Shetland north islands

Introduction

Times of high water

Whale Firth: High water is 25 minutes before high water at Lerwick

Gloup Voe: High water is 1 hours and 30 minutes before high water at Lerwick

Gutcher, south end of Bluemull Sound: High water is 1 hours before high water at Lerwick

Lunda Wick: High water is 1 hours and 30 minutes before high water at Lerwick

Burra Firth: High water is 1 hours and 10 minutes before high water at Lerwick

Nor Wick: High water is 1 hours and 5 minutes before high water at Lerwick

Balta Sound: High water is 1 hours before high water at Lerwick

Uyea: High water is 1 hours and 5 minutes before high water at Lerwick

Wick of Gruting, Fetlar: High water is 50 minutes before high water at Lerwick

Wick of Tresta, Fetlar: High water is 45 minutes before high water at Lerwick

Hamars Ness, Fetlar: High water is 1 hours before high water at Lerwick

Basta Voe: High water is 40 minutes before high water at Lerwick

Otters Wick: High water is 35 minutes before high water at Lerwick

Tidal streams

Between Hascosay and Shetland: In South Sound: The south-east going stream begins at 4 hours before high water at Lerwick. The north-west going stream begins at 2 hours and 15 minutes after high water at Lerwick. The flow reaches a speed of 2 knots at springs. Tides run similarly along Hascosay sound.

East coast of Fetlar: The tide flows north-east and south-west. The south east corner near The Snap is exposed and catches the tide - steep seas may form here.

Colgrave Sound: Between Hascosay and Fetlar: The south going stream begins at 4 hours before high water at Lerwick. The north going stream begins at 2 hours and 15 minutes after high water at Lerwick. The flow reaches a speed of 2 knots at springs. The streams are less strong away from this narrows.

Between Fetlar and Uyea: Between Tressa Ness and Uyea, the tidal streams are weak. The east going stream begins at 2 hours and 45 minutes after high water at Lerwick. The west going stream begins at 3 hours and 25 minutes before high water at Lerwick.

Eddy between Holm of Heogland and Uyea: An eddy forms here, with the following flows: The east south-east going stream begins at 5 hours and 10 minutes after high water at Lerwick. The west north-west going stream begins at 3 hours and 45 minutes before high water at Lerwick.

Southern entrance to Bluemull Sound: The south-east going stream begins at 6 hours and 5 minutes after high water at Lerwick. The north-west going stream begins at 25 minutes before high water at Lerwick.

West of Linga: Linga Sound: The tide flows south south-east and north north-west. The tide runs strongly here.

Hoga Ness, Bluemull Sound: Water can be turbulent off Hoga Ness.

Bluemull Sound, Ness of Culli Voe: The Ness of Cullivoe is the point to the north of Culli Voe. The north going stream begins at 1 hours and 35 minutes after high water at Lerwick. The south going stream begins at 4 hours and 25 minutes before high water at Lerwick. The flow reaches a speed of 6 knots at springs. The water may be turbulent south of the Ness. This is especially the case when the wind opposes the tide. Large breaking waves may occur north of the Ness when the north-going stream meets significant swell. At springs, races form at the salient points on both sides of the Sound. The streams run less strongly in the wider parts of the sound. Rates and times of the streams are affected by weather.

Eddy in Bluemull Sound, Ness of Cullivoe: During the south going tidal flow, an eddy forms with the eddyline running from the Point of Grimsetter to the Ness of Cullivoe - the point to the north of Culli Voe. The eddyline can be turbulent.

North Coast of Yell: The tide flows east and west. The streams are strong, especially west-going and races forms around Gloup Holm. The streams are said to run into and out of Bluemull Sound and it is possible that the east-going flow here starts as the south-going flow in the Sound and the west-going flow starts with the north-going flow in the Sound.

Off Muckle Flugga: The east going stream begins at 3 hours and 50 minutes before high water at Lerwick. The west going stream begins at 1 hours and 40 minutes after high water at Lerwick. The flow reaches a speed of 6 knots at springs. Powerful eddies around rocks and islands.

Herma Ness, inside Muckle Flugga: The east north-east going stream begins at 3 hours before high water at Lerwick. The west south-west going stream begins at 2 hours after high water at Lerwick. The flow reaches a speed of 5 knots at springs. Compare with the 'Off Muckle Flugga' times - it is possible that the tide here turns earlier than the times given. Races form inside of the islands.

Holm of Skaw and Lamba Ness: The south south-east going stream begins at 3 hours and 40 minutes before high water at Lerwick. The north north-west going stream begins at 1 hours and 30 minutes after high water at Lerwick. The flow reaches a speed of 5 knots at springs. A large race forms off the Holm of Skaw with heavy breaking seas, especially on the north-going stream, however this can be avoided by taking rocky channels inside the Holm of Skaw. The race continues to Lamba Ness, but here there is no easy inshore route to avoid it.

East coast of Unst, north of Balta Sound: The north going stream begins at 2 hours and 20 minutes after high water at Lerwick. The south going stream begins at 3 hours and 40 minutes before high water at Lerwick. South of Balta sound, the streams are weak. However, there may be a race off The Nev.

Balta Sound, North Channel: The north north-east going stream begins at 2 hours and 20 minutes after high water at Lerwick. The south south-west going stream begins at 3 hours and 40 minutes before high water at Lerwick. The flow reaches a speed of 1.5 knots at springs.

Balta Sound, South Channel: The north going stream begins at 2 hours and 20 minutes after high water at Lerwick. The south going stream begins at 3 hours and 40 minutes before high water at Lerwick. The flow reaches a speed of 0.8 knots at springs.

Notes

Access/Egress

Head of Whale Firth, Yell: (HU 485 917) g Pier a short distance off the main road. It may be possible to park a car nearby.

Grimister, Yell: (HU 466 933) g The options here are to land on a beach to the west and carry up to the road (at least 200m), or try the pier to the east. Little information is available on either option.

Gloup south, Yell: (HP 506 044) g A small track leaves the road and leads down to a monument, by which there is a small parking area and a picnic bench. A grassy track leads south-south west from here down to a flat area which has a beach to the south of it - a carry of around 200m.

Gloup north, Yell: (HP 507 050) g A track leaves the road at a shape corner and head down to a beach - a carry of around 150m. Park as for the Gloup south put-in, which may be a better option.

Breckton: (HP 528 051) g Small signed parking area at the end of the road. At least a 400m carry from here to the beach. Also possible to park at the cemetery to the east

Greenbank, Yell: (HP 541 039) g The road leading down to the bay splits. The southerly fork leads to a small area for parking an 80m carry from the beach. The northerly fork comes closer to the beach, but it is unclear whether there is space to leave a vehicle.

Cullivoe, Yell: (HP 544 025) g Small harbour, with space to leave a vehicle or two. May also be possible to find space at the pier to the south east, but this is busier.

Lunda Wick, Unst: (HP 567 040) g Parking area at end of road (St Olaf's Kirk), near to beach.

Fiska Wick: (HP 613 149) g Small harbour, with a few marked parking spaces. More parking up the hill at the end of the higher road.

Wick of Saw, Unst: (HP 660 165) g Parking area at end of road. Path leads across a bridge down to the beach, about a 150m carry.

Haroldswick: (HP 636 119) g A short track leads down to the sea from parking areas next to a viking longship.

Uyeasound, Unst: (HP 592 010) g Small harbour with slipway, space to leave cars nearby, motorhome parking area just to the west.

Belmont, Unst: (HP 566 005) g Parking on gravel areas by the ferry terminal. Easiest launch may be beside an old small pier to the north.

Gutcher, Yell: (HU 549 993) g Space to park by the ferry terminal, close to a small beach.

Seafield, Yell: (HU 511 923) g Old pier by a collection of old unoccupied buildings. Likely possible to find a space to leave a car. The Mid Yell launch points will likely have more space to park.

Mid Yell Marina, Yell: (HU 510 916) g Likely space to leave a car,

Mid Yell Beach, Yell: (HU 516 909) g Beach by the road. Parking on/by nearby roads, which can be busy.

Wick of Vatsetter, Yell: (HU 534 896) g Good sized area of mown grass by a picnic table for parking, with a very short carry down a steep bank to the beach. The walk is a little longer at low tide.

Gossabrough, Yell: (HU 529 833) g Small parking area at end of track, close to beach.

Suggested trips

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