Acquaint yourself with Scotland's coastline at St Ninian’s Isle

The isle has obvious ecclesiastical ties, but its history predates Christianity. Multiple Neolithic graves have been found under the floor of the remains of a 12th century chapel still visible at the end of the tombolo. 

In July 1958, a young schoolboy named Douglas Coutts uncovered a treasure buried under a cross-marked flooring of St Ninian’s old church. Coutts was assisting an archaeological dig on the isle when he uncovered what would turn out to be one of the greatest examples of silver and metalwork of the early Medieval period in Scotland. Nowadays, the 28 piece hoard of silver Pictish objects is on display in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. 

The last people to live on the isle were the Leasks who left in 1796. Since then, the isle’s only inhabitants are local wildlife. 

Walking the St Ninian’s Circular is the ideal way to see the isle. Starting at Bigton, make your way to the tombolo and prepare so be awestruck by the incredible sights the connecting piece of land offers. 

As you take in the stunning cliffside views, make your way onto the isle’s beachy coastline. The walk then takes you along a loop around the isle and then back onto the tombolo to complete the circular walk. The south end of the isle offers more gorgeous sights you’ll want to take the time to just take in the moment and reflect on how much beauty Mother Nature has blessed us with. The walk is easy, perfect for strolling and can take anywhere from 3 hours to longer, depending on breaks you plan on taking - we strongly recommend bringing a picnic - and the total route distance is about 6km. Find out more information about the walk here. 

Make sure  you take full advantage of the incredible beaches, and explore all the different nooks and crannies, who knows, you may find a treasure of your own. There are lots of little grottos and small hills visitors can explore and enjoy during their time on the isle.

By car: 

• Driving on local roads to St Ninian’s is the easiest and best way to get there. 

By bus: 

• A singular bus service runs from Lerwick and drops visitors off near St Ninian’s Isle. Find out more about it here. 

The only and best way to get around the isle is to walk.