Bressay & Noss

Within ten minutes you can exchange the bustle of Lerwick town for the tranquil rural atmosphere of Bressay. The island is home to around 350 people, many of whom commute to the Mainland daily on the frequent car and passenger ferry service.

enlarge Puffins at Noss Lying to the east of Lerwick the island of Bressay, 11x8 km (7x3 miles), creates a superb sheltered harbour for shipping - the reason for Lerwick's establishment as a major trading port. From Viking times Bressay Sound has provided a safe anchorage and in the mid 17th century up to 1,500 Dutch herring fishing vessels gathered here.

Noss, a small island off the east coast of Bressay, is a National Nature Reserve with over 100,000 pairs of breeding seabirds. The island is also part of a sheep farm and demonstrates a good example of conservation and agricultural practices working together.

Noss is managed by Scottish Natural Heritage and staffed by seasonal wardens who provide a weather-permitting summer boat service.

For additional information on Bressay and Noss please visit the following websites:

Bressay History Group

Bressay Lighthouse

Bronze Age Bressay

Noss National Nature Reserve

Download Our Brochure

For more information about Bressay & Noss, download our free Bressay & Noss brochure [.pdf approx. 1,5Mb]