Arriving

The ferry arrives on Bressay near the 19th century house and old pier at Maryfield. Next to the ferry terminal car park is the Bressay Heritage Centre which houses fascinating seasonal exhibitions on the culture, history and natural heritage of the island. The Centre is open part time from May to September, (details from the Tourist Information Office).

North Bressay

Taking the lower north road to Heogan you will travel past the impressive building of Gardie House with its walled garden. Built in 1724, this is one of the principal laird's houses in Shetland and home to the present Lord Lieutenant. On your right is the Standing Stone of Cruester which dates back to prehistoric times.

Along the coastline from Cruester to Heogan are the traces of several herring fishing stations. In the early 20th Century Lerwick was the premier herring port in Europe and these stations would have been hives of activity during the herring season with workers gutting, processing and packing the fish into wooden barrels of brine for export.

Leading to the crofting townships of Gunnista and Beosetter the upper north road passes through Cruetoun. Just north of here a rough track leads to the uninhabited croft of Globa on the sheltered shores of Aith Voe.

Along the valley are numerous circular, drystone structures (planticrubs) used to propagate kale plants prior to planting out in the spring (voar). Used as winter feed for stock, kale plants from Bressay were reputed to be the best and always in demand. Gunnisat was the site of the church of St Olaf, the plain church on the island until 1723. The present churchyard contains the remains of an 18th century mausoleum built by the Henderson family.

East Bressay

From the crossroads at Mail a steeply inclined road crosses the island, splitting into three at the Uphouse junction. The main road continues to Noss Sound, passing the Loch of Brough which provides the water supply for the island and is stocked with both brown and rainbow trout.

A rough track along the west side of the loch leads to the Loch of Grimsetter with Norse settlements which became crofting townships.

Turing the mid to late 19th century the population of Bressay was between 800 and 900 with many thriving settlements on the east side of the island.

At Wadbister is a Bronze Age burnt mound and souterrain. Between is the croft of Gorie an oasis of green on a bare hillside.

At Grutwick there is a stone built cairn erected to commemorate the bravery of the helicopter winchman, William Deacon, who lost his fife during the rescue of the crew of the MV Green Lily which foundered here in November 1997. South from Grutwick the spectacular coastline with cliffs, caves and natural arches continues round to the Bressay lighthouse.

The walk to the lighthouse is outstanding but please be careful near the cliff edges, especially in wet weather and in poor visibility.