Find the nearest Beaches in Shetland Islands
Planning a trip to the Shetland Islands coast and looking for where the nearest beach is, our beach lists will help you discover the nearest beach to me. Then for each beach, we will answer questions around location, rural or town, sandy or pebble, rockpools, tide times, weather forecast, dog restrictions, bathing water quality, closest beach cafes and provide general information on the beach and its facilities.
When on a beach page use our tools to search nearby Shetland Islands seaside towns and the surrounding coast for things to see and do or places to stay and eat.
If you are looking for an award-winning beach then you can browse our Blue Flag lists or Seaside Award lists.
Finding the right beach in Shetland Islands is easy – simply explore the beach links below, to find the closest hit the jump to my location compass or use the search bar to plan where your next Shetland Islands beach visit should be.
- This sandy beach links the Shetland mainland to St Ninians Isle. The 500 metre stretch of sand is the UKs largest active tombolo – a deposition landform in which an island is attached to the mainland by a narrow piece of land such as a spit or bar. It is well worth a look around St Ninians Isle as you have some great vies, a wide range of seabirds and some archaeological finds. You have a car parking area next to the beach with picnic tables along with a cafe in nearby Bigton.
- Grutness beach is a south-east facing beach close to Sumburgh Airport and the ferry terminal for Fair Isle. The beach is a pebble beach with some large rocks and some sand. These large rocks are very smooth as they have been smashed by the heavy winds and seas you can get here. You need to be very careful of the sea conditions on this beach. Grutness is part of a stretch of coast that is a great location for seeing whales, including orcas. If you are lucky you may see them close at hand as they search for seals that are closer to the shoreline. Parking and toilets by the ferry.
- West Sandwick beach is a sandy beach backed by sand dunes and grass on the west of Yell. The beach also has some rocky outcrops to explore and a burn crosses the beach to the sea.
- Tresta is the main beach on the small island of Fetlar in The Sheltlands. A long white sandy beach with cliffs at its south end. The beach is an ideal family beach as it sits within a calm shallow cove. Behind the beach is Papil Water, a fresh water loch which is popular for seasonal trout fishing.
- Scousburgh Sands beach is a sandy beach that is adjacent to the fresh water Loch of Spiggie of the RSPB manages as a reserve for wintering wildfowl. Scousburgh Sands is also known as Spiggie Beach. Parking available and you have a hotel nearby that sells food.
- Levenwick Bay beach is a North facing sandy bay backed by grassy areas with some rock pools. Parking and a nearby campsite.
- Kirk Sand is a small quiet beach on the island Papa Stour which is the 8th largest in the Shetlands. The beach faces south onto Papa Sound and is sandy lower down with pebbles at the high tide mark.
- Quendale beach is sandy beach and one of the longest on the Shetland at around a kilometre in length. The beach is backed by sand dunes and the bay has rocky headlands.
- Brekon Sands beach is a white sandy beach protected by a rock headland on the North of Yell. The beach is backed by grass covered sand dunes. Some nice walks around the headland.
- West Voe is a sandy crescent that is very different from it’s pebble exposed neighbor of Grutness beach. The beach is backed by marram grass sand dunes and has some spectacular views and closeby attractions. Facilities include car parking, food and drink.
