Shetland Local Landscape Designation Review: Final Report

anked low or medium. Most other areas were ranked high, with more
remote, undisturbed areas ranked very high.
Scenic qualities
7.6 Scenic quality across the islands is generally good, though the evaluation
noted variations. The relative rankings shown in Figure 7.4 indicate that
coastal areas were often rated highly. Areas ranked very high coincide with,
but are not limited to, areas within the Shetland NSA. Much of Northmavine,
West Mainland, and parts of the east coast were ranked very high, along with
Fetlar and the Yell and Unst coasts. Inland areas, including the homogenous
moorlands, were generally rated medium. The only two LCUs to be ranked
low were the developed areas around Sullom Voe (LCU 15) and Lerwick
(LCU 45).
Enjoyment
7.7 Enjoyment of the landscape in Shetland is predominantly informal, with
coastal walks being the most popular means of access, especially in areas of
scenic quality or where specific historic sites are present. The map of
enjoyment rankings (Figure 7.5) reflects this, indicating the reduced rankings
assigned to inaccessible areas. Low rankings were assigned to moorland
areas not used for walking, and to the areas around Sullom Voe (LCU 15 and
14). Very high rankings were assigned to the most popular areas, including
Noss (LCU 47), St Ninian’s Isle (LCU 51), Esha Ness (LCU 22) and Burra
Firth (LCU 1).
Cultural qualities
7.8 There are a large number of sites of cultural heritage importance across
Shetland. The nature of these largely prehistoric features often renders them
all but invisible to the untrained eye. The evaluation focused on the visible
cultural dimension of each LCU, and as such many areas were assigned
medium or low rankings, as shown in Figure 7.6. Very high rankings were
assigned to areas where substantial cultural heritage features contributed
visibly by their presence or by association, such as Jarlshof (LCU 52),
Staneydale (LCU 31) and Tingwall (LCU 41). High rankings were assigned
where features of lesser stature indicated time-depth and long-established
settlement.
Naturalness
7.9 Almost all areas scored highly for naturalness, as shown in Figure 7.7. Most
areas of Shetland have a high degree of naturalness due to the sparseness of
settlement and infrastructure. Only the most developed areas around Sullom
Voe (LCU 15), Brae, Voe and Aith (LCU 25), and Lerwick (LCU 45, 46 and
48) were ranked low or medium. Uninhabited or inaccessible areas, such as
the north-west coast of Yell, or the moorlands of Northmavine, were ranked
very high.
Shetland Islands Local Landscape Designation Review
Land Use Consultants
Final Report 29 October 2011