close to home
Skelberry and Dury Voe from the front of the House
Skjalbrei means "hill shaped like a shield" in Norse and indicates the shape of the rock outcrop on which Skelberry is built. The house is at the top of the outcrop and has commanding views across Dury Voe as well as westwards towards the ferry terminal at Laxo and east towards the open sea.
Skjalbrei is an ideal base for walking, bird watching, cycling and fishing throughout the district of Lunnasting. Nature watchers can also spot otters and seals below the house at the shore and even orcas have been spotted chasing seals in the Voe.
We are less than 10 minutes from the inter-island ferries to Whalsay and the Out Skerries, and the ferry terminal for Fetlar, Yell and onward to Unst is around 20 minutes away. Lerwick is 25 miles away, but the roads are good and the traffic so light that the journey takes less than half an hour.
Vidlin, Lunna and Voe
Vidlin is two miles from Skelberry and has a fine community hall, marina and a very well stocked shop, which also serves petrol. The shop is open Monday to Saturday and Sunday mornings from 11am.
If ancient history is your interest then Lunnasting is rich in archaeological sites. More recent history is represented by Lunna House, where the "Shetland Bus" operated during the Second World War, assisting the Norwegian Resistance movement, and the local Cabin Museum has a range of artefacts from a similar period.
The Lunna peninsula has the most northerly parish church in the UK - Lunna Kirk - some fine walks and an excellent guide for otter watching, John Campbell, is also based here. See his website at shetlandotters.com
Voe is 5 miles away and features the Pierhead Restaurant and Bar, scenically located alongside Olna Firth. Music is often played here. Six miles further on to Brae there are restaurants, a small Co-Op, Post Office, Leisure Centre and Health Centre.
