Traditional ‘Shetland model’ boats drawn up on the beach at Stenness, near Eshaness. This beach was once a hive of activity, with a lively fishing industry and fish laid out to dry on the rocks. The Shetland model boat design – pointed at either end - is believed to stem from the design of Viking longships and its construction, with no rigid internal ribs allows the boat to flex in heavy seas, thus giving it excellent stability and a good platform for fishing.
You can see examples of these boats all around the islands and can get a close look at their construction and the different types in the Shetland Museum or the Unst Boat Museum.
The spectacular scenery at Eshaness has been formed by the fierce Atlantic storms battering the volcanic cliffs for centuries. A wonderful place to visit in summer or winter – in summer a tranquil walk along the cliff top to the Grind of the Naavir to see the awesome results of winter storms with a boulder beach of enormous rocks thrown up by the sea. In winter, the seas breaking over these cliffs are fearsome and wild.
