Sumburgh Head
Encyclopedia
Sumburgh Head is located at the southern tip of the Shetland Mainland
in northern
Scotland
. The head is a 100 m high rocky spur capped by the Sumburgh Head Lighthouse
. The Old Norse name was Dunrøstar høfdi, it means "The Head onto the Thunderous Noise", referring to the noise of Sumburgh Roost. The cliffs are home to large numbers of seabirds and the area is an RSPB nature reserve.
Sumburgh Airport
lies immediately to the north of the head, and is Shetland's main airport. Flights from here connect to mainland Scotland, the Orkney Islands
and Norway
.
Close to the head is the archaeological site of Jarlshof
, at which a series of settlements existed dating back to the neolithic
period.
The tiny settlement of Grutness
, which is the terminus of the Shetland Mainland to Fair Isle
ferry
service, lies one mile (2 km) north of Sumburgh Head.
Robert Stevenson
was the engineer in charge of building the Sumburgh Head lighthouse. Work started on the building in 1819, and the light was first lit in 1821.
As well as birds, Sumburgh Head has become a popular viewing point for whales and dolphins.
Shetland Mainland
The Mainland is the main island of Shetland, Scotland. The island contains Shetland's only burgh, Lerwick, and is the centre of Shetland's ferry and air connections....
in northern
Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The head is a 100 m high rocky spur capped by the Sumburgh Head Lighthouse
Sumburgh Head Lighthouse
Sumburgh Head Lighthouse is a lighthouse on Sumburgh Head at the southern tip of the Mainland of Shetland.The lighthouse was built by Robert Stevenson in 1821. The light was automated in 1991 and the keepers' houses were converted into holiday accommodation...
. The Old Norse name was Dunrøstar høfdi, it means "The Head onto the Thunderous Noise", referring to the noise of Sumburgh Roost. The cliffs are home to large numbers of seabirds and the area is an RSPB nature reserve.
Sumburgh Airport
Sumburgh Airport
-Other tenants:*Maritime and Coastguard Agency *Bristow Helicopters*Bond Helicopters -Incidents and accidents:...
lies immediately to the north of the head, and is Shetland's main airport. Flights from here connect to mainland Scotland, the Orkney Islands
Orkney Islands
Orkney also known as the Orkney Islands , is an archipelago in northern Scotland, situated north of the coast of Caithness...
and Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
Close to the head is the archaeological site of Jarlshof
Jarlshof
Jarlshof is the best known prehistoric archaeological site in Shetland, Scotland. It lies near the southern tip of the Shetland Mainland and has been described as "one of the most remarkable archaeological sites ever excavated in the British Isles"...
, at which a series of settlements existed dating back to the neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
period.
The tiny settlement of Grutness
Grutness
Grutness is a small settlement and headland at the southern tip of the main island of the Shetland Islands, Scotland. It is located close to Sumburgh Head, and is the terminus of the ferry service between the Shetland Mainland and Fair Isle.-External links:*...
, which is the terminus of the Shetland Mainland to Fair Isle
Fair Isle
Fair Isle is an island in northern Scotland, lying around halfway between mainland Shetland and the Orkney islands. It is famous for its bird observatory and a traditional style of knitting.-Geography:...
ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
service, lies one mile (2 km) north of Sumburgh Head.
Robert Stevenson
Robert Stevenson (civil engineer)
Robert Stevenson FRSE MInstCE FSAS MWS FGS FRAS FSA was a Scottish civil engineer and famed designer and builder of lighthouses.One of his finest achievements was the construction of the Bell Rock Lighthouse.-Early life:...
was the engineer in charge of building the Sumburgh Head lighthouse. Work started on the building in 1819, and the light was first lit in 1821.
As well as birds, Sumburgh Head has become a popular viewing point for whales and dolphins.