Stoura Stane

Coastal Marsh, Saltings in Shetland

Scotland

Stoura Stane

House at the Taing of Ham Credit: Oliver Dixon

Stoura Stane is a coastal marsh located in Shetland, an archipelago in Scotland. It is situated on the mainland, near the village of Sandwick, on the west coast of the Shetland Islands. This natural feature is known for its unique ecosystem and geological significance.

The name 'Stoura Stane' translates to 'stirring stone,' referring to a large erratic boulder found within the marsh. This boulder, estimated to weigh around 40 tons, was deposited during the last ice age, and it is a prominent landmark in the area.

The coastal marsh of Stoura Stane is characterized by its saline environment, known as saltings. Saltings are formed when seawater floods coastal areas during high tides, leaving behind a mixture of saltwater and freshwater. This creates a unique habitat that supports a variety of plant and animal species.

The marshland is home to a diverse range of vegetation, including salt-tolerant plants such as sea lavender, sea aster, and sea club-rush. These plants provide important shelter and food sources for various bird species, including waders like redshanks, dunlins, and oystercatchers.

Stoura Stane is also geologically fascinating, with exposed layers of sandstone and conglomerate rock formations. These rocks are evidence of the area's geological history and the forces of erosion and deposition that have shaped the landscape over millions of years.

The marsh and its surrounding coastal area are popular among nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers due to the rich biodiversity and scenic beauty. It serves as an important natural habitat and contributes to the ecological balance of the region.

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Stoura Stane Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 60.139286/-1.1570102 or Grid Reference HU4639. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

House at the Taing of Ham

Oliver Dixon

Ham Peninsula on the west coast of the Isle of Bressay. Across the water are houses on the Ness of Sound <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/HU4639">HU4639</a> on Shetland Mainland.

Ham

Peninsula on the west coast of the Isle of Bressay. Across the water are houses on the Ness of Sound HU4639 on Shetland Mainland.

Oliver Dixon

MV Costa Fortuna at anchor in Bressay Sound

The size of the MV Costa Fortuna (464 cabins, nine swimming pools and five restaurants) meant that it was obliged to anchor out in the Sound rather than at the quayside in Lerwick. A flotilla of barges were kept busy ferrying passengers to and from the Victoria Pier. The Costa Fortuna is a sister ship to the ill-starred Costa Concordia which sank off the Italian coast in 2012.

Oliver Dixon

Pullar's Loch, Sound, from the air

Mike Pennington

Ness of Sound, Lerwick, from the air

Mike Pennington

Ness of Sound from the air

Mike Pennington

On MV Hrossey - the overnight ferry to Aberdeen

A few passengers stayed on the outside upper deck of MV Hrossey as the darkness faded and the cool breeze penetrated. The headland that marks the end of Bressay Sound is just visible to port.

Julian Paren

Small boat off Ness of Sound

Taken from the Knab in Lerwick.

Mike Pennington

Bressay, House at Ham

David Dixon

MV Knab, Lerwick Pilot Boat

The Lerwick pilot boat, MV Knab, in Bressay Sound.

David Dixon

Ham

Coastal settlement on Bressay.

David Dixon

Cro of Ham

David Dixon

Cuddie Sound

Passing Ness of Sound as the mist falls.

David Dixon

Light Beacon

White construction, Cro of Ham on Bressay, containing a light beacon, that anyone who has ever taken the Lerwick-Aberdeen Ferry, must have seen when entering/leaving Lerwick Harbour. Across Bressay Sound you see South Ness Cemetery.

Vanhercke Christiaan

Ruggen, Ness of Sound

Taken from the Marco Polo cruise ship on the way out of Lerwick.

Ian S

Cro of Ham

Tim Glover

Skerries on east side of Ness of Sound

The gently dipping Middle Old Red Sandstone of east Mainland produces skerries with a steep side facing the shore of Ness of Sound, and a slope off into the waters of Brei Wick. This makes them easy for seals to haul out on the seaward side, and slide quickly away from the shore if disturbed, though the ones we saw had chosen a boulder beach a little way north where they seemed better camouflaged. Perhaps the less visible ones remained while ones here had already departed before we got to them ! There certainly seeme to be seal heads popping up all along the shore of Brei Wick, watching the people passing by. In the distance in this view is Bressay Sound, overlooked by Lerwick on the left (with the prominent coastguard building on the hilltop) and Bressay on the right.

Andy Waddington

Ruggen - the end of Ness of Sound

Although the sea looks calm from this height on the Ness of Sound circular path, we'd just had a very lumpy crossing from mainland Scotland, and the view includes lots of ships taking shelter on the lee side of Shetland's long southern peninsula towards Sumburgh Head. The strong westerly had moderated a little from its overnight peak of 7-8, but was still perhaps a little gusty for cliff top walking, but at least the sun was shining. The Devonian Middle Old Red Sandstone beds (typical of east Mainland) are here dipping quite steeply to the east, producing rather pointy skerries, and less than confidence-inspiring cliff edges where they face east into Brei Wick.

Andy Waddington

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Stoura Stane is located at Grid Ref: HU4639 (Lat: 60.139286, Lng: -1.1570102)

Unitary Authority: Shetland Islands

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands