Island 539 - Noonsbrough Broch, Shetland

Noonsbrough is a hamlet on the west coast of Voe of Clousta on the west side of Shetland Mainland. Noonsbrough Broch is on a small tidal island 50 metres off the coast at Noonsbrough.  It is linked to the coast at Noonsbrough by two shingle beaches.  It looks as though it would be accessible on foot at all times except during high spring tides. 

Brochs were Iron Age fortified dwellings built of stones.  The broch remains at Noonsbrough are a large mound of grass-covered rubble.  The broch would have been about 19 feet in diameter.  Later stone buildings were built next to the broch mound.  Some of these are up to about four feet in height.

Noonsbrough Broch from Noonsbrough

Noonsbrough Broch from Noonsbrough

Looking north west from Noonsbrough Broch

Noonsbrough Broch

Island 538 - Scarva Taing, West Burra, Shetland

Scarva Taing is an uninhabited small tidal island located 50 metres to the west of the headland of Atla Ness, which is immediately to the north of the village of Hamnavoe on the island of West Burra.  West Burra is located off the west coast of Shetland Mainland and is linked to it via two road bridges: the first links the island of Trondra to Shetland Mainland and the second links Trondra to West Burra.

Scarva Taing is about 70 metres from east to west and 50 metres from north to south. It is separated from Atla Ness by rocks, which are exposed at all but high tide.  The island is covered in grass.  There is some thrift growing on it, which wasn't in flower when I visited in mid May 2026.  Some of the rocks on the island are covered in patches of orange and grey lichens.  The remains of sea urchins were scattered over part of the island.  I wondered if they had been eaten by otters or gulls?

Fugla Ness Lighthouse from Scarva Taing

Hamnavoe from Scarva Taing

Scarva Taing from Atla Ness

The remains of sea urchins