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"The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths it has its pearls too"

The Sands of Breckon Beach

Shetland Islands, Scotland


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The Sands of Breckon is a picturesque and secluded white sand beach located on the northern tip of the island of Yell in the Shetland Islands. .

The Sands of Breckon is a stunning secluded white sand beach surrounded by an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest). The beach is sheltered by spectacular sand dunes, providing a wonderful view of the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean. Access to this beach is a five-minute walk from the car park.

Situated on the northern tip of the island of Yell, this is one of the most beautiful beaches in all Shetland. A stretch of near-white sand is flanked by low cliffs and features grass-covered dunes to the rear. The sand here is actually made up largely of shell particles, which is part of the reason it is so pale. This also has the effect of giving the water a beautiful turquoise hue.

Despite the beach facing north into the Atlantic, it is fairly well sheltered from most wind directions, including the prevailing southwesterlies. Traces of Viking and pre-Viking settlements going back over 4,000 years can be found around the beach. Archaeological remains, including Viking combs made of bone, pottery, and later Roman coins, have all been found here.

The Sands of Breckon is a sandy beach located near Lerwick in the Shetland Islands. The beach is dog-friendly, making it a great destination for pet owners.

Cove Sand

Weather and tides for Thursday 4 June

Today
Chance of rain 85%
Max temperature 13°C
feels like 12°C
Wind 18mph
Max UV Index
Tonight
Chance of rain 77%
Min temperature 10°C
feels like 10°C
Wind 15mph

The tide at The Sands of Breckon Beach is currently rising. High tide will be at approximately 1:28 PM, and the next low tide will be at approximately 6:52 PM.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Detailed weather and tides »

Recommended holiday cottages near The Sands of Breckon Beach

Other beaches nearby

Location: Midbrake

Location type: Rural

Nearest village: Cullivoe

OS Grid: HP527052

Coordinates: 60°43'35"N 1°2'4"W

Mapcode: GBR R0SD.4JB

What 3 Words: replaying.summer.attic

Coordinates and location codes are for an approximate mid-point of the beach, and may not reflect the best access point or the most popular part of the beach.

Country: Scotland

Local Authority: Shetland Islands

Nearest postcode: ZE2 9BB

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

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Visitor information for The Sands of Breckon Beach, Shetland Islands, Scotland. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

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216.73.216.53 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:05:07 +0100