Shetland Local Landscape Designation Review: Final Report

Landscape Character Unit
28 West Burrafirth
Criteria Rank Description
Representativeness
High
Typical interplay of islands and voes, with a high level of remoteness. A
strong Shetland sense of place, and representative of rugged coastal hill type.
Rarity High Complexity of these rugged hills relatively unusual within Shetland
Intactness Very high Very limited development, very few houses or areas of cultivation. Fish
farms occur throughout the voes.
Scenic qualities Very high Scenic combinations of sea and rugged hills. Visual complexity of the lochs
and voes. Strong visual appeal, the hills are low but dramatic, particularly so
at the open coastal edges.
Enjoyment Medium Few destinations within this landscape other than the Papa Stour ferry.
Informal walking and fishing lochs.
Cultural qualities Medium Occasional cairns and brochs but without a strong overt contribution to
landscape.
Naturalness Very high A largely undisturbed landscape of rocky moorland and voes
Rural pattern Medium Not a settled landscape. The few cultivated areas are composed of larger
enclosures of pasture which do not reflect the historic crofting pattern.
Views High An intimate landscape, with few long views. Not visible from routes except
the Papa Stour ferry, though the southern part is visible from the A971.
Longer views are available to the south from the A971.
Unranked criteria
Landscape
consistency
Landscape
relationships
Other
designations
n/a
n/a
n/a
The northern part of this LCU is a rockier, more visually interesting
landscape. The southern area comprises open moorland and lochs, with
larger scale and less intricate feel, although long and attractive views are
available across the inland area.
Strong relationship with the similar landscape of LCU 26 to the east. The
moorland areas continue south and east into LCU 31 and 27.
Brindister Voe and Vadills MCA