Shetland Local Landscape Designation Review: Final Report

Landscape Character Unit
7 Basta Voe
Criteria Rank Description
Representativeness
High
Typical Shetland landscapes of open moorland and dispersed coastal
settlement
Rarity Low Does not contain features which are considered rare in a Shetland context
Intactness Medium Fish farms and onshore infrastructure around Basta Voe. A small quarry at
Sellafirth. The wide A968 bordered by red gravel fits poorly into the
landscape.
Scenic qualities Medium An unspectacular moorland landscape, shelving to an undramatic coast.
Visual interest added by the long view along Basta Voe to Fetlar. Otherwise
visual diversity is limited.
Enjoyment Low Aside from fishing lochs, little evidence that this is a much visited landscape.
National Cycle Route 1 passes through
Cultural qualities Low Cultural heritage features make a limited contribution to the appreciation of
this landscape.
Naturalness High Largely undisturbed upland landscape
Rural pattern Medium Small areas of traditional settlement pattern at Sellafirth and Basta, though
some disused croft houses. Evidence of active peat cutting.
Views High Very visible from the A968 and from the ferry crossing.
Unranked criteria
Landscape
consistency
Landscape
relationships
Other
designations
n/a
n/a
n/a
Coast is more settled and busier than the open moorland of the interior.
Visual relationship with Unst (LCU 3) and Fetlar (LCU 9). Closely related to
west and north coasts of Yell (LCU 6)
East Mires and Lumbister SAC is located in the centre of the area.
SSSIs at Gutcher and North Sandwick