Sandness is a rural community on the remotest edge of Shetland’s West Side. It is thirty miles from Lerwick, Shetland’s main town, and seven miles from Walls, the nearest place with a shop, post office and health centre.
Turning right from the A971 at the Brig of Walls, Sandness is reached by a seven-mile journey along a single track road, across wild, rolling moorland, dotted with lochs. From the Sandness signpost at the Turriefield cattle-grid, the view is of a community of scattered houses set in green croft-land. Beyond that lies the island of Papa Stour and St Magnus Bay.
At Huxter to the west, magnificent sandstone cliffs face toward the Atlantic for two miles as far as the Dale of Walls and includes the impressive bay of Deepdale, almost inaccessible beach. To the east, a twisting road takes you through the rocky landscape of Bousta. The beach at the end of the road is the one sheltered harbour in Sandness, the “cockleshell” of Bousta Geo.
Along the coast, between Huxter and Bousta, lie Melby and Norby, the ‘toonships’ at the heart of Sandness. Both have accessible beaches; Norby boasts a long sweep of sand appreciated by families and Melby, its pier used by kayakers and sailors.
By car: from Lerwick take the A970 north, turn left onto the A971 signposted ‘The West Mainland’ and Walls/Sandness. Continue on this road for 18 miles to the Bridge of Walls. Turn right after the bridge, signposted Sandness and follow the single track road for 7 miles.
By bus: two buses are required to reach Sandness, the number 9 from Lerwick to Walls and the number 10 from Walls to Sandness. Buses are limited, more information about bus travel in Shetland can be found on the ZetTrans site
The 2025 Sandness bus timetable can be found here
Huxter Mills – a group of 3 partially restored horizontal water mills and associated millraces and footbridges on a steep sided burn. Access on foot. Park at the view point by the old coastguard hut.
Huxter Broch – Remains of an Iron Age broch which has been adapted as a sheep crö
Slipway previously used by the Papa Stour ferry. Toilets and parking for coastal walk to Huxter Mills.
Parking with access to the beach (follow signs to Norby and past the agricultural sheds along a rough track). At the east end of the beach are the remains of several traditional boat noosts. From here access the coastal walk to Bousta.
Park at layby above Turriefield, cross road and follow track west past mobile phone mast. When the track ends continue over heathery and rocky ground to the summit. Great views on a clear day to Foula to the west and over St Magnus Bay to the north.
WW2 plane crash site on the north side of Hill of Melby. Most easily accessed via track from the Huxter Road. Marked with a small white post.
Take a walk along the hill dyke from Brenwell to Huxter. The walk can be done in shorter sections by starting/finishing at where the dyke meets the Sandness road at Turriefield, or the gate behind Lambton.
Boat noosts at the road end
Iron Age Broch – remains sit on small rise above the road end
Lime kiln – at Skinhoga headland to the north east of Little Bousta
Bay of Garth – Iron Age promontory fort
The whole parish coastline from Snarraness to Huxter and on to Dale of Walls can be walked in sections as desired.
Shorter loops:
For events at our local Hall see
Information on events in the wider west mainland area can be found here
There are numerous sites of historical interest in Sandness. Locations can be found using the Canmore (National Record of Historic Environment) site map. You can search on the Trove website here.
There are many lochs used by anglers in the areas. A permit is required. For more information
Gundel’s Open Garden Scotland Norby https://scotlandsgardens.org/norby/
There are a number of small wooded areas in Sandness where birds can be seen. For the latest sightings in Shetland see https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/ and local birdwatching information: https://www.facebook.com/shetlandbirdclub/