Bod Voe in Out Skerries, Shetland

Shetland > Out Skerries


Water catchment drain in Out Skerries, ShetlandThe Out Skerries are a group of three rocky islands, Bruray, Housay and Grunay. Grunay is presently not inhabited; Bruray and Housay are joined by a bridge. Out Skerries are Shetland's most easterly islands and support 70 people within 2 square miles.

Houses in Out Skerries, ShetlandThe large majority of Out Skerries folk get their livelihood from the sea - several fishing vessels work from Out Skerries and there is a communally-owned salmon farm. The Out Skerries harbours are well sheltered, but there are dangerous rocks along the way. Out Skerries is a good place for birdwatchers - as it is the first eastern landfall for migrating birds. The water supply is a problem in Out Skerries due to a small catchment area Battle Pund in Out Skerries, Shetlandand impermeable rocks - however a water catchment drain has been installed to help, by catching some of the run-off.

The Out Skerries can be reached by airplane or by ferry from Vidlin or Lerwick. The journey from Vidlin takes 90 minutes and the ferry from Lerwick 150 minutes. The Out Skerries are lovely islands and are well worth the effort of visiting.

Sites of interest include:

    Lighthouse on treacherous rocks in Out Skerries
  1. Battle Pund - a roughly rectangular group of stones from the bronze age, found close to the harbour. It is thought that blood feuds were once settled here.

  2. Lighthouse on Bound Skerry - an impressive lighthouse by the treacherous rocks of Grunay.

 

Map of Out Skerries
Map of Out Skerries
Getting to Out Skerries
Travel from Aberdeen or Kirkwall to Lerwick with NorthLink Ferries. On arrival at 7.00am in the morning, as soon as you leave the boat, you will be in Lerwick. Turn right when leaving Holmsgarth terminal and take the A970. Before you reach Hillside, turn right and take the B9071 to Laxo and then on to Vidlin. From Vidlin you can catch a ferry to Out Skerries.
Alternatively, instead of passing Tingwall Aerodrome on the A970, enter and catch a flight to Out Skerries.
Top tips
• In August, there is an annual Lerwick to Skerries Yacht Race, with a lively dance in the new Out Skerries community hall afterwards.
• The road in Out Skerries is less than a mile long, so the best way to explore Out Skerries is on foot!

 

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