Foula

  Enjoy a full day trip to one of Britain's most remote, inhabited islands, approximately 20 miles off the West Coast of Shetland. Leaving Scalloway, the ancient capital of Shetland, travelling past the Scalloway Isles, en route to Foula, on board the mv Cyfish, a journey of approximately one and a half hours.

  On arrival, we circumnavigate the island, to view the spectacular cliffs of over 1200 feet high and the thousands of sea birds who nest there. We then berth in Foula for an approximate two and a half hour stay, to explore this fascinating and beautiful island. Arrival back in Scalloway at approximately 1700 hours.

  The land on Foula rises from East to West with low, broken cliffs and small coves on the East West of the island. The West coast of Foula consists of high cliffs with ranging heights of 150-365m.

  There are five distinct peaks on Foula, all leaning to the North. At a height of 418m, The Sneug on the West is the highest. The Kame (shown below) on the West coast - a huge bird populated cliff - is 376m high. At the centre is Hamnafield at a height of 344m and The Noup on the South West coast rises to a height of 248m. Soberlie Hill on the North West coast is 221m. There is a narrow chimney on top of Hamnafield that is so deep it is said to go straight down to hell.

  The people of Foula used to be occupied in fishing alone. Now, due to the decline in the herring industry, crofting has taken over. All crofts are on the East coast of Foula. Half the population are settled in Hametoun in the South East and the remainder live at Ham near Ham Voe where there is a post office, a school and church. In 1914, the titanic sistership Oceanic was wrecked just off Foula.