Virkie

The Ness Boating Club Marina sits at the Pool of Virkie and has one visitor berth. The area is handy while waiting for the wind and tide to round Sumburgh Head and Fitful Head, or to make the Fair Isle crossing. The entrance to the marina is narrow and shallow so it is advisable to take local advice before entering.

Yachts with more than 1m draft will find nearby Voe of Grutness provides a good anchorage and a pier where toilets and fresh water are available, however the Fair Isle ferry has priority so vessels using the pier should not be left unattended.

Just 15 minutes' walk away are two amazing acheological sites: Old Scatsness and Jarlshof. Excavations at Old Scatsness have revealed one of Britain's most exciting Iron Age Villiages, with many buildings standing at or near roof height and some even 'decorated' with yellow clay! On-site interpretation, guides, and living history demonstrations of ancient crafts and skills during July and August each year illustrate how our ancestors lived.

Jarlshof is a complex archaeological site which came to light a hundred years ago when storms washed awat the protective cover of sand. Excavations show the site to have been inhabited for around 4,200 years.

Sumburgh Head offers a good oppertunity for spotting minke and killer (Orca) whales or, more commonly, the harbour porpoise feeding in the swirling tides around the tip of the south mainland. It also has the UK's most accessible colony of puffins, although the comical looking birds only land between April and July. The cliffs are also home to guillemots, kittiwakes and shags, as well as seals which haul on the rocks below.

 

Depth (low water):	1m max
Charge:	£5 per day
Contact:	Brian Halcrow, 01595 477260
Yacht Facilities:	Toilets, electricity, fresh water, slip, boating club.
Other facilities:	Telephone, bus service, car hire (At Airport).