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Foula, (Old Norse :Fuglaey = Birds Island ) is the most westerly island in Shetland. It is approximately 3.5 miles long, north to south, and 2.5 miles wide, and lies approximately 22km west of Walls, on the west Mainland.

The isle is dominated by its five hills which give it its distinctive profile. The highest point being the Sneug, at 418m, followed by the Kame, at 376m, which is the highest point of the sea cliffs on the western side of island, and both the highest sheer sea cliffs and second highest sea cliffs in the U.K, only surpassed by those on the isle of St. Kilda. Hamnafield at 344m, the Noup at 248m and Soberlie complete the quintet.

When viewed from the Mainland the isle can make quite a spectacular scene, particularly under snow, when it is often likened to a huge iceberg on the horizon

Foula is the UK's most isolated and second most remote permanently inhabited island, its near neighbour to the SE, Fair Isle holding the title of most remote.

For further details and more pictures, please click here.

1912; The vessels Valorous, Rapid and Advena wrecked at Lerwick, Vidlin and Out Skerries respectively.

1927; Death of poet and author Haldane Burgess.

1942; Fair Isle and Out Skerries Lighthouses bombed by German aircraft. Four mines exploded in the Breiwick Road and Sletts Road area over two days, causing extensive damage.

1992; A hurricane flattened Annsbrae Caravan Park in Lerwick and caused damage elsewhere in the isles. Perhaps hardest hit was Unst where the radar domes an Saxa Vord were extensively damaged, and boats, including the replica sixareen Far Haaf were damaged beyond repair.

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Explore Shetland step by step
Make your choice from all our Shetland Settlements.
Or, visit our modern and ancient "capitals" Lerwick and Scalloway.
No visit to Shetland is complete without taking a ferry to visit one of the Outer Isles.

When rambling through Shetland
Look out for the historical attractions and local museums, or discover our naturally beautiful landscapes and our Voes, Firths, and Bays.

To get a taste of what you will see
Have a browse through our "picture galleries".

Looking for some indoor leisure activities?
Then join in and do some sports in one of our fine Leisure Centres: Go for a swim, try your skills in indoor bowling – or just watch the competing folks.
Or for something more leisurely take a look around our pubs and bars

Further advice for visitors to Shetland
Can be found by visiting our Tourism Pages

The 2010 Galley 'Avie Jane'. More pictures here

Shetland's best values: The people!
Here you can meet some of those who represent our community as well as some of the incoming folks and other native Shetlanders of the past.

Present Day Shetland
is a vibrant community based both in,

• a great variety of businesses representing traditional but still important industries like fishery to the spearheads active in the renewable energies sector and
• the active life in our communities, our schools and the modern colleges which play a major role in our social and cultural life.

Shetland Heritage
is represented by far more than our famous archaeological monuments such as Jarlshof and the Broch of Mousa.
Most importantly, it is a living heritage, living in our arts, crafts, music and festivals, as well as the continuation of traditional Shetland industries such as fishing, crofting, and knitwear.

Ian Bairnson (b. August 3rd 1953), talented versatile internationally recognised and respected rock guitarist, member of Pilot and The Alan Parson Project is a native of Levenwick and lived in the village for the greater part of his childhood, where his father John (Jackie) owned the local general merchants shop.

He bought his first guitar at six years old for £3 15s, with some birthday money. He cites Peerie Willie Johnson who lived at Bigton at the time, on the other side of the hill, as an early influence. Ian would spend evenings visiting Willie, and listening to and learning from Willie's rhythm playing.

Having established his reputation as an accomplished guitarist with Pilot, Ian became involved in recording with The Alan Parsons Project as did all of Pilot, who were the core members of the "Project". Over the years he has remained in demand for session work, recording with many longstanding big names in the music industry including Paul McCartney & Wings, Steve Harley, Kate Bush, Chris De Burgh, Elaine Paige, Mick Fleetwood, Jim Diamond, Tom Jones, Beverley Craven and Kenny Rogers. Along with a number of shorter lived, but arguably no less successful artists in their day such as Bucks Fizz, Bananarama, Bardo, Prelude, David Van Day, and David Sylvian.

For further details, please click here.

As the Mareel cinema and music venue is built we will add the latest pictures from the site here, on a regular basis.

Foundations taking shape, Nov. 09 Picture by: Jeannie.

Further building progress Dec 09 Picture by Jeannie.