Sandwick

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Swinister and Cameron Way

Sanick

Brentfield Place and Veester Hill estates with Sandwick Social Club at bottom left

Burn of Hoswick, below Swinister. The sides of the burn have been planted with a variety of trees and shrubs which, despite being badly damaged by flood water in 2003, have transformed the burn into a beauty spot.

Sandwick is in the South Mainland of Shetland, roughly half way between Lerwick and Sumburgh Airport.

Spread over a wide area, Sandwick includes the settlements of Hoswick, Sanick, and Leebitton, but is perhaps most famous for the island of Mousa which lies offshore to the east, just a short ferry trip, from the historic Sandsayre Pier which is the focus of a fund raising effort to rebuild it.

As an area, Sandwick has an interesting history. During the late 19th century copper mines were established next to Sandlodge, and of course the area was heavily involved in the Herring boom of the late 19th century. But other historical cases also centre on the area, such as the case of the community versus the Laird over the ownership of a pod of whales driven ashore at Hoswick in 1888, or the case of Ursula Smith and the press gang in 1808.

In more recent times, Broonies Taing pier was developed during the 70's in the hope of attracting oil related business, which never transpired, but now Broonies Taing has become a focal point for Cod farming with the establishment of a cod hatchery there by Johnson Seafarms.

As a community, Sandwick has, in recent years, expanded rapidly, with new housing etates at Swinister, Brentfield Place, Park Wynd, and Veester Hill. And with more new housing currently being built near to Park Wynd, and another estate planned for the Houlland area, the community looks set to continue growing.

Throughout the expansion of the community great effort has been made by the residents to maintain the quality of facilities and infrastructure, which has seen Sandwick win national awards for community achievements.

Sandwick is home to the artists Ruth Brownlee and Tommy Watt, and singer/songwriter Eddie Barclay.