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Noss National Nature Reserve

East of Bressay, Lerwick

This fertile island slopes gradually up to the high sandstone cliffs of the Noup. Here during the breeding season some 100,000 birds compete for nesting space on the niches and ledges. You’ll see gannets, guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes. On the track across the moor you may be dive bombed by arctic and great skuas.The island was once well-known for its Shetland ponies. The Marquis of Londonderry took a lease of Noss in 1870 to breed ponies for use in his coal mines in Durham. The animals to be bred ‘with as much weight as possible and as near the ground as could be got’. You can still see the buildings that were put up to shelter the mares. Visitor centre and toilets on the island. Allow three hours to walk round the island.

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