Noup of Noss

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Shetland

Scotland

Noup of Noss

Noss from Lunning Sound Credit: Mike Pennington

Noup of Noss is a prominent coastal feature located on the island of Noss, which is part of the Shetland archipelago in Scotland. It is situated on the eastern coast of the island, overlooking the North Sea. Noss itself is a nature reserve known for its rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes.

The Noup of Noss is a headland that juts out into the sea, forming a distinct point. It is characterized by its towering cliffs that rise up to 181 meters (594 feet) above sea level, making it one of the highest sea cliffs in Shetland. These cliffs are composed of rugged, layered rock formations, which have been shaped by centuries of coastal erosion.

The Noup of Noss provides a vital habitat for a variety of seabird species. It is particularly renowned for its large seabird colonies, including a significant population of gannets, puffins, guillemots, and razorbills. These birds nest on the narrow ledges and crevices of the cliffs, creating a spectacular display of nesting activity during the breeding season.

Access to the Noup of Noss is restricted during the breeding season to protect the nesting birds. However, visitors can still enjoy breathtaking views of the headland and its surrounding coastal scenery from several vantage points on Noss. The area is a magnet for nature enthusiasts, birdwatchers, and photographers, who come to witness the awe-inspiring beauty and wildlife diversity of this coastal feature.

In conclusion, the Noup of Noss is a remarkable headland and point on the eastern coast of Noss island in Shetland. With its towering cliffs and vibrant seabird colonies, it is a must-see destination for anyone seeking to explore the natural wonders of the region.

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Noup of Noss Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 60.139349/-1.0031042 or Grid Reference HU5539. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

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

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

Confused water off Feadda Ness

The rock over which the wave is just breaking (and water from the previous wave pouring off) is the southernmost point of the island of Noss at this state of the tide (lowish - early in the flood, near neaps). Turning this headland from the southwest coast starts to open up views of progressively more interesting rock scenery as well as increasing amounts of bird life. There are small caves just here, and a Geo between the first and second sections of cliff in this photo. I paddled into more sheltered water inside, where bigger caves awaited exploration, but in the rather confused water (southwesterly windwaves cutting across easterly swell) no-one seemed to want to join me and it's not a place to play without a bit of backup... The rock is a mix of sandstones and conglomerates of Devonian (Old Red Sandstone) age where layers of varying hardness have eroded into the many ledges which make the place such an attractive place for seabirds.

Andy Waddington

Guillemots rafted below Cradle Holm

A large flock of Guillemots were rafted up just below the cliffs as we turned the southern tip of Noss, so we aimed away from the coast a bit to give them some space. However, they suddenly chose to head out to sea directly in front of our group - they do take a long time bouncing off the wave tops to get airborne so we were treated to a closer view than we'd have ventured to get. The nearest cliff face, with the cave entrance, is Cradle Holm, an island at all but low tide (and pretty inaccessible from Noss even then, as there is a deep rocky cleft the same height as the cliffs). Beyond this is Charlie's Holm, with rock of a similar colour, whilst in the distance, looking much whiter, is Noup of Noss, surrounded by wheeling Gannets.

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