Skaw Beach

Set towards the northern tip of Unst, the most northerly of the Shetland Islands, Skaw beach proudly proclaims itself as “Britain’s most northerly sandy beach”. It also lays claim to being home to Britain’s most northerly house too, although the whitewashed bungalow is not terribly impressive.

Skaw beach, however, will not disappoint, and some will even say it is worth the journey. A crescent of fine, white sand, the beach has a stream to one end and is backed by machair - grassy meadow which bursts into flower in the Spring.

The beach here is fairly sheltered from the prevailing westerly winds, but if you want somewhere even more tucked away then you can head 20 minutes south along the coast path to Inner Skaw beach. En route you may notice the RAF radar dome at Saxa Vord. This area is also being developed as a potential “space port”.