninhabited island in the Scalloway Islands, Shetland, Scotland. == Geography... ==

South Mainland
South Mainland

The South Mainland of the Shetland Islands is the southern peninsula of Mainland island. It lies south of Hellister (60° 14′N). The greater southern part...

Little Havra
Little Havra

Little Havra is a small island off the west of South Mainland in Shetland. It is 35 metres (115 ft) at its highest point, upon which there is a cairn....

Oxna
Oxna

Oxna is one of the Scalloway Islands, lying north west of Burra in Shetland, Scotland. Oxna has an area of 68 hectares (170 acres). The island has been...

Selchie Geo Shetland
Snarra Geo Shetland

Have you been to Virda?

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

© 2024 UK Place Database | Privacy