VisitShetland

South Unst

South Unst

As the ferry from Yell crosses Bluemull Sound, you pass a modern salmon farm on the right hand side and, on the left, Saxaburness, the ruins of one of Unst's several brochs - circular fortresses built about 2,500 years ago.

You land below Belmont House, an 18th century landlord's mansion. Nearby, Shetland Ponies graze at the roadside.

Muness Castle

The walk from Belmont to Lund takes you past Snarravoe and Snabrough, deserted 19th century hamlets. Another fine walk is from Belmont around the south-western corner of Unst to the picturesque village of Uyeasound, a busy centre for fish farming.

Uyeasound, a short drive from Belmont, has a youth hostel. Next to the pier is Greenwell's Booth, a warehouse once used by German Hanseatic merchants who dominated Shetland's trade until the early 18th century.

To the west, one of Unst's two prehistoric standing stones is by the road to Muness Castle, a 16th century fortified house open to the public. A coast walk from Muness north to The Easting brings you to the perfect sandy beach of Sandwick, where a Viking longhouse has been excavated.

Between Uyeasound and Baltasound, a detour down the Westing side road reveals some of Shetland's prettiest scenery. At Underhoull is another Viking house, below a broch overlooking the secluded beach of Lunda Wick.

Beyond the 'haunted house' of Lund is the ruined 12th century church of St Olaf, with the tombstones of two German merchants and of Thomas Mouat (1748-1819) who built Belmont.

Further along the Westing road is a reconstructed miniature watermill, once used to grind oats and barley.

Vallafield, the ridge dividing the Westing from the trout loch of Watlee, has one of Shetland's finest panoramas.

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