St. Ninian's Isle

St. Ninian's Isle Review

It was on St. Ninian's Isle that a schoolboy helping archaeologists excavate the ruins of a 12th-century church discovered the St. Ninian treasure, a collection of 28 silver objects dating from the 8th century. This Celtic silver is housed in the Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh (a point of controversy), but good replicas are in the Shetland Museum in Lerwick. Although you can't see the silver, walking over the causeway of golden sand (called a tombolo) that joins St. Ninian's Isle to the mainland is an unforgettable experience. The island is 8 mi north of Sumburgh via A970 and B9122; then turn left at Skelberry.