Few places in the UK can claim to be as unspoilt, making the area perfect for walking and exploring. North Yell’s rolling peat moorlands are grazed by native sheep and the shorelines provide homes for otters and other wildlife. Breeding seabirds including puffins and gannets return to the cliffs around the island each year, while seals, porpoises and sometimes even whales can be seen swimming offshore.
Visit North Yell
With captivating wildlife, spectacular coastlines, broad open landscapes, fascinating heritage, and a spectacular beach, North Yell is a jewel waiting to be discovered.
As well as being a haven for wildlife, North Yell has a varied and fascinating history, with the remains of Iron Age brochs waiting to be explored as well as the Viking past – reflected in many Yell placenames. Like most parts of Shetland, fishing played an important part in the culture and history of North Yell. Sadly, North Yell experienced its own tragedy, when 58 fishermen were killed in the Gloup Disaster of 1881. A memorial stands at Gloup to commemorate the tragedy, making a poignant starting point for a coastal walk to the spending beach at Breckon.
