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Home , Foula, Shetland, The Edge of the World, Tingwall Airport

Travelling to Foula lies about 32 kilometres (20 miles) to the west of the mainland. The small harbour is exposed, and the airstrip can be affected by crosswinds or , making both sea and air travel to Foula completely dependent on suitable weather conditions. Delays are sometimes unavoidable – it is strongly recommended Foula that you check with the ferry or airline before you travel to the terminal. By Sea The Foula ferry New Advance, currently operated by Foula Atlantic Ferries, is based in the island. The ferry crosses to Waas (Walls) at the Westside of Shetland. Please note that summer and winter timetables Some Useful Information differ and all sailings are weather permitting. Buses Accommodation: VisitShetland, going to Waas leave from Tel: 08701 999 440 the Viking bus-station in The New Advance lifted from the Ferry Booking Office: Tel: 07781 823 732, water for safety Lerwick. Please check Ferry update Tel: 01595 743 976 with VisitShetland for Air Booking Office: accurate timetables. Tel: 01595 840246 Foula Ranger Service Tel: 01595 753233, 753236 By Air Shops: No general store, but postcards and The local council provide flights between Tingwall small souvenirs are available from Airport and Foula. Flights change schedule between rangers and the Post Office winter and summer months and are very dependent on Public Toilet: Airstrip shelter good weather conditions – please phone the airport Places to Eat: Leraback, bookings only booking office for up-to-date information. Tel: 01595 753226 Post Office: South of pier Tel: 01595753236 Some buses pass Tingwall Airport – a taxi is often the Public Telephone: Airstrip shelter only option. There are no taxis or public transport in Church: Top of airstrip road Foula. Medical Assistance: Resident Nurse Tel: 01595 753238, Waas Doctor Tel: 01595 809352

View from outside Da Sneck ida Smaallie

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Welcome to Foula Geology Your journey has brought you to Foula, one of Britain’s most remote inhabited The action of the sea on islands. The townships are situated Foula’s layered sandstone has given rise to a number in the narrow eastern coastal strip with the of dramatic and interesting expanse of moorland rising steeply A was erected to guide oil tankers and other shipping safely features. The breathtaking to Foula’s five dramatic peaks at the West past Foula’s South Ness. It now runs on solar and wind power 376 metre (1233ft) sheer of the island — Da Noup in the south is drop at the back of Da divided by the glacial valley of Da Daal Foula’s Natural Heritage Kame competes with from Hamnafield, Da Sneug, Da Kame, and Conachair in St. Kilda as Foula’s natural heritage is exceptionally rich and diverse the highest sea- in Soberlie, which stretch westwards until they for such a small area. The island has been designated Britain. drop sheer to the sea in breathtaking cliffs a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) – both for its Gaada Stack’s three pillars ranging from 150 metres (492ft) to over 370 flora and fauna, and for the geomorphology of its tower 40 metres (131ft) metres (1214ft). dramatic coastline – and it is also a National Scenic over the rugged north Area, and a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds. coast of the island with its stacks, steep-sided geos, Wrecks and curving aptly named Da Stanes. There are many interesting shipwrecks The sheer sides of Da surrounding Foula. One being the RMS Da Sneck ida Smaallie Sneck ida Smaallie, a Oceanic owned by the famous White Star dank, dark rock fault over 30 Line. Launched in 1899 the ‘Queen of the metres (98ft) deep, cut down towards the Ultima – the farthest land of ancient Romans Ocean’ was called into the Navy shortly sea at the west end of Da Daal, giving access to after the outbreak of the First World War, teeming seabird colonies under the cliffs. The way but unfortunately, within a fortnight of its down is treacherous and should not be attempted maiden voyage of naval duty the vessel was without an experienced guide. Foula leaves a lasting impression on everyone who run aground on da Shaalds approximately visits, for there is something very special about the 5 km (3 miles) East of Foula. The entrance to Da Lum a Liorafield, on the other island – it may be the quality of light, the natural Bonxies and Skootie Allens, compete hand, has long been lost – superstition and tales beauty and remoteness, the wide range of wildlife, fiercely of strange happenings surround Da Lum, which the community way of life or a combination of these. for territories was mentioned by Sir in his novel ‘The It is difficult to explain this intangible quality; we hope Pirate’. Folklore also tells of the healing properties of you find it for yourself. Da Watter ida Sneug, a little spring under the north shoulder of Da Sneug.

Da Logat Left: Skarfs (Shags) enjoyLuckaminnie’s the sunshine. Oo (Cottongrass) Simmer Dim at the North end Right: delicate tufts of Flowers and Plants Gaada Sheepie In the long midsummer days, Foula’s wildflowers Stack Da provide a glorious burst of colour. Sea-pinks carpet Hiorawick East Da Shaalds Hoevdi Da Ness Stremness the areas of short maritime grass, and blue Vernal Da Logat Squill and golden-eyed Tormentil make bright sweet- Da Stanes scented patches beyond. Marsh Marigolds and orchids Soberlie blossom gold and purple in drains and wet lush areas, Summons with white-tufted cottongrass, Sphagnum Sundew Head Head o Ruscar and Crowberry making patterns Harrier across the moorland. Greater Tussock Sedge can be found in the Nort Toons, which, Da Kame along with the abundant (376m) woodrush in the hills, may Nebbifield be a remnant of plants Da Watter associated with ancient ida Sneug Foula woodlands. Da Sneug Head o da Taing School (418m) Ham Hamnafield Wester Pier Ham Voe alls) and Hoevdi Birds and Animals A close look at Foula’s Leraback Ferry to Waas (W Foula has great variety rich and beautiful flora Post Office and numbers of sea and moorland birds. The world’s largest colony of Bonxies Wick of Mucklabrek Da Sneck ida Smaallie Durganess (Great Skuas) competes fiercely with Skootie Allens Da Daal (Arctic Skuas) for breeding territories. Every suitable South Wick small loch in the island is occupied Krukaitrin Kirk by a pair of nesting Red-throated Da Noup Da Breckins Divers, and the cliffs teem with (248m) Hametoun Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills,

Shags, Fulmars, Kittiwakes and Lang Hoevdi Gannets. Leach’s Petrel, Storm Petrel, and Manx Shearwater Hellabrek’s Wick Da Knab Auld Kirk have also bred. Many shore and Main roads Trout moorland birds, including the Minor roads Birds dainty Ringed Plover, nest in the Ferry routes Seals South Ness The Raingös (Red-throated stoney places and amongst the Nature reserve Whales & dolphins Diver) or raingoose is Beach Otters much-loved and figures bog grasses. During migration largely in local weather periods unusual birds from as far Cliffs Ponies lore away as America and Siberia can Historic building Viewpoint be seen. Foula is home to a unique sub-species of Museum Site of interest field-mouse and an island variety of house-mouse. Toilet Telephone Scale 0 ½ 1 Both Atlantic Grey and Common Seals haul up around miles the shore, and can be watched at close quarters in the Voe. Schools of Killer Whales are sometimes seen close inshore and porpoises often follow the ferry. The in Foula are the hardy History and Folklore Culture & Folklore native Shetland field systems, burial cairns, Foula’s rich culture is evident in the Norse breed. Their great burnt mounds and a mysterious stone circle testify dialect and a strong tradition of folklore, music variety of coloured that Foula has been inhabited for millennia, despite and special festivities. Foula folk celebrate fleeces are much in its remoteness. Some time after 800AD, the Norse and New Year according to the feast-days demand by hand- settled here and, although they left little visible of the old Julian calendar, on January 6th and spinners, ranging Foula’s cliffs are unsupassed for variety and numbers of nesting seabirds trace, their presence can still be felt in the wealth of Newerday on January 13th. The whole way of life in from the descriptive Norse place names. On Da Broch, a stack the island is based on a strong tradition of caring predominating at the north end, an ancient stone wall was thought community values. moorit (brown) to fawn, grey, creamy white and black, to be a monk’s cell, indicating the early spread of and many have attractive markings. from . The island continued to Film be under Norse ownership until 1572, when Gorvel The evacuation in 1930 of another Atlantic island, Livelihood Faddersdatter, gave all her land in Shetland, including St Kilda, was immortalised in ’s Strong winds and spray make crofting difficult Foula, to Robert Cheyne, who was of Scottish descent. famous film, ‘The Edge of the World’ made in Foula in Foula - the crofts themselves average 2-2.5 During the 18th Century, a time of bad famines, Foula in 1936, with many islanders taking part. A book and hectares (5-6 acres). was devastated by video about the film are available in Shetland. The The hill grazing is good, but severe weather can three successive splendid new community school is proof that Foula prevent stock reaching market. Islanders seize every plagues of is not ‘another St. Kilda.’ opportunity to wrest a livelihood from sea and land and only and any ancillary activity which offers. Most people six persons were said keep sheep, and some islanders have Shetland to be left to bury the ponies, cows and pigs. provides dead. The island was seasonal income, along with repopulated by new some craftwork. Ling or Cod drying on the coast at Ham families from the The Foula Ranger Service is Shetland Mainland, available mid-April to October and most of the language and oral history and can arrange guided walks was lost. By the end of the 19th Century, the population and provide information for had risen to 267, but this was unsustainable and many self-guided walks. islanders emigrated. The Foula mailboat Island Lass A souvenir map was was lost in a storm in 1962. The fire in the last inhabited presented to the film- blackhouse went out in 1964. By the early 70’s the makers in 1936 by the population had dropped to about 30, but the remaining people of Foula Traditional crofting practices remain islanders were so determined to stay, they built their own airstrip. Since then the population has remained Multi-coloured native Foula sheep are nimble and hardy, grazing relatively stable. in the cliffs and eating seaweed when grass is scarce The mailboat ‘Advance’ at the Ham pier

Families of seals can be observed at close quarters in the Voe