West Punds Geo

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Shetland

Scotland

West Punds Geo

Gungstie, Noss, from Noss Sound Credit: Mike Pennington

West Punds Geo is a prominent coastal feature located in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. Situated on the western coast of the main island, it is a headland that juts out into the North Atlantic Ocean. Characterized by its rugged cliffs and rocky terrain, it offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.

The headland is formed by the erosion of the underlying rock, which has created steep cliffs that reach heights of up to 100 meters. These cliffs provide nesting sites for various seabirds, including puffins, guillemots, and razorbills, making it a haven for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.

The area surrounding West Punds Geo is also known for its rich marine life. Visitors can often spot seals and otters swimming in the waters below, while occasional sightings of dolphins and whales add to the allure of the place.

Access to West Punds Geo is relatively easy, with a well-defined footpath leading to the headland. The path, which is maintained by the local authorities, offers visitors a safe and enjoyable way to explore the area. However, caution is advised as the cliffs can be steep and slippery, especially during wet weather.

The location of West Punds Geo, on the western coast of Shetland, means that it is exposed to the full force of the Atlantic weather. Strong winds and crashing waves are common, creating a dramatic and awe-inspiring atmosphere.

Overall, West Punds Geo is a captivating coastal feature that showcases the raw beauty of the Shetland Islands. Its rugged cliffs, diverse wildlife, and stunning views make it a must-visit destination for those seeking an authentic and unforgettable coastal experience.

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West Punds Geo Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 60.151322/-1.0107029 or Grid Reference HU5541. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Gungstie, Noss, from Noss Sound

Mike Pennington

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.

Carroll Pierce

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.

Carroll Pierce

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.

Carroll Pierce

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

Paddling past Scarfi Skerries

Paddling anticlockwise round the island of Noss, Scarfi Skerries and East Punds Geo, just beyond, are almost the last rock-hopping opportunities. After Point of Pundsgeo, the coast is a little more subdued, and our route would take us further out on our way back towards Bressay, whose easternmost point lies on the Loder Head peninsula at Rules Ness, pretty much directly in front of the most distant paddler in the photo. There are far fewer birds here than on the east coast, but inland, the island is still inhabited by heavy tripod-toting chaps in camouflage jackets. They seem to move more slowly than sea kayakers, though that might simply mean that they stop more often to take photos.

Andy Waddington

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).

Andy Waddington

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 !

Andy Waddington

Mansie's Berg, Noss, from the sea

Mike Pennington

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

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