Hillswick

Hillswick is a small village in Northmavine, on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean and lies to the north-north west of Mainland, Shetland, the most northerly group of islands in the United Kingdom. It is situated 35 mi (56 km) from Lerwick. There is a community shop, a blacksmith, a public hall, a health centre, and a Church of Scotland kirk that is now mainly used for funerals, weddings and christenings. There is a wildlife sanctuary, situated at the historic former Hanseatic trading booth on the seafront, a small private art gallery with occasional public exhibitions, and the St Magnus Bay Hotel which offers accommodation, bar and restaurant services. A large dairy and sheep farm takes up the spectacular peninsula called Hillswick Ness, but there is public access and a signed walking route. There is a modern primary school at nearby Urafirth. A small automatic lighthouse is located 1.5 miles south of Hillswick, at the tip of the Ness.

Hillswick
The bay at Hillswick, looking across the bay with the main settlement on the far shore
Hillswick
Location within Shetland
OS grid referenceHU280769
Civil parish
  • Northmaven
Council area
  • Shetland
Lieutenancy area
  • Shetland
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townSHETLAND
Postcode districtZE2
Dialling code01806
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
  • Orkney and Shetland
Scottish Parliament
  • Shetland
Hillswick Lighthouse
Ura Firth
Baa Taing
Coordinates60.453557°N 1.496517°W / 60.453557; -1.496517
Constructed1895 (first)
Foundationconcrete base
Constructionmetal skeletal tower
Height5 metres (16 ft)
Shapequadrangular tower covered by aluminium panels with light on the top
Markingswhite tower
Power sourcesolar power 
OperatorNorthern Lighthouse Board
First litn/a (current)
Focal height34 metres (112 ft)
Rangewhite: 9 nautical miles (17 km; 10 mi)
red: 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi)
CharacteristicFl (4) WR 15s.
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