St. Ninian’s Isle Info | Shetland Islands Coast

St Ninian’s Isle, located in Shetland, Scotland, is a stunning and unique destination known for its breathtaking natural beauty and fascinating history. One of its most remarkable features is the large tombolo – a natural sand causeway – that connects the isle to the Shetland Mainland. This tombolo is one of the finest examples in the UK and, indeed, Europe, making St Ninian’s Isle a distinctive and memorable place to visit.

The island is famed for its beautiful beaches, which comprise two mirror-like beaches on either side of the tombolo. These beaches boast fine, white sand and crystal-clear waters that can appear almost tropical on sunny days. The beaches are perfect for walking, picnicking, and simply enjoying the beauty of the surroundings. While the water might be too cold for most swimmers, it does not detract from the enjoyment of the area.

The landscape of St. Ninian’s Isle and its beaches are visually stunning and rich in wildlife and unique flora and fauna. Birdwatchers can enjoy spotting a variety of seabirds, while the surrounding waters are home to seals and occasionally otters.

St. Ninian’s Isle is famous for the discovery of the St. Ninian’s Isle Treasure – a hoard of Pictish silver dating back to the 8th century, found buried in the ruins of a chapel during an archaeological excavation in 1958. While the discovered artefacts can be found in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, the site and the small chapel ruins add a historical and mystical aura to any visit.

Access to St Ninian’s Isle is relatively easy, thanks to the tombolo that allows visitors to walk across from the mainland at low tide. There’s a car park near the start of the tombolo. Visitors should be mindful of the tides and weather conditions, which can change rapidly.

The experience of walking across the tombolo to explore the island and its beaches is unforgettable and we believe it is a must-see for anyone visiting Sheltand.

In addition to the car park at the tombolo, you have a small community shop back up the road in nearby Bigton.

If you want more information on the area visit our local Bigton Destination page or our regional Shetland Islands Destination page.

Getting to St. Ninian's Isle

Get directions to St. Ninian's Isle

St. Ninian's Isle 7 Day Weather Forecast

Today

Expect a temp in the range 5℃ to 7.3℃ with wind speed 4.8 m/sec (SE)

Monday, Apr 29
rain

Expect a temp in the range 7.2℃ to 7.3℃ with wind speed 7 m/sec (ESE)

Tuesday, Apr 30

Expect a temp in the range 7.8℃ to 8.3℃ with wind speed 8 m/sec (SSE)

Wednesday, May 01

Expect a temp in the range 7.5℃ to 8.1℃ with wind speed 6.5 m/sec (SE)

Thursday, May 02
cloudy

Expect a temp in the range 8.3℃ to 9℃ with wind speed 4.9 m/sec (ESE)

Friday, May 03

Expect a temp in the range 7.6℃ to 8.5℃ with wind speed 4.1 m/sec (ENE)

Saturday, May 04

Expect a temp in the range 6.5℃ to 7.4℃ with wind speed 4 m/sec (NNE)

Our Bigton weather forecast is from Yr, delivered by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and NRK

St. Ninian's Isle Tide Times

The closest tide times we have for St. Ninian's Isle is at Bay Of Quendale 7.85 km (4.88 miles) away. Tides are displayed beneath for 7 days and we list both high and low water times along with the height, helping you to plan the best time to visit St. Ninian's Isle. These times are not adjusted for BST.

Sun 28 Apr
   High Tide at 00:30 (Height 1.53m)
   Low Tide at 06:40 (Height 0.61m)
   High Tide at 13:04 (Height 1.44m)
   Low Tide at 18:54 (Height 0.75m)

Mon 29 Apr
   High Tide at 01:09 (Height 1.48m)
   Low Tide at 07:26 (Height 0.66m)
   High Tide at 13:55 (Height 1.36m)
   Low Tide at 19:41 (Height 0.83m)

Tue 30 Apr
   High Tide at 01:55 (Height 1.41m)
   Low Tide at 08:24 (Height 0.70m)
   High Tide at 14:59 (Height 1.29m)
   Low Tide at 20:44 (Height 0.90m)

Wed 01 May
   High Tide at 02:56 (Height 1.34m)
   Low Tide at 09:40 (Height 0.72m)
   High Tide at 16:15 (Height 1.25m)
   Low Tide at 22:12 (Height 0.93m)

Thu 02 May
   High Tide at 04:14 (Height 1.31m)
   Low Tide at 11:14 (Height 0.67m)
   High Tide at 17:44 (Height 1.27m)
   Low Tide at 23:47 (Height 0.88m)

Fri 03 May
   High Tide at 05:42 (Height 1.33m)
   Low Tide at 12:27 (Height 0.59m)
   High Tide at 18:58 (Height 1.34m)

Sat 04 May
   Low Tide at 00:52 (Height 0.79m)
   High Tide at 06:57 (Height 1.42m)
   Low Tide at 13:25 (Height 0.49m)
   High Tide at 19:53 (Height 1.43m)

Other Attractions...

While visiting St. Ninian's Isle, take the opportunity to explore other attractions in the area.

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St. Ninian's Isle

Getting to St. Ninian's Isle

St. Ninian's Isle 7 Day Weather Forecast

St. Ninian's Isle Tide Times

Other Attractions...

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